Stars on Broadway - Morgan Wallen

Chapter 4 - Preparing for the Spotlight

The next morning, Georgie woke up before her alarm, a jolt of adrenaline pushing her from sleep into the stark reality of the day ahead. For a moment, she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her heart beating fast. It was the day she'd been waiting for—the day everything could change.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she reached over, already knowing who it was.

Morgan: You ready for this? Meeting's tomorrow. They wanna meet at noon.

Georgie: Ready as I'll ever be. Thanks again, Morgan. Seriously.

She dropped her phone back on the bed and let out a deep breath. It was happening—no more daydreaming or waiting around. Tomorrow at noon, she'd be sitting in front of the executives at Morgan's label, pitching herself and her music. It was the kind of opportunity she had worked toward for years, yet now that it was here, a wave of doubt threatened to wash over her.

She stood up and padded into the kitchen, reaching for the coffee maker. As she waited for the drip of the first cup, her mind raced. This was uncharted territory. She didn't know how these meetings usually went, or what kind of questions the label would ask. She had to be ready for anything—confident but humble, eager but not desperate.

Her coffee mug steamed as she carried it to her small dining table and sat down, her guitar resting against the wall beside her. Maybe she should rehearse today—go over the songs she wanted to showcase, tighten the melodies. She picked up the guitar, fingers finding the familiar grooves on the strings. It always calmed her to play, like the world faded away and left her alone with the music.

But today, the music wasn't enough to quiet her nerves. What if the executives didn't like her songs in person? What if she wasn't polished enough, or they wanted her to change her style? Her songs were her—every note, every lyric came from a real place. The idea of being molded into something she wasn't made her stomach twist.

She strummed a few chords absentmindedly, her thoughts returning to the past two years. Nashville had been tough on her—endless nights playing in bars for tips, working at the Country Music Hall of Fame during the day to keep the bills paid. Some nights, it felt like she'd been treading water, not making any progress toward her dreams. But then there were nights when the crowd was just right, when people actually stopped to listen, and she felt like she was on the edge of something bigger. This was one of those moments, except the stakes had never been higher.

After a few minutes, she set her guitar down, unable to focus. She picked up her phone, her finger hovering over her mom's number.

Her parents had been so supportive throughout this journey, and as much as she didn't want to let them down, she knew they'd have the right words to calm her nerves. She hit call, and after the second ring, her mom answered.

"Well, there's my superstar!" her mom's voice chimed through the speaker, bright and full of love.

Georgie smiled despite herself. "Hey, Mama. You got a minute?"
"Always for you, honey. How're you feelin'?"

Georgie sighed, leaning back against her chair. "I'm nervous, honestly. I mean, this is it. The big meeting. I just—I don't know what to expect."

Her mom chuckled softly, the sound soothing in Georgie's ear. "That's normal, sweetheart. But you've been preparing for this your whole life, whether you know it or not. They're gonna love you, Georgie. You just gotta be yourself."

"That's the thing," Georgie replied, fiddling with the corner of the tablecloth. "What if they don't want me to be myself? What if they try to change me, make me into something I'm not?"

Her mom paused for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was steady. "If they can't see what makes you special as you are, then they don't deserve you. You know your heart, Georgie. Don't let anyone tell you different. Stay true to yourself, and the right people will see it."