Natalie Henderson

You can find Natalie Henderson in jeans and a t-shirt just as easily as dressed up in elegant, high fashion. But when she takes the stage, the 21-year-old aspiring country music singer defies all expectations with her powerful voice and personality. “When I’m performing, every part of me becomes magnified to the audience. The deepest parts of me become exposed. Sharing that feeling with the audience is amazing,” she says. Natalie has opened for such acts as Josh Turner, Wynonna Judd, Phil V...

You can find Natalie Henderson in jeans and a t-shirt just as easily as dressed up in elegant, high fashion. But when she takes the stage, the 21-year-old aspiring country music singer defies all expectations with her powerful voice and personality. “When I’m performing, every part of me becomes magnified to the audience. The deepest parts of me become exposed. Sharing that feeling with the audience is amazing,” she says. Natalie has opened for such acts as Josh Turner, Wynonna Judd, Phil Vassar, Mark Chestnutt, Tanya Tucker, Josh Gracin and The Bellamy Brothers. She comments, “I’m really blessed to have had the opportunity to open for so many great and generous artists.” Natalie is a big fan of Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes and Shania Twain. She also has the ultimate respect for the legends and foundation of country music, including the likes of Loretta Lynn, The Judds and Patsy Cline. Her all time favorite is the King of Country Music, Mr. George Strait. Natalie gushes, "I can't wait for the chance to meet George, he already feels like family to me! I have listened to his music my whole life. It's such a part of my soul that I even have George as my ring tone on my cell phone!" Outside of the country music genre, her longtime idol is Celine Dion. “When I was little, I would listen to Celine and make myself belt out the high notes,” she laughs. “I want to be known for singing live, because it’s so important that talent extends beyond the studio and onto the stage.” Natalie's style is a blend of all of these phonic flavors: the tradition, the energy, the power of each of these vocal powerhouses and in this fusion comes a voice of sophistication and of down-home grit, power, emotion and feeling which translates into a rewarding experience for the singer and the audience. Natalie attended Belmont University in Nashville. When visiting the University, she fell in love with the contagious energy just beyond Music Row. “Balancing singing with classes was challenging, but I love music, and it’s all connected,” she reveals. “I don’t think I’ll ever move—I absolutely love Nashville. This is my home!” Natalie always knew she wanted to be a singer. She started singing at a young age in her church choir in Florida, often performing solos. Word spread quickly about her beautifully booming voice, and soon she was singing national anthems as well as performing in talent shows, pageants and entertaining at local venues. At 15, she recorded a Christmas album in Nashville as a gift for her parents, which became wildly popular in her hometown. Soon thereafter, Natalie realized this was the career for her. “I couldn’t see myself ever doing anything else, all I want to do is sing,” she recalls. At 17, she had recorded her first demo and bypassed her last two years of high school, instead attending college classes full time as well as taking music classes and dance instruction at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio while performing in a number of musicals, including a highlighted role in "Will Rogers Follies.” Natalie’s musical heritage originates with her mother being an accomplished cello and violin player. Her grandfather, who passed away before she was born, could brilliantly play five instruments. A skilled musician in her own right, her great grandmother, also played the piano and guitar. Natalie’s compelling sound and personality appeals to a widely diverse audience, spanning all age groups from children and young teens to high school kids, young adults, middle age folks and the elderly who all agree that her enthusiastic and catchy vocals with due reverence for the traditions of the past bring together a distinct style that is uniquely Natalie. Many of her songs focus on real life and relationships. “I like to sing songs that are hopeful and inspiring,” Natalie expresses. “A Love Like John and June” is a song about true love, the love mirrored by music legends Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. “Everyone wants true love, no matter how old you are. My parents set the best example of what true love is for me. They are the couple who will affectionately hold hands after twenty-five years of marriage,” she giggles. “I’m still waiting, but I know my love will come one day, but I’m just going to sing about him until then!” “When I sing, I go into my own special place. If I had to stop performing, I would have to find a whole new way of living because all my passion and happiness in life would be taken away from me. That’s why I have to sing. Music just comes naturally and effortlessly for me. When I sing I am not only expressing the lyrics of the song to the audience, but I share my whole heart and soul,” she discloses. Sharing “real life and real country” through her music, “Something to Break” is a about a girl recovering from a broken heart. “She won’t get her heart broken again, she’s going to do whatever she can to prevent that in the future,” Natalie declares. Meet the Hendersons A self-proclaimed “Daddy’s Girl,” her family is a mainstay in her life, growing up as a fourth-generation Henderson in the small town of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Natalie’s family has also made Nashville their new home, where her parents own a ranch. She’s very close to her father Doug, mother Gloria and older brother Nathaniel. Today, the family splits time between Florida and Nashville and often comes together for large family events. “I love to hang out with my family and friends,” she reveals. “I grew up in a classy family with great morals. I know how to carry myself, while at the same time I’m a country girl and love to have fun,” she passionately adds. When asked to describe her personality, Natalie says, “Picture me dressed elegantly and wearing high heels, jumping onto the back of a dirt bike.” Charming yet down-to-earth, she is a young woman of wonderful depth and contrast. Outside of family and music, Natalie is very active and passionate about helping others. She enjoys spending time with her friends, learning new things and spending relaxed evenings on the back porch at her family's ranch. She also enjoys the great outdoors, from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico to the rolling hills of Tennessee. A surprise to most folks, Natalie loves riding horses as well as riding her own dirt bike. The adventurous spirit runs in the family—her father and brother ride Harleys. Growing up surrounded by water in Florida, she’s perfected waterskiing and cruising around on her WaveRunner. Natalie’s feminine side is a contrast from her active outdoors life, evidenced by her favorite color being a vibrant, hot color –red- and frequent trips to the day spa. “I love getting all dressed up, wearing high heels, having my hair fixed, but I also don’t cringe when I have to put bait on my hook.” That’s the lovely paradox of Natalie Henderson. Natalie currently resides outside of Nashville with a roommate and “Kiwi,” her adorable 8-year-old Lhasa Apso.