Jo Dee Messina loves the 'reliability' of country music's storytelling
By SANDYE VOIGHT

As a kid growing up in Massachusetts, Jo Dee Messina fell in love with country music because of its storytelling nature.

"I like the reliability of it," she said in a recent phone interview. "It's like telling my life story. Not the flash and the bang. It's about life and love."

Her tour is part of what she calls the Music Room Series.

Follow up:

"It's acoustic and totally interactive," she said. "I've got two songs and the rest is up to the audience."

But there will be some flash and bang to her outdoor performance Saturday, June 6, at Mystique. The concert, with opening band Horsin' Around, will conclude with fireworks to celebrate the 25th anniversary of greyhound racing at the facility.

Messina has had more than a decade of hits, including "Bye Bye," "I'm Alright," "Stand Beside Her" and "My Give A Damn's Busted."

As an unsophisticated 19-year-old, she packed up her guitar when her brother agreed to give her a ride to Nashville. It was either that or law school, and music won out.

"Being naive was a blessing," she said. "I just thought about getting a record deal. I didn't know there'd be 10,000 other people with the same idea."

If things hadn't worked out?

"There was no Plan B. I didn't consider anything."

But it did work out, beginning with her 1996 self-titled album . It had two Top 10 hits: "Heads Carolina, Tails California" and "You're Not in Kansas Anymore." Her 1998 album, "I'm Alright," is considered the breakthrough, and 1999's "Burn" was her first No. 1 album.

Her next album, "Unmistakable," is expected to be released this year, but no date has been set.

That's partly because Messina has been extra busy lately. She and husband Chris Deffenbach had their first child, Noah Roger Deffenbach, on Jan. 19. They're all three on the road together most of the time. Deffenbach works with her, building her sets.

"Part of the blessing is that it keeps the family together," she said.

She has help for the baby on the road, while at home, her mom watches him.

"I keep having to steal him back," she said.