Stars on Broadway - Morgan Wallen

Chapter 15 - Girl in the Mirror

Georgie sat in the studio, her guitar resting on her lap as she strummed softly, working through some chords. Across from her, Hardy was scribbling lyrics on a notepad, occasionally glancing up with a thoughtful look as they collaborated on a new track for her upcoming album.

The last few weeks had been intense, with the success of Beers on Me propelling her career to new heights, but now she was back to the grind, focusing on her next big project—her debut album. The pressure was on, and with the label expecting nothing short of a hit, Georgie had been pouring everything she had into writing new material.

Hardy leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen against the pad. "What do you think of this line?" he asked, reading aloud. "I've been walking this line, but now I'm breaking free... It's got that empowerment vibe you were talking about."

Georgie nodded thoughtfully. "I like it. It's strong, but we need something to tie it all together."

Before she could continue, the door to the studio swung open, and one of the label executives walked in. It was Paul, one of the execs who had been closely involved with her album development. He greeted Hardy with a nod and turned his attention to Georgie, his expression serious but not unkind.

"Georgie," he began, "I wanted to check in with you about the album. The label is really excited about what you've been working on, but we think we need a standout single—something big."

Georgie raised an eyebrow. "What kind of single are you thinking?"

Paul glanced at Hardy before focusing on her again. "We were thinking... a ballad. A powerful, emotional one. Something that really digs deep. And after your interview went viral, we think this would be the perfect time to write about your experience—your abusive relationship. A song that's raw, real, and speaks to what you went through. It could be the anthem of your album."

Georgie froze for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. She had just opened up about that chapter of her life in the interview, and while she was grateful for the support that had come from it, the last thing she wanted to do was keep reliving that pain. She had moved on—or at least, she was trying to.

"I don't know, Paul," Georgie said hesitantly, her fingers still resting on the guitar strings. "I feel like I've already said everything I needed to say in that interview. I'm not sure I want to keep bringing it up."

Paul's expression softened, but his tone remained firm. "I understand, but this could be something huge. A song that really connects with people on a personal level. Your fans responded so strongly to your interview because they related to your story. This could be a way to turn that vulnerability into something powerful—something that inspires and heals."

Georgie glanced at Hardy, who was watching her quietly, giving her the space to process. She knew Paul had a point. The interview had struck a chord with so many people, and there was potential in creating a song that reflected that experience. But it also felt like reopening an old wound, one that she wasn't sure she wanted to explore again.

"I hear you," she said slowly. "But it's hard for me. I don't want my entire career to be defined by that relationship. I want to move forward, not be stuck in the past."

Paul nodded. "I get that. But think of it this way: you're not just telling your story anymore. You're telling the story of so many others who've been through the same thing. You have a platform now, and people are looking to you for that connection. This song could be their anthem too."

Georgie sighed, running a hand through her hair. The idea of writing a song like that wasn't sitting well with her—at least, not from scratch. But then she remembered something. A song she had written long before this conversation, when she was still healing from the aftermath of her relationship. It was a deeply personal song, one that had never been released. She had called it Girl in the Mirror.