Kimberly Schlapman reflected on the day she and Little Big Town bandmate Karen Fairchild teamed up with a few other female songwriters to pen the group’s song, “Girl Crush.” The ballad has remained one of the band's biggest hits since it released in 2014.
Schlapman — one-quarter of Little Big Town, along with Fairchild, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook — appeared on the latest episode of the Biscuits & Jam podcast. She spoke with host and Southern Living Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans about growing up in Cornelia, Georgia, the moment she met Fairchild while she was on a choir camp bus, Little Big Town’s 25th anniversary and the group’s tour with Sugarland, and more.
“Karen and I love to write with these three women in town, and they call themselves The Love Junkies, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose, and Lori McKenna,” Schlapman said as she spoke about the story behind “Girl Crush” during the podcast conversation. “And there are no three more talented women. I mean, they have written so many hit songs together. That's where ‘Girl Crush’ came from. And so Karen and I like to write with them whenever the opportunity presents itself. We don't let the boys come. It's like an all-girls, lots of estrogen, lots of chatting. And we start out always, for some reason, eating chicken salad together, usually at Liz's house. And then a little bit farther into the afternoon, she starts popping wine. And we just always have such a great time together.”
Little Big Town recently announced a Greatest Hits album arriving later this summer to mark the band’s 25th anniversary. “Girl Crush” will appear on the album, along with “Boondocks,” “Little White Church” featuring former tour mate Miranda Lambert, “Shut Up Train” featuring Kelsea Ballerini, “Pontoon,” “Tornado” “Take Me Home” featuring Sugarland, and more. The album is set to release on August 9.