Why in the World | Maddie Lenhart

On this episode of Heart of the Gulch, host Tony Mendoza sits down with rising Nashville country singer-songwriter **Maddie Lenhart** following the release of her debut EP, "Why in the World" Released Oct. 2, 2026, *Why in the World* is a six-song introduction to Maddie Lenhart as both an artist and songwriter, featuring: “Empty Room,” “Easy on You,” “Newton’s First Law,” “Why in the World,” “It’s Not Like” and “A Glimpse of It.”** Produced by **Brad Hill**, the project explores heartbreak, grief, perseverance and the uncertainty that comes with chasing something you believe you're meant to do. Maddie takes Heart of the Gulch inside the story behind "Why in the World" and explains why the title track has connected with listeners experiencing everything from breakups to the loss of loved ones. She also reveals the unexpected science theme running through songs including **“Newton’s First Law”** and “Why in the World,” talks about growing up with a physics-teacher father, and explains why big questions about life naturally find their way into her songwriting. The conversation begins with “Empty Room", a song Maddie wrote with Justin Cross after both songwriters experienced the reality of performing for rooms where almost nobody was listening. Maddie explains why playing empty rooms is still part of her life as an independent artist — and why no difficult gig is enough to convince her to stop chasing music. Before pursuing her own artist career, Maddie moved to Nashville and worked at SESAC. When COVID disrupted that chapter of her life, she realized she had moved to Music City to pursue music but hadn't truly given herself the opportunity to try. She ultimately left the corporate path and committed fully to becoming a songwriter and country artist. Since then, Maddie has written hundreds of songs and earned dozens of independent cuts while developing her own catalog. In 2026, she returned to the "CMA Fest Spotlight Stage" for her second consecutive CMA Fest appearance and watched the journey come full circle as listeners began recognizing and singing her songs back to her. Tony and Maddie also dive into the realities behind being a completely independent country artist: paying to record music, playing shows that don't always make money, building an audience without a major marketing or PR budget, creating an EP despite industry advice to focus on singles, and hoping the project can show Nashville what might be possible with the right team behind her. Maddie explains why she views Why in the World almost like a billboard for what she can build independently — and why the EP's early response has given her even more motivation to keep creating. The conversation also explores Maddie's songwriting process, her love of emotional and slower songs, the role of producer Brad Hill, the importance of Nashville songwriter rounds, her EP release celebration at **Analog at the Hutton Hotel**, and her hopes to release more music and tour outside Nashville in 2027. And when the conversation turns to the uncertainty of pursuing a creative career, Maddie sums up her mentality in four words: “Delusional people win." Because no artist knows exactly how close they are to the next song, opportunity, fan or moment that could change everything. Listen to Maddie Lenhart's debut EP "Why in the World" now on Spotify, Apple Music and your favorite streaming platform. 0:00 - Maddie Lenhart Interview | Why in the World? 0:38 - Maddie Lenhart's Debut EP “Why in the World?” 1:25 - The Meaning Behind Maddie Lenhart's “Empty Room” 4:21 - Moving to Nashville & Going All-In on Country Music 7:02 - Feeling Like It Was “Too Late” to Become an Artist 8:01 - Writing Songs for Other Country Artists 10:53 - Maddie Lenhart's Nashville EP Release Show 13:37 - Nashville Songwriter Rounds & Broadway Gigs 14:24 - The Meaning Behind “Newton's First Law” 15:32 - Maddie Lenhart on Performing at CMA Fest 16:49 - The Science Hidden in Maddie Lenhart's Songwriting 18:51 - Songwriter vs. Performer: Finding Her Sound 20:17 - Making an EP as an Independent Country Artist 21:58 - How “Why in the World” Broke Through on Social Media 24:42 - Being an Independent Artist in Nashville 27:34 - The Song Maddie Lenhart Would Play for a Record Label 28:50 - How Maddie Lenhart Writes & Records Her Songs 31:58 - Maddie Lenhart's Career Goals & What's Next 🎬 Watch the full interview & read show notes: https://heartofthegulch.com Welcome to Heart of the Gulch, Nashville's home for country music interviews, singer-songwriters, and rising country artists. Hosted by Tony Mendoza, we feature conversations with Nashville songwriters, Grand Ole Opry performers, and CMA Fest artists. Follow Heart of the Gulch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofthegulch615 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartofthegulch