Brooke Lee is taking a break. After a career-defining year that included her biggest CMA Fest yet, a national Chevrolet campaign, a new EP, and a hometown show, she's planning to step away for a month to regroup—or at least that's the plan. But first, she took a moment to sit down with Country Living to reflect on everything that’s going on.
Life in the Fast Lane
Brooke’s CMA Fest schedule would make anyone need a vacation. “Last year, I didn’t play at CMA Fest,” she said. “The year before, I had one show. This year, of course, we played the Chevy Vibes stage, which was so much fun. On top of that, it was non-stop.” She packed in interviews, sang from the back of a Silverado on Broadway, and played Spotify House—a bucket-list moment for the 26-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native.
She continued, “I was so tired on Sunday. I've never slept so good in my life, but it's always so neat because everyone's here from all over the place. You get exposed to so many different people. And anytime I get to play, it's my favorite thing. So it was a really fun week, but crazy.”
Back in April, Brooke released her sophomore EP, Desert Darling. “It's been really cool to see who connects with what song. The whole project was my 19 to 25 and just what lessons I felt or stories I felt impacted me the most and wanted to get them out there so that people could get to know me a little bit better. And hearing the way that people connect is always really special.” Her next single, “Driver Drive,” is due to drop at the end of July, and she has another planned for August.
The Tradeoffs of Success
Brooke moved to Nashville to pursue music when she was 21. She had lots of support from her family and friends, and no backup plan. “If there's a backup plan, I would fall on it, and I just don't think I need it,” she said. “Still no backup plan at 26 but definitely no backup plan when I got to town.”
But her hard work has come with some difficult trade-offs. “Honestly, this year, the emotional side of it has been the hardest. I lost my granny and my grandpa this year, and then because of CMA Fest—which I'm so thankful, and they would kick my butt if they knew I missed CMA Fest for anything—but I had to miss their funeral.” She admits her busy schedule has caused her to miss a lot of family time. “That's the toughest thing emotionally. I'm also really blessed to have a family that's so supportive. But I would say that emotionally the hardest thing is sacrificing those moments.”
Bringing an American Classic Back to Life
Brooke had the opportunity to work with Chevy to bring back the company’s nostalgic jingle in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. “See the USA in Your Chevrolet” first debuted in 1951 when Dinah Shore performed the catchy tune on her prime-time TV show, and Brooke knew she had to do it justice. “I called my grandparents right away when I got the opportunity, and they knew every word to the song,” she said. She remembers singing it in the studio when a janitor came in and said, “Oh my gosh, hearing this is bringing back so many memories.”
She stayed true to the song’s roots while putting her own spin on it. And it was a major success: “I get messages all the time from parents telling me ‘it's my kid's favorite song,’ or videos of them dancing. It still has such a lasting impact has been really, really neat.”
Making Time for What Matters
Brooke’s Chevy commercial had her singing from the tailgate of a 2026 Silverado ZR2 from the top of Castle Rock in Utah. But she knows the importance of staying grounded. She prioritizes taking time for herself and her faith, especially during this busy season. “I wake up every morning and spend my time with God,” she said. “And at the end of the day, I'm a believer that none of this happens without Him. So I just got to give it back in gratitude.”
With the encouragement of her team, she’s taking some time off. “I'm going on a road trip and just getting out there and seeing life as a human being. This year, it's been a lot more of the interview side of things, which is new for me, and a lot less of the writing. And when I went back to the writing rooms, I felt like I didn't have a lot to say because I hadn't been getting out just living a lot. So I'm really excited to take this as an opportunity to go live and maybe get some ideas, but try to step away from the writing a little bit and then come back with a lot to be able to pour into when I'm in town. See, we'll see whether that actually happens.”
That's exactly what Brooke plans to do over the next month. Between road trips, hometown visits, and a little more quiet than she's used to, she's hoping to return with something every songwriter needs: a few new stories to tell.
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
