Jennifer Nettles biography

Musical Growth

Critics were especially impressed by "Stay," which won the ACM Awards for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Nettles broke new ground with the track, becoming the first woman to have written the ACM Song of the Year by herself.

While "Stay" covers cheating, a popular subject in country music, it takes the unusual viewpoint of the other woman. Nettles' earnest twang and soulful voice helped make this song's story sound heartfelt and genuine and music fans responded enthusiastically to the track. "We're not writing a bunch of girl songs," Kristian Bush explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2008. "We're writing a bunch of human songs, delivered by a very powerful female singer."

Showing the group's versatility, Enjoy the Ride also featured such upbeat and humorous tracks as "Mean Girls." Brad Paisley helped out on the song. "He's one of the few guitar players in town that can translate humor," Kristian Bush told USA Today in 2006. "And that's a really funny song." All in all, the album was another huge hit for Sugarland, selling more than 2 million copies.

Recent Work

Also in 2006, Nettles also had success outside of Sugarland with her duet with rocker Jon Bon Jovi, "Who Says You Can't Go Home." Not only did this collaboration perform well on the country music charts, but the duo was nominated for several awards, including the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Musical Event of the Year. The following year, Sugarland brought home their first CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year, breaking Brooks & Dunn's longstanding winning streak in that category.

With their third release, Love on the Inside (2008), Sugarland has proved to be one of the most popular acts in country music. The album sold more than 314,000 copies in its first week of release, spurred on by the success of its first single, "All I Want to Do." Later in the year, Sugarland released a deluxe edition of the album, which featured a cover of the Dream Academy's "Life in a Northern Town." Sugarland recorded their version of this alternative rock classic live with some help from Little Big Town and Jake Owen. The track serves an example of Nettles' and Bush's diverse musical interests and influences.

Nettles maintains a rigorous touring schedule with Sugarland, and the duo is known for giving their all at their shows. They have even borrowed a stunt from alternative rockers the Flaming Lips -- traveling over the audience in a giant plastic ball -- in an effort to entertain their fans.

In September 2008, Sugarland received five CMA Award nominations and won Vocal Duo of the Year.

Personal Life

Nettles is married to entrepreneur Justin Miller, a former model. The couple wed in November 2011, and they welcomed their first child in December 2012. Their son is named Magnus Hamilton Miller.

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