Blog 8: FROM THE VOICE TO NASHVILLE: THE REAL GRIND BEHIND THE MUSIC WITH PRYOR BAIRD
Why this conversation matters
Call it what it is, Nashville will test your faith, your talent, your identity, and your mental health. Pryor Baird, recording artist, songwriter, and The Voice Season 14 finalist, didn’t “get discovered,” he outlasted. This episode is a reality check and a pep talk for anyone chasing a dream that keeps punching back.
Pryor’s dart-on-a-map move
Pryor didn’t know a soul here. No job. No house. A literal dart decided Nashville. Two weeks later, he arrived and started from zero. No shortcuts, just relentless reps.
The truth about Broadway
Broadway is fun, the musicians are world-class, and the money can be solid. But if you’re trying to build a career as a recording artist, it’s not the path. You’re playing other people’s songs night after night. Great for chops, not for a catalog.
The break that almost didn’t happen
Twelve hours after saying “maybe I’m done,” a last-minute song share turned into a label meeting, which turned into a record deal. Then touring. Then COVID. Then a duo that worked… until it didn’t. The lesson, every “it’s over” moment might be the setup. Keep moving.
The mindset that keeps you from quitting
If you quit, it’s 100% over. Pryor’s anchor, the guitar is his best friend. It never quits on him, so he won’t quit on it. When the goal feels out of reach, he goes back to the craft, writes, shows up, and lets the work lead.
“Leave your attitude at the side of the stage. Everyone’s here to have a good time.”
— Jerry, Pryor’s mentor
What People Get Wrong About “Making It”
Going viral isn’t a strategy.
It’s luck — and luck fades.
What lasts is brand, sound, reps, relationships, and consistency.
There’s already a Morgan Wallen.
Be you — at a world-class level.
The song that came from pain
“If you think it’s hard leaving, baby, try being the one left behind.”
That hook anchors Pryor’s single “The One Left Behind.” Heartbreak became art. That’s country music at its best.
Nashville Will Stretch Your Soul
Nashville will demand your best — timing, tone, writing, stage presence, all of it.
The standard here is top 1%. But the community is the secret weapon.
Writers, pickers, and producers will push you harder than you’ve ever been pushed — and still catch you when you fall.
Camaraderie beats competition.
In this town, art wins.
Where to find Pryor
Website: https://pryorbaird.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pryorbaird
YouTube: search “Pryor Baird”
Catch his monthly residency at The Listening Room Café in Nashville, theme nights, good vibes.
Mentions + resources
Diary of a Player by Brad Paisley
The Listening Room Café, Nashville
Pryor’s single “The One Left Behind” on your favorite platform
Listen to the full episode
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Cy5gftTHPYqD7wdR5ctVs
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wind-in-her-hair/id1832581085
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@analeacoaching
Work with me
Coaching: https://analeacoaching.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ana__lea__
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@ana__lea__
Email: mailto:[email protected]
Free resource: Two Mindset Shifts to Attract Aligned Love (video + PDF) → https://www.youtube.com/@analeacoaching
Support the podcast: http://buymeacoffee.com/ana_lea
🌬 You don’t have to stay stuck.
If you’re ready to create the love and life you can’t stop thinking about, let’s talk.
