Meet Mookie Betts’ Momma

This episode is the first time I’ve shared the couch with a Grammy Award winner!  Country music artist Linda Davis still tours today, and she won that grammy for a song that I bet you remember… it was the duet with Reba McIntyre “Does He Love You...”    But the title that Linda is most proud of is Mom. Linda is momma to two girls, Country powerhouse group Lady A's Hillary Scott and younger daughter, Riley Jean.

The odds of a college athlete making it into the pros is 1.6%.  Isn’t that crazy? What’s even crazier is that Diane Gronkowski gave birth to five boys and ALL FIVE played in the pros-  1 in the MLB and 4 in the NFL- including fan favorite, The Gronk!- Rob Gronkowski.  Fans love hearing how “Diane did it” so much so that she wrote a book a while back and the title is pretty appropriate- OUTNUMBERED.  In this conversation, hear first hand just how she did it in my conversation with Momma Gronk- Diane Gronkowski.

Join Got It From My Momma host Jennifer Vickery Smith on the 2025 Country Music Awards red carpet!

Matthew West is one of Christian Music’s most popular artists - he’s had multiple grammy nominations, and received countless award and written some of the biggest songs in both country and christian music. AND I love that he was raised by a prayer warrior of a mom in Sharon West.  She’s our guest on today’s episode and I learned so much from her about raising sons, being a good mother-in-law, and how to be an intentional and engaged grandparent… As you watch this episode, you’ll definitely see where Matthew’s storytelling ability comes from- Let’s head over to the couch to share a conversation with Matthew’s momma Sharon.

One of my friends describes Leanne Morgan as a national treasure and I have to agree!  With her southern sass and dazzling charm this top selling female comedienne has won the hearts of women and moms everywhere!  In addition to her netflix comedy special - she now has her own series, she had a supporting role in a movie this past year AND released her first book. BUT my favorite part of Leanne’s story is how she didn’t take the brave step to begin a career in comedy until she was 50 years old!  It’s never too late, right? 

For 11 seasons millions of people watched the reality TV show Duck Dynasty and fell in love with the Robertson family- In fact the show is back as Duck Dynasty the Revival-  I loved getting to talk with Korie Robertson about motherhood and the beautiful ministry that she and her daughter Sadie have built, learning more from behind the scenes of their popular reality TV show and how this family stays true to themselves and their faith while impacting so many people while under a bright spotlight.  Let’s jump into my conversation with Korie Robertson. 

It’s not hard to see what country music artist and American Idol winner Lauren Alaina got from her momma… they are so similar in looks and personality and I LOVED this conversation…  Kristy White & her daughter Lauren have been on quite the journey together!  Kristy traveled with Lauren on the bus the first three years after Lauren won American Idol; she walked with her daughter through some dark days, including Lauren's battle with bulimia which Kristy openly shares in this conversation in hopes of helping other mothers to be proactive.  Kristy and I grew up about 15 minutes from each other outside of Chattanooga, TN - so this one was a lot of fun!

I have always loved soaking up advice from other moms who I think just do it well. And now having two kids working in the music industry, I need all the advice I can get. My conversation with Country music artist Thomas Rhett's mom, Paige, was so much fun- she was my very first guest on Got it From My Momma when my son Conner was touring with out on tour with Thomas Rhett.  I really appreciated Paige being so vulnerable in this conversation, and you're going to love hearing her stories - from having Thomas Rhett at only 19 years old, to why she didn't want him to go into music, and of course we talk about the early days of the love story that everyone's in love with, TR and Lauren.

Helen Smallbone’s story inspired so many people when the 2024 movie UNSUNG HERO was released. Mother to Christian music artists Rebecca St James as well as Joel and Luke from For King and Country - there are parts of this family’s journey that are truly unbeleivable. But God’s faithfulness along the way isn’t. I have no doubt this family’s story she shares in our conversation will inspire you because just before we began, Helen prayed the most beautiful prayer for you- the friends who would watch and hear this conversation.

Diana Collins is the mother of LA Dodger and MLB All-star Mookie Betts.  Just his initials alone set the stage for today’s conversation.  Mookie’s momma was dreaming BIG for her son when she and his dad chose the name Markus Lynn Betts, so his initials would be MLB.  From a young age, Mookie’s momma nurtured his love for the game, and when he was so small as a youngster and no one selected him to play in the local rec league, Diana Collins coached the team herself…  

One of my favorite parts of getting to have these inspiring conversations with mothers is the friends I’ve made along the way…  and Carla Denham and I were fast friends after sharing a VERY special conversation about her daughter, Country superstar Kelsea Ballerini.  And what a year this Country music superstar has had… a new album, a cross-country tour, tapped to be a judge on the Voice, nominated for Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards…  the list goes on and on… In this episode, you’ll get to know Kelsea pretty well from the unique perspective of someone whose had a front row seat to it all… Kelsea’s momma!