Tara Thompson has everyone in the country music scene buzzing these days—and with good reason. She’s got the vocal chops, the stage moxie and charisma and movie-star good looks. In other words, the complete package. The East Tennessee native recently took time to talk with Myspace about the big things going on in her career as of late, her debut single, “Someone To Take Your Place,” and the Country Music Hall of Fame member she calls cousin.

With your single, and a buzzed about performance at the recent Country Radio Seminar, everyone is talking about you these days. That has to make you feel good.

It’s such a surreal feeling. I’ve been working at this for so long. You try so hard to get noticed for years and years, and then all of a sudden, everyone is talking about you. I just feel so extremely blessed to even have this opportunity in the first place. It’s kind of a weird feeling, but definitely an awesome one. 

You’re signed to The Valory Music Co, a label within the Big Machine umbrella. I know that being a female vocalist in today’s climate—as well as being a traditional-leaning vocalist—isn’t easy. You have to be very excited right now.

Definitely. I thank my lucky stars for that every day. Those are two things that I am. I’m definitely country and I’m definitely female.

Growing up in East Tennessee, music has always been a huge part of your life, correct?

Ever since I was a kid, I was singing everything. I have the home videos to prove it. There was this place in my hometown called Big Mama’s Karaoke Café out in the country. I started singing there as a kid. I would go in there and sing. My mom would take me there as much as she could. She had four kids, so I couldn’t go there every day, but as many times as I could. I also sang in a lot of high school talent shows, which I never won. I was doing it all for fun, because I knew when I turned 18 I was going to move to Nashville.

You are cousins with Loretta Lynn. Talk about the relationship between the two of you.

We came from Kentucky, originally. I was raised in East Tennessee, but my grandma on my mom’s side is first cousins with Loretta. When I told her I had gotten a record deal, she said, “It’s about damn time.” I said, “You’re telling me.” I have so many memories of her when I was a kid. I would go out to her shows at her ranch just to watch her. That was so much of my inspiration of wanting to be a singer was watching her and Crystal Gayle, and thinking, I want to do that.

You were recently a part of the CMT Next Women Of Country tour with Jennifer Nettles and Brandy Clark, among others. What was that experience like?

That went so great. It’s sad that it’s over. It was so great, especially for me, because it was my first tour as an artist. It was all women, and we’re all completely different. So, each of us brings something unique to the stage. I’ve become good friends with Lindsay Ell, and we do a lot of things together. It’s definitely been an experience I will never forget.

Two songs on your EP that sound like might be related are “Jail” and “Behind Bars,” but they’re not about what you think…

“Jail” is my only love song on the album. The hook line is “Love me like you just got out of jail.” I have this weird thing about jails. One day, I would love to do a prison tour. That was my cool way of writing a love song. “Behind Bars” has nothing to do with jail. I actually wrote that about working at Tootsie’s, working at bars, and for tips.

Your debut single, “Someone To Take Your Place” has been making a steady impact with radio. What does that song mean to you?

That’s my sassy song. It’s my way of saying, “When you get dumped, don’t cry about it, find someone to take his place.”  

How does it feel to hear it on the air?

I don’t even know if I can explain how that feels. It’s so amazing. My song’s on the radio. How cool is that? It’s like you’re literally hearing all the hard work you’ve done pay off. It’s a great feeling.