Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott: ‘This Is The Album I Was Supposed To Make’

She’s been a fixture on the radio (and the charts) since 2007, but Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott is crafting a new sound with a new group: Hillary Scott & The Scott Family–which includes her mother, singer/Reba duet partner Linda Davis; her father, songwriter Lang Scott; and her 16-year-old sister Rylee–released Love Remains today. Prior to album’s launch, Hillary spoke with Parade about working with family and why this was the right album for her to make right now. (Watch an exclusive video for the song “Ain’t No Grave” here.)

You come from an incredibly musical family. Did you grow up performing together?

We would perform together every so often when I was younger. Car rides were the bulk of my memories of learning how to sing and singing together. My dad and mom would take turns showing me and my sister songs they loved from when they were growing up. It was just more of a way for us to connect as a family and laugh together.

Whose idea was it to make an album together?

My dad sat me down–it was a year ago in February–and just wanted to put our family’s voices on a handful of hymns to send to about three to four hundred [people]. Our family, friends and community who walked us through a really hard time  when my grandfather was diagnosed and fighting his battle with leukemia. He couldn’t have visitors, so we did a Caring Bridge page [online] and everybody would comment and leave an encouraging word or Bible verse or a hymn. It was just such a source of joy and comfort for our family and for my grandfather while he was fighting [his illness], so for us, putting our voices on these songs and sending them out to friends and family was our way of saying thank you. I just started feeling like, if we’re going to do this, let’s try to make it available for anybody who wants to hear it. I took [the idea] over at the label and said, “I don’t have a clue what this is going to look like, but this is what’s really in my heart.” They gave a very supportive green light.

How did legendary musician Ricky Skaggs come to produce the album?

Whenever I would think about this project, and kind of project how I saw it going, he was always there. Before we even had our conversation, I just saw him as captain of the ship. My dad called him and Ricky was really honest with my dad. He said, “Lang, like I’ve got the busiest year I’ve had in decades and I don’t really know if y’all are on a crazy strict deadline, but this isn’t possible,” and very kindly, was like, “I just don’t think this is going to work.” I said let me call him, because I was so determined and I just had this really strong feeling that he was supposed to be involved. When I called him, I shared that with him. I said, “I hope you don’t think I’m crazy, but every time I think about this project–every time I pray about this project–you are there.” He said, “Let me go pray about it and talk to [my wife] Ms. Sharon.” A few days later he said, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the Lord won’t let me say no!” And we were off to the races.

As a mainstream artist, did you have any hesitation about putting out a Christian album?

I felt like this is just the album I was supposed to make. I’ve never hidden my faith and how important it is to me. It’s definitely way more upfront now than it’s ever been, but I’ve never been afraid. I just wanted to set the record straight from the very beginning of the process that this is not me releasing a bunch of songs about my faith like I’ve mastered it. This is where I go for peace and comfort and wisdom and strength.

You’ve been very open about the fact that the lead single, “Thy Will,” was inspired by the miscarriage you suffered last year, and you’ve spoken about the impact your grandfather’s passing had on the album. Is it hard to go out and sing some of these songs night after night?

The legacy of my grandfather that we’re carrying on is such a huge part of our life, our family’s life. We feel him with us every day, so it’s definitely emotional. With my personal walk behind “Thy Will,” those kinds of things happen and you’re never the same person. So, it definitely makes for emotional performances, but I think that’s the whole reason we did this project; to bear hug all of those emotions–the hard ones and the beautiful ones–and really encourage others to do the same.

Is it a different vibe from performing with Lady Antebellum?

It’s definitely different! You get offstage after a show with Lady A and you’re floating on a cloud because it’s high energy, and then you crash down and you’re like, I’m tired I was running around a lot. This one is a different tired, but it’s a great tired. It’s I just poured my heart out and it was worth every second of it and I feel so cleansed from it, but also it’s emotionally a lot more intense.

It must be different for the fans, too.

Yeah, absolutely it is, and that’s the depth of the relationship that I’ve been so thankful to be a part of building with Lady Antebellum. There’s such a personal, close connection you make with people you don’t even know, and that has been really exciting. The stories that people have shared with me about things that are going on in their own lives and how “Thy Will” has touched them… Our hearts are all connected, it’s just whether or not you acknowledge it, and when you do, some really beautiful, powerful things happen. That’s been one of the most unbelievable blessings of the whole process.

You and your mom have such successful singing careers, and Rylee is just starting out. What is it like watching her?

My little sister does a lot of musical theater, that’s really another love that she has, and she’s been in a lot of the productions at her high school. I admire her bravery. She loves it and she’s gifted with it, so, to see this aspect of her musical talent be showcased–to watch her get more and more comfortable in the studio every day, and [to hear] her voice continuing to mature through the process–I’m just so proud of her. And when I hear her voice, the tone and the approachability of it, I feel like there’s going to be a lot of people who listen to Rylee sing and feel like, “I want to be friends with her.” We get to share that stage together and we all are obviously supporting and rooting each other on.

What advice would you offer someone who is going into business with or embarking upon a project with their family?

I think my encouragement is don’t do it unless you know everyone involved is equally passionate about whatever you’re doing. Music is like breathing to our family, so I knew there would never be a lack of passion. Sometimes that means a difference of opinion, but that’s OK. You don’t ever want someone to feel like they’re getting dragged along doing something that they’re not really passionate about, so making sure that everyone is equally passionate about what the project is and then also communicating about it. I realized through the process that as much as I know my mom and dad, and as much as my little sister knows me, we got to know each other a different way, even more than we had before. Communication is key in any relationship, but especially family because you only get one family.