Julie Ann

I’m a 61-year-old retired state worker who finally escaped the 8-to-5—and let me tell you, retirement looks a whole lot better under stage lights than fluorescent lights! I’m the lead singer of a band, and if there’s a microphone, good music, and a crowd ready to have a good time, you’ll probably find me there. I believe life’s too short to sit at home when there’s a dance floor to fill, a road trip to take, or a new town to explore. I’m also one proud mama to an incredible daughter who’s getting married this year. Watching her start this new chapter has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. My GPS is usually set to “somewhere fun.” I run on country music, laughter, iced tea (or maybe something a little stronger after the show), and the belief that every back road leads to another great story. I’m stubborn enough to chase my dreams, determined enough to make them happen, and young enough at heart to keep saying, “One more song!” Retirement didn’t slow me down—it just gave me more time to turn up the music, pack a suitcase, and make memories. Life’s a little like a country song—it’s got love, laughter, a few bumps in the road, and one heck of a soundtrack. And as long as there’s a stage, a sunset, and an open highway, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.