SONG AVAILABLE NOW – LISTEN HERE
This was the first collaboration between Cardarelli and Esten. The two met through a mutual friend and then reconnected at The Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament benefit for St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Palm Springs, CA in early 2019.
“We saw each other at the event and set up a write for when we returned to Nashville,” said Jillian Cardarelli. “When we sat down to write, we talked about our families and I shared that my mom is battling cancer. It felt like this song just wrote itself at that point.”
While the song was inspired by Jillian’s mother’s battle with cancer, Cardarelli says it’s really about the broader scope of the many families that are affected by cancer. According to statics, this year alone, 1.8 million people will be diagnosed with cancer.
“I want to encourage those who are struggling through tough and challenging times,” said Cardarelli. “We all have a story. We have all overcome something. My hope is that this song can inspire and encourage those who are struggling with something, cancer or otherwise, to be resilient and strong no matter what the obstacle may be.”
Esten shared his own experience about finding strength.
“Strength can be shared, borrowed and taught. That’s what it’s about,” said Charles Esten. “This song isn’t just about the fact that Jillian’s mom was strong. It’s about the fact that now she’s (Jillian) strong.”
Esten invited Cardarelli to perform the song at his Light the Summer Night Benefit Concert to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in June 2019 (pictured).
“STRONG” is the third single from Cardarelli’s new music slated to release next year. Her upcoming EP is produced by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alex Kline, who has successfully landed cuts with such artists as Reba, Ronnie Dunn, Terri Clark and Mitchell Tenpenny; and produced albums for Terri Clark, Tara Thompson, Erin Enderlin and more. Kline also had a song on Reba’s Grammy nominated album “Stronger Than the Truth” as well as co-wrote and produced Tenille Arts’ Top 30 single “Somebody Like That.”
Cardarelli will be making virtual tour appearances on media outlets and cancer-related charity organization social platforms in the weeks ahead.
“STRONG” is available now on Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora and more; with the music video available on her YouTube Channel.
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Twitter: @JmCardarelli