Toad

At least according to every news outlet and online hater imaginable.

Accusations of lip-syncing.

Rumors of being dropped by my label.

Reports of celebrity feuds and rivalries.

And then there’s my personal favorite…

The pending annulment of a marriage I can’t even remember agreeing to.

When you’re the sweetheart of country music, being a headline is a given.

Living the headline is more of an uninvited surprise.

I’m barely recognized for the massive success I’ve had.

Now I’m famous because people love to hate me.

I’m a public enemy, but no one knows my side of the story.

I’m beginning to think it doesn’t even matter.

I’m burned out, hurting, and everyone thinks I have warts. Ew.

Becoming a shut-in is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Too bad my label has other ideas.

They send me a solution…

In the form of a red-haired, green-eyed man who wears sarcasm like armor.

I don’t want a stranger in my house.

I don’t want Nate.

All I want is to go back to a time when I wasn’t a toad.

When I was country music’s princess.

But going back is impossible.

Moving forward will change everything.