“The Voice” Singer RaeLynn Fights For Music In Our Schools!

RaeLynn is a young country artist who's currently headlining the Radio Disney, Give A Note Foundation and National Association For Music Education's Music In Our Schools Tour to raise awareness for music education. We spoke with the singer-songwriter to learn all about the important cause and find out all about RaeLynn herself!

What makeup product could you not live without?

1. One makeup product I could not live without is my red MAC lipstick, for sure.

Who's your single biggest musical inspiration?

2. I would definitely have to say Dolly Parton.

What is your go-to karaoke song?

3. "Super Bass" for some reason is always my go-to karaoke song.

If you could have any meal right this moment, what would it be?

4. I would definitely have fried pickles and ranch.

Describe your favorite pair of shoes

5. I'm obsessed with Dr. Martens, so like if I had a unicorn pair of Dr. Martens I'd be pretty happy.

What's your weirdest phobia?

6. My phone can't be on the floor. That's one of my weird phobias. My phone has to be sitting on something. It cannot be sitting on the floor.

What's your favorite guilty pleasure movie?

7. I mean it's not really a guilty pleasure, but I'm obsessed with Disney movies. I love The Lion King.

How did taking music in school had an impact on your life?

I grew up playing a lot with my family. My aunt was basically a music teacher. She taught us all how to play. When I was in sixth grade, I joined orchestra and it impacted my life in so many ways. In school we get so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of homework and tests and all the stuff that we've got going academically, that to be able to have an outlet like orchestra or choir or band is good for us creative kids to get that energy out and be able to focus more on other things too.

Why is it so important for schools across the country to make sure that music kind of stays a part of the classroom?

It's important because not every kid is good at sports. Every kid has that one thing that they love to do. Every kid is different in their own way and to scratch music out first when you're trying to cut something is just wrong because you're not catering to all the kids' needs. I think it's important for kids to have options. Music's a lifestyle. Music's an everyday thing. We listen to it on the radio. We listen to it in movies. We listen to it to amp our game. We listen to it when we're sad or happy. It's important to have something for students to learn how to play music.

Why do you think so many schools are dropping music lessons?

I just think they don't take it seriously. They think it's the first thing that should go. It's beyond me. I don't know why they would think it to be the first one gone.

What was the inspiration behind your song "Always Sing"?

When I was asked to look into doing the Music In Our Schools tour, they hadn't picked an artist yet, they were looking at a few of us. They asked me, 'We know that you're a songwriter. Would you maybe try to write a song for it?' My favorite part about being in music is when I think about music, I think about family. I grew up singing with my family. That's how it is in band and choir and all these different electives. They're a family. My dad still talks to his best friend he met in band. I wrote "Always Sing" about the community of music. It's funny, because when I was younger and just starting to perform, I was so nervous to talk onstage. But when I started singing, a calmness came over me. The hook of the song is 'When you can't say a thing, you can always sing.' It's cool because so many of these kids that we've talked to, they'll say 'I get so nervous, but when I start singing it just makes me happy.' That's the cutest thing in the world, because it's just so true. A lot of us will be nervous, but once you turn on the music or once you starting singing, something comes over us and I think that comes through in the song "Always Sing".

What has it been like to be on the Music In Our Schools Tour so far?

It has been such a reviving experience for me. I've been on the road with Miranda [Lambert] for the first part of this year and last year. I was just non-stop on the road. It's just been so empowering and sweet to see these kids so full of life and so excited to have us at their schools and so excited about music. My favorite part is watching them do their versions of "Always Sing". It does not get old. It's been just such an amazing experience.

From now until Thursday, March 19, you can also enter the Bring RaeLynn To Your School sweepstakes for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a free RaeLynn concert at your school only on the Radio Disney App!

Learn even more about RaeLynn and the Music In Our Schools Tour here, and share your own music experiences with us at SweetyHigh.com.