"Nashville Songwriters: Sarah Harralson and The Women Behind the Lyrics"

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Nashville Songwriters: Sarah Harralson and The Women Behind the Lyrics"

Podcast: Takin’ a Walk
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Date: November 20, 2025
Guests: Sarah Harralson (host/interviewer), Wendy Moten, Judy Pastor, Delaney Ann
Recorded at: Jeannie Silly Studio, SAG-AFTRA Office, Music Row, Nashville

---

Episode Overview

This special episode features songwriter and artist Sarah Harralson in conversation with three other Nashville-based musicians: Wendy Moten, Judy Pastor, and Delaney Ann. The discussion centers on their upcoming documentary, "Women Behind the Lyrics," which explores the experiences of women in the music industry — both the struggles and the triumphs. The episode is an in-depth, candid look at industry challenges, sources of inspiration, and essential advice for aspiring female artists.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introduction to the Documentary (02:43)

• Premise: The "Women Behind the Lyrics" documentary focuses on the real-life experiences of women creating and performing music, highlighting both the glamour and the grit.
• Guests Introduced:
  • Wendy Moten: Runner-up on The Voice, veteran touring artist with Vince Gill.
  • Delaney Ann: 8th generation Texas country singer-songwriter.
  • Judy Pastor: Americana artist from Pennsylvania, now based in Nashville.

Why Join "Women Behind the Lyrics"? (02:43–03:58)

• Wendy Moten (02:49):

  "It seemed like an amazing opportunity to share my story and my journey of my musical career… and learn from some of our other divas that’s a part of this show."

• Delaney Ann (03:14):

  "I really wanted to be a part of Women Behind the Lyrics because I just feel so inspired by women in music… I thought that this could be a great way to help inspire other young artists."

• Judy Pastor (03:44):

  "I wanted to… write with women together, sing, and just have that, like, female camaraderie."

Challenges Faced by Women in Music (03:58–06:05)

• Sarah Harralson sets the tone: The music industry for women isn't all "glitter" — there's traveling, safety, and even doing makeup in gas stations!

• Wendy Moten (04:26):

  "There’s struggles no different than in everyday life for any woman… The goal is to stay true to yourself, have some boundaries… I can still look in the mirror over choices I’ve made."

• Judy Pastor (05:03):

  "There have been times… it was like the guy was more favored… but I just kept on, like Wendy said… I’m actually very grateful. I think we all are, to be women."

• Delaney Ann (05:34):

  "Usually we are the only woman on stage… me and three other guys… there’s something beautiful about being the only woman up there and being able to represent women."

Female Influences and Inspirations (06:20–08:10)

• Wendy Moten (06:20):

  "The great Aretha Franklin… Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick… beautiful singers who had amazing abilities… the message that I want to offer to the world always mattered."

• Delaney Ann (07:11):

  "I was very inspired early by Taylor Swift… she’s just such an amazing songwriter… honestly, when I was young, I think I was doing this just to try to meet Taylor Swift one day."

• Judy Pastor (07:33):

  "Extremely inspired… by like 70s singer-songwriters… Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Carole King… I remember how they made me feel, right? And that kind of started it."

Advice for Aspiring Young Women in Music (08:10–09:20)

• Delaney Ann (08:31):

  "Get a good lawyer."

• Wendy Moten (08:35):

  "Absolutely right… own all your music. You know it’s important to own you."

• Judy Pastor (08:44):

  "Stay true to your voice. Finding your voice is so important… You have to find out what’s inside of you and let that voice come out."

• Delaney Ann (09:09):

  "You have to love it. If you don’t love it, it’s just not gonna happen… this is my gift, this is my passion, and this is what I want to do forever."

Favorite Places to Take a Walk in Nashville (09:47–10:16)

• Judy Pastor (09:47): Prefers to walk in Hermitage, around her neighborhood circle.
• Delaney Ann (09:58): “Centennial Park. I would take my dog down there and she loved to walk up the steps…”
• Wendy Moten (10:06): “If I’m in town… Broadway. There’s tons of food and tons of great music.”
• Sarah Harralson (10:16): “Percy Warner Park near Bellevue is my favorite.”

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On sharing stories and finding community:
  • Wendy Moten (02:49): “Life is about experiences, and this is another one of those great experiences.”
• On the duality of the female experience in music:
  • Sarah Harralson (03:58): "Sometimes we're doing our makeup in gas stations, and there's a lot more to consider being a female in the music industry, like safety on the road."
• On perseverance and gratitude:
  • Judy Pastor (05:03): "I'm actually very grateful. I think we all are, to be women."
• On the loneliness and beauty of representation:
  • Delaney Ann (05:34): “Usually we are the only woman on stage… there’s something really beautiful about being the only woman up there and being able to represent women.”
• On vital industry advice:
  • Delaney Ann & Wendy Moten (08:31–08:36):
    • Delaney: “Get a good lawyer.”
    • Wendy: “Absolutely right… own all your music. And… it’s important to own you.”
• On passion and authenticity:
  • Judy Pastor (08:44): "Finding your voice is so important because you're in a sea of voices… find out what's inside of you and then let that voice come out."
  • Delaney Ann (09:09): “If you don't love it, it's just not gonna happen.”

---

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Why Join Women Behind the Lyrics? — (02:43–03:58)
• Women’s Struggles and Strength in the Music Industry — (03:58–06:05)
• Influence of Female Musical Icons — (06:20–08:10)
• Essential Career Advice for Women — (08:31–09:20)
• Favorite Walking Spots in Nashville — (09:47–10:16)

---

Final Notes

The guests emphasized the importance of community among women in music, the challenges unique to their gender, and the need for business acumen and personal authenticity. Listeners are also encouraged to check out the new single "Paved the Way" and the documentary "Women Behind the Lyrics" via streaming platforms and the official website.

---

Transcript

[Sarah Harrelson]

Takin A Walk Nashville hi, I'm Sarah Harrelson, your host of Taking a Walk Nashville. Today I get to interview the three other ladies that I am a part of an upcoming documentary with called Women behind the Lyrics. It features myself, Wendy Moton, Judy Pastor and Delaney Ann. The documentary shines a light of what it's like to be a woman in the music industry and on the road. Wendy Moten is the 21st season runner up of the the Voice and is currently on tour with Vince Gill. Delaney ann is an 8th generation Texas country singer songwriter and Judy Pastor is a Nashville based Americana artist originally from Pennsylvania. Join me as we discuss our upcoming documentary. We are here at the SAG AFTRA office in the Jeannie Silly Studio on Music Row today.

[Wendy Moten]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Delaney Ann]

Limu Limu.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

And Doug Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally Doug.

[Interviewer]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Ferry Underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates Excludes.

[Anabe Sofa Announcer]

Massachusetts there's nothing like sinking into luxury. Anabe sofas combine ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. Annabe has designed the only fully machine washable sofa from top to bottom. The stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Anna Bay has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Sofas start at just $699 and right now get early access to Black Friday savings up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop [e-mail] Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

Welcome to Takin a Walk Nashville with your host singer songwriter Sarah Harrelson.

[Interviewer]

Can all of you ladies tell me what made you want to get involved with the women behind the lyrics documentary?

[Wendy Moten]

Hi, my name is Wendy Moten and it seemed like an amazing opportunity to share my story and my journey of my musical career and so here was a great opportunity to do and to share and learn from other some of our other divas that's a part of this show. And, you know, life is about experiences, and this is another one of those great experiences.

[Delaney Ann]

I love that. My name's Delaney, and I really wanted to be a part of women behind the lyrics because I just feel so inspired by women in music. I think it's just an amazing thing to be a woman in music. It's honestly such an honor to be a part of this industry and to be able to do what we love. And I thought that this could be a great way to help inspire other young artists and just women that maybe want to get involved in music.

[Interviewer]

Absolutely. And what about you, Judy?

[Judy Pastor]

I wanted to connect with all of you ladies. I wanted to be able to write with the women together, like, what we're doing, sing, and just. Just have that, like, female camaraderie.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. And I think this documentary is great to shine a light on what it's like to be a female in the music industry, because it's not all glitter. You know, sometimes we're doing our makeup in gas stations, and there's a lot more to consider being a female in the music industry, like safety on the road that I think people get insights into. And kind of speaking along those lines, can any of you talk about maybe struggles you have faced being a woman in music?

[Wendy Moten]

Well, I've been in this game longer than most, and I would have to say there's struggles no different than in everyday life for any woman in the world. The goal is to stay true to yourself, have some boundaries. And in the music industry, you still have to know what you're gonna do and what you're not gonna do. And so I've always known that. And I think that my musical journey has been one that I'm happy that I've lived through, and I can still look in the mirror over the choices that I've made in my musical career. So, you know, that's it.

[Judy Pastor]

It's the journey, I would say. Just there have been times where I felt like I've auditioned or done something where it was like the guy was more favored, I guess you could say. But at the same time, personally, I've just kept on, like Wendy said. And I like where I am, and I like who I am. So I'm just. I'm actually very grateful. I think we all are, to be women. And, I mean, you don't. You know, you just make the best of whatever the times and the situations are.

[Delaney Ann]

Yeah. And I think, you know, we look around at these writers rounds in Nashville and usually we are the only woman on stage. I mean, I can't tell you how many times it's me and three other guys. It's pretty much the most common way it goes. But I think there's something really beautiful about being the only woman up there and being able to represent women. And it can be hard to look around and go, you know, we're kind of walking different journeys with a lot of the people in the music industry. But it's also beautiful.

[Interviewer]

I think this documentary will show some of the struggles we have faced being a woman in music, but also how powerful it is being a woman in music. And so what are all of your biggest female influences in music? Some features you look up to?

[Wendy Moten]

Well, I've loved, I love so many different genres, probably like the rest of you. And so I grew up, my main source of inspiration was the great Aretha Franklin. But I also, you know, and I'm a lot older than you guys, so I love the Linda Ronstadt's and the Barbra Streisands and the Dionne Warwicks because they were just amazing, classic, beautiful singers who had amazing abilities and a great quality. So that quality was always important to me. What I'm singing, how I'm going to deliver and the message that I want to offer to the world that always mattered. So the journey has been amazing. And I'm continuing this with these beautiful ladies. This continued journey of great music song and the message that we want to leave to the world.

[Delaney Ann]

Yeah, I love that so much. I was very inspired early by Taylor Swift, of course. She's just such an amazing songwriter and amazing at her business and I mean her success speaks for itself. So she was the first one that I really heard and was like, wow, I want to do that. Honestly, when I was young, I think I was doing this just to try to meet Taylor Swift one day.

[Judy Pastor]

I was extremely inspired as a child by like 70s singer songwriters because I have an older brother that would play them and also would play like Linda Ronstadt and a lot of classic rock and country rock. And it just kind of blew me away. But specifically the songwriters, like I heard the Joni Mitchell songs or Carole King songs and I was like, wow, like songs. But I was like eight, you know what I mean? So it was like I wasn't like cognizant that I'm going to do that one day, but I remember how they made me feel feel right. And that kind of started it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. And our new single paved the way. Kind of shines a light on all of the women who have influenced us and how we'll continue paving the way for other artists. And so a couple more questions left for you ladies. What is some advice for young women who are wanting to pursue music? What would you tell them?

[Delaney Ann]

Get a good lawyer.

[Wendy Moten]

Absolutely right.

[Delaney Ann]

Yeah.

[Wendy Moten]

Get a little. A good lawyer. You know, own all your music. And you know it's important to own you.

[Judy Pastor]

I would say stay true to your voice. Finding your voice is so important because you're in a sea of voices. So when you look out, like Wendy and I were talking about the other day, it can really, like, mess up your. Your whole perspective. So you really have to find out what's inside of you and then let that voice come out.

[Delaney Ann]

And I think you have to love it. If you don't love it, it's just not gonna happen. I think you have to come from a place of this is my gift, this is my passion, and this is what I want to do forever.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Especially in an age where you're seeing a bunch of artists on social media everywhere, it's so important to know that it's your passion and to find your voice. So I think that's all great advice. And lastly, since we are on Taking a Walk, Nashvill always ask people on the show, where is your favorite place to take a walk in Nashville? Delaney, I know you're in Texas now, but maybe you have a favorite place like in Clarksville or somewhere.

[Judy Pastor]

I can say I like. Well, I don't want to say where I live, but it's in Hermitage and I live on a circle, so I walk the circle all the time and just to get my steps in. And I just love it.

[Delaney Ann]

Yeah, I'm going to just go Centennial Park. I would take my dog down there and she loved to walk up the steps and like, yeah, I'm gonna go Centennial Park.

[Wendy Moten]

Well, you know, I'm spoiled. I don't do that much walking. However, if I'm in town, I'm in the mood for it. I go down Broadway. There's tons of food and tons of great music.

[Interviewer]

Not a bad place to take a walk. Unless it's a Saturday night in Nashville. My favorite place is always the Percy Warner park near Bellevue. Thank you ladies for being on Takin a Walk Nashville today. Be sure to check out our new single Paved the Way and the Women behind the Lyrics compilation album on all streaming platforms on follow Women behind the lyrics and women behind the lyrics.com to stay up to date on our documentary and tour dates.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

Thanks for listening to Taking a Walk Nashville with singer songwriter Sarah Harrelson. And check out our other podcasts. Music Saved Me, Comedy Saved Me, and Taking a Walk. Available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ah, greetings from my bath festive friends. The holidays are overwhelming, but I'm tackling this season with PayPal and making the most of my money. Getting 5% cash back when I pay in 4. No fees, no interest. I used it to get this portable spa with jets. Now the bubbles can cling to my sculpted but pruny body. Make the most of your money this holiday with PayPal. Save the offer in the app ends 1231. See paypal.com promoter points can be redeemed for cash and more. Paying for sub terms of approval PayPal Inc. And MLS 910457 this is an I Heart podcast.