Jacquie Roar is a force of nature whose voice demands attention. The North Plains, Oregon native skyrocketed into the national consciousness as a finalist on Season 24 of NBC’s The Voice, where her blistering covers of classic rock and modern country earned her a spot on Reba McEntire’s team. Known for a high-octane stage presence that mirrors her influences—legends like Heart and Carrie Underwood—Roar has spent years honing her craft in the trenches of the West Coast music scene. With her 2025 single "That’s the Spirit" and an upcoming album on the horizon, she is proving that a "small-town girl" from the Pacific Northwest can hold her own in the shark-infested waters of Nashville.

In this episode of Curious Goldfish, Jacquie joins Jason English to discuss the grit required to maintain an independent career, the reality of "the hustle," and why she’ll never stop being a student of the game.

Jacquie pulls back the curtain on the glamour of songwriting, recounting how she wrote her latest anthem, "That’s the Spirit," while feeling "miserable" after a night of karaoke. Despite the physical toll, she pushed through the session at Curb Records, proving that creativity often requires showing up when you least want to. "I just feel like writing a party song even though I feel miserable," she recalls telling her co-writers, highlighting the resilience needed to perform on command.

While she maintains a presence in Music City, Jacquie speaks candidly about the difficulty of breaking through in a town "swimming with sharks." She chooses to stay rooted in Oregon for her family while commuting to Tennessee, navigating the tension between being a present parent and a rising star. For Jacquie, success isn't about moving to a specific zip code; it’s about "how you shine brighter" in a sea of talented musicians.

Having transitioned from a wedding singer to a national TV finalist, Jacquie remains deeply curious about the mechanics of the industry. She isn't afraid to ask the "dumb" questions about publishing, booking, and branding. She views her career as a constant evolution, noting that her time on The Voice wasn't a finish line, but a launchpad that taught her "you have to be your own biggest fan before anyone else will be."