You might recognize Aubrey Peeples for her role as Jem in Jem and the Holograms, or Layla Grant in Nashville—but the actress and singer has been showcasing her talents for years. In honor of Nashville‘s upcoming season finale, we caught up with Aubrey to get all the scoop on her TV show role, her singing career, touring and everything else she hopes to accomplish in the future!
We chatted with Aubrey before news broke that ABC wouldn’t be renewing Nashville—but her statements on social media make it clear she’s not ready for that part of her life to end. She’s been actively tweeting with the hashtag #BringBackNashville (we hope you’re listening, ABC!) and an earlier message made it sound like she wasn’t entirely thrilled about the sudden cancellation of the show.
I’m so thankful I was a part of a special show; I wish it was handled with more care. thank you to every fan who kept us going #Nashville
— Aubrey Peeples (@aubreypeeples) May 13, 2016
Though we’re heartbroken that this season’s finale might be the series’ last, it’s clear that Aubrey isn’t going anywhere. Before landing the role of Layla Grant, the talented actress and singer had already had plenty of experience with performing—probably why she was such a natural in the role of Layla. “I grew up doing musical theater for twelve years straight, so I got very used to live performances as well as some very big theaters and arenas from singing the national anthem around the country as a kid,” she explained to us.
This isn’t to say there’s nothing nerve-racking about getting up on stage, though. Performing at the legendary Opry is one example. “I get nervous every single damn time I perform at the Opry. I’ve done it eleven or twelve times now and the extreme paralyzing fear has worn off, but still,” she said. “And I tend to get nervous when I play guitar live because I’m very self-conscious about it. That’s something I want to work on.” Don’t worry, Aubrey, there is no need for that.
Since becoming a series regular, Aubrey’s experiences have helped to refine her performance abilities. She recently wrapped up a Nashville Tour, and had a blast, to say the least. “It was incredible. Going on tour this year was particularly special for me because last year was my first time and I had a tonsil infection and was extremely nervous. So this year, I came back feeling much stronger and with way more experience. I think that really affected my performance in a positive way, especially for me mentally,” Aubrey said. “The venues we’ve played were certainly one of my favorite aspects. We played the Fox Theater in Atlanta, the last place Prince played.”
Perhaps one of her favorite aspects about touring—besides the awesome venues—is the fact that she can go on new adventures in places that she’s never visited. “Exploring cities with my dear friend Christopher Carmack is always my favorite,” she said. “Last year we biked the Golden Gate Bridge and this year we freaked out at a Stevie Ray Vaughan exhibit at the Woodie Guthrie Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma.”
If you happen to be a fan of Aubrey, then you know that she has major singing (and guitar playing) abilities—but did you realize that she’s also quite passionate about writing? From original songs to screenplays, Aubrey has experimented with writing in her spare time, and she hopes that she can pursue that aspect of the entertainment industry in the future. “I have dabbled privately at writing a screenplay as well as a pilot, and I’d love to see these or future writing projects turn into a reality,” Aubrey shared with us. “And of course I’m hoping to release an album in the next year or two.” Umm, we’d LOVE for Aubrey to release an album.
Speaking of an album, Aubrey definitely has a few ideas up her sleeve about what kind of sound she’d like to incorporate. She’s a self-proclaimed jazz enthusiast, but is completely open to branching off into other genres. “I’ve been writing for a long time now and I am itching to get the ball rolling. I write mostly blues-based music, and I would be looking to release an album very much in the vein of blues/rock/soul,” Aubrey said. “I’m hoping to experiment with different instrumentation that I haven’t gotten much chance to before; I’m thinking I’ll definitely want to work with a horn section. I’ve got lots of ideas if someone will listen.” *raises hand*
Aubrey’s musical inspirations include everyone from Aretha Franklin to Amy Winehouse, but there are a few artists in particular that the 22-year-old actress and singer would love to work with some day. “I would really die and go straight to heaven if I could collaborate with Bonnie Raitt. I’d also love to do something with Chris Stapleton,” she admitted.
Aside from musical ventures, Aubrey also hopes that she can continue to play new and exciting roles on TV shows. “I’m dying to be on Girls and become best friends with Lena Dunham. And Shameless, I’d love to do something completely outrageous on Shameless,” Aubrey shared. “Also, it would be great if I could be the next musical artist on Vinyl, please and thank you.” We’re definitely with Aubrey on that last one. Can someone please make that happen?
While nothing is set in stone, Aubrey is optimistic about the future, and hopes that she can continue pursuing projects that she feels passionately about. “I would really just love to keep on this journey. I of course hope Nashville continues for a long time, but I really want to shoot lots of films and hopefully release a few albums in this lifetime. Maybe release some poetry I’ve written, or maybe one day, a book. I’d love to win an Oscar, but hey, I’m happy taking things one step at a time.”