Brooke Eden is watching as many of her childhood dreams are starting to come true. The Florida native recently signed with Red Bow Records and released her new single, “Daddy’s Money.” She is known for her energetic live show, where she has shared the stage with such iconic artists as Alan Jackson and Brooks and Dunn. As she begins to veer toward the fast lane toward Country Music stardom, we chatted with the stunning songstress about the new single and moving to Nashville.

In setting up the single, you’ve been out on the road visiting radio. What are your thoughts about the radio tour process?

Growing up, we really didn’t go on vacations that much—especially outside of Florida—so seeing all these new things has been amazing. Like seeing a cactus for the first time. I saw snow – which is very rare. It’s been great to see places like Arizona or Utah that are so different from my hometown in Florida. The radio tour has been great. Everybody is a character. You would think it might get monotonous, because you’re meeting so many so fast, but because of the personalities, every day is so different. 

I understand that your new single was actually written about you….

That was written by two of my good friends—Kallie North and Jessy Wilson. They wrote it about my life. Callie and I were roommates. I spent about two weeks in Nashville recording and networking, then I would fly home to Florida, and spend two weeks down there performing. That’s how I made my money—five hours a week, four hours a night. She was asking why I had to go back to Florida, and how she hated it when I left. I told her, “Girl, I’ve got to go home and make that dough.” She said, “You make money when you go home to Florida? Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I thought you came from money and your parents just slipped some in your bank account, and that’s how you live.” I told her, “I ain’t ever had ‘Daddy’s Money.’” A couple of days later, she and Jesse wrote the song, and now, it’s my first single. 

What were some of the jobs you had previously in addition to music?

I had a lot of crazy ones. When I was 18 months old, I was in a Huggies commercial. Then, when I was 15, I started working at Limited Too, then at a place called The Player’s Club, which was a steakhouse for polo players. I also sang there. I bartended in college at a place called Renegade’s.” 

Tell me about the bartending experience.

A lot of times it would be my friends and their ex-boyfriends, who would be at the bar making out with some other girl. There I was behind the bar, thinking, What do I do? So, I was witness to a lot of couple fights and stuff like that. Once, I saw this real girl fight, where they would pull each others’ hair, and start punching each other. It was terrible. I stayed behind the bar.” 

And, then you moved to Music City….

I literally came to Nashville on a leap of faith. My whole life I knew that I wanted to move here, but I never really had a plan. I didn’t know what to do. My parents moved me up. It was a Tuesday. My dad got my mattress into my room, and he said, “Let’s go out.” It was 11pm on a Tuesday. He said, “Yeah, and we’re in Nashville, Tennessee, so put your boots on. We’re going out.” We go to Tootsie’s like every other tourist, and someone tells me to get up and sing. I say, “How do you know I sing?” They say, “Tell me you’re not.” So, I get up on stage, and I end up singing three songs, and this guy says “OK….you don’t suck. Do you want a job?” So, my first day there, and I get offered a job by Tootsie’s. I performed there when I was in town, but still went back and forth until I got my record deal. 

Being from Florida, what is something about the Sunshine state that the tourists sometimes miss out on?

People spend a lot of time at the beach, and not enough time at the swamp. There’s so many fun things to do there. I guess it’s a little different for me because I know friends who have air boats or swamp buggies and all the essentials to go in the mud. The Everglades are so fun because it’s so different from everything else. I don’t pet the alligators though. 

Talk about some of your experience as an opening act.

I’ve gotten to play with so many people. I opened up for other artists when I was 12, and some of those have included Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, Florida Georgia Line, and Sam Hunt. Getting to do that was amazing, and this summer, I’ll be working with Tim McGraw for a couple of dates, which will be really cool.

Everyone raves about your live show. How do you approach the live performance?

It’s pure excitement. It’s not fear or nerves or anything like that. I really just feed off of the crowd. If they’re excited, I’m excited. One of my favorite things about being on stage is being up there with my band. We’re very close, and all around the same age. I just feel lucky to have them, and totally feed off of their energy. 

Have you heard “Daddy’s Money” on the air yet?

The first day of the radio tour, we went to WOGI (Pittsburgh). We had a really good meeting, and they asked if I had a copy of the single on me, and I did, so I handed it to them. Then, they said they were going to spin it. I couldn’t believe it. We got to hear it on the bus. Our regional videotaped it, which made it a really cool moment. My hometown station (WIRK / West Palm Beach) was the first one to add it. They have really supported me so much.