Hey everyone, 

It's been a while since i've done this, but I've been going to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist) to see what's going on with my vocal chords. When I saw the ENT, he showed me that I have polyps/nodules, which are NOT what a singer wants to hear at all. He said "Let's try giving it a rest for 2 weeks, to see if that changes it at all" which at this time I was doing 4 to 5 gigs a weekend, plus yelling at TopGolf the rest of the week. I started seeing a Speech Pathologist, and she really helped me a lot. Naturally I had to cut out TopGolf, because there was NO WAY ON EARTH I was giving up my music. It means that much to me. 

Well, I do my best to not sing, but it's a harder task then I thought! Plus, now that I don't have a job how will I make my income? I've got bills to pay! I felt like I was getting better, and had a positive outlook on todays revisit. We had scheduled a time for me to come in after the two weeks, and my Speech Path doctor said that I need another 2 weeks... You can imagine how frustrated I was. But, when it comes to my voice, i'll do just about anything! 

Today we scheduled a follow up appointment to have me scoped to see the progress I was making. I was nervous, but optimistic because if I was honest with myself, it didn't hurt to sing anymore! I was thinking "Maybe they've gone down? I mean, I know they're not gone, but I feel like i've gotten better"

NO. SUCH. LUCK. I've STILL got the polyps/nodules and they say I need to FULLY take 2 weeks of NOT... SINGING... AT... ALL... ANND, if that doesn't help: SURGERY.  If anyone knows me, they know this is QUITE DIFFICULT. I couldn't help it, I broke down right there in the office thinking... SURGERY? NOT SINGING? This can't be happening... this is what I love to do... what...? 

I'm going to try the 2 weeks of NO SINGING, and i'll keep you all updated, but i'm not so optimistic about this one... (especially since the doctor said he doesn't think it will help) 

Love you all, Jess

Meet Jeff Hobbs (in the gray v-neck and glasses) and the Jacks! Granted we are minus one more in this picture, Tony Rincon, the awesome lead guitarist, but  i'm gonna go from left to right to introduce you all to "the Jacks!" On the far left we have Bobby Ryan slapping that bass, John Shadid rocking the steel guitar, Jeff Hobbs killin' the lead vocals, Howie McReynolds banging those drums, Brad Sosebee pounding those keys, and myself, Jessica Herring, singing the backup vocals! Jeff started out with just Howie, Ryan and himself, but then shortly after some hints given by my boyfriend Bobby Ryan, the bassist, he asked me to sing backups for the group. After that Jeff decided that he would like to have some steel guitar and keys and found John and Brad, and found the sound that he desired. The thing I love about this group is that it didn't take long for us all to find that fit with each other, and we hit it off almost instantly. These guys are great musicians, people and friends. Come out to our shows this weekend, we'd LOVE to see your rockin' faces there! 

I thought you should all know something. I've struggled for a while now with my own personality. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, friends and my boyfriend. They are my rock, and my world! And I love my life, but a lot of the times its hard not to see past the negativity in life. See, I have the common problem around the world, comparing myself. Like any artist, you try to see what others are doing to see how they're doing it, and what makes it successful. (A good artist can borrow a line, while a great artists steals it.) In my mind, I already have myself set up for failure. Because I not only see other people being successful, but being okay with failure. That's another flaw I have. I'm a PERFECTIONIST. When I want it a certain way, I want it that way. So with those two combined, in my mind it's not looking so hot. It's easy to get down on yourself, and say these negative things, but i'm learning through my artistic journey, to take the good with the bad. God made me who I am, and if I don't like myself, then it's really an insult to him. I just thought you all should know, that everyone struggles from their own battles, but how you overcome them makes you a better happier person in the long run. 



THANK YOU LORD FOR EVERYTHING I HAVE IN MY LIFE. I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL. 

I don't really know how to blog, but I'm going to take this blog as an opportunity to share my opportunities with all of you! As you'll notice in the picture beside this post, i'm playing a piano. But not just ANY piano, the Elvis Presley piano from his studio. Needless to say I was in shock and awe! That's the closest i've been to one of my heroes, and it was very eye opening. I'm hoping that soon I get to go back to Nashville and see more of the musical sights. Who knows maybe write with some awesome people, and get one of my songs on hold. That would be amazing. Hope you all stay tuned to my rambling and singing, because I love to do both.