Lori Christian is one of the most powerful women in country music, working with artists including Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, and Kacey Musgraves. But the Pennsylvania native always had the drive to succeed inside of her, and she had her sights squarely set on entertainment PR.
“I knew my senior year of high school that I wanted to be a publicist,” she says. “Music was my greatest passion, so I researched colleges with strong music and communications departments and ultimately chose Denison University where I double-majored. They also had a New York Fine Arts program through which I spent the first semester of my junior year working at NBC in their press and publicity department. It oversaw Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.”
But it wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds. And that struggle is what nudged her into making the move to Music City.
“I really struggled financially to make ends meet during my years in New York—I lived in horrible apartments in rooms the size of closets,” she says. “I moved to Nashville hoping for a better quality of life and then in only three years found myself jobless. It really taught me to never take a day for granted, to always plan for the unexpected, and to ultimately grow where you are planted because opportunities present themselves when you are doing your best work.”
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
All my job experiences have led me to my next job: My internship led me to my first job, which then led me to move to Nashville to work for Sony Music Nashville. Three years into my job at Sony as the publicist for the RCA Label I was laid off. I freelanced for seven months while looking for the next opportunity. Cindy Mabe, President of UMG Nashville, and I had worked together at Sony, so when she called with the chance to be reunited and work for her and UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan I jumped at that opportunity and have been with the company for the past 11 years. I love the artists on our roster, and I feel so lucky to be able to work with such a talented group of people. I’ve also never worked in a better work environment in my career than at UMG Nashville. I feel supported in my job and I feel supported that I can successfully balance work and family. That comes from the top down and the leadership provided at UMGN.
MAKING IT IN MUSIC CITY
Nashville is where I experienced my biggest life moments: buying my first car, buying our first house, getting engaged, marrying my husband, and becoming parents. For my career, Nashville was a big stepping-stone for me. Even when I was living in New York, the relationships I had in Nashville are what led me to the job at Sony. I am forever grateful to the people who took a chance on me and brought me to this city.
A BALANCING ACT
I find balance in my life through my family and self-care. I work out regularly, even if that means getting up at 4 a.m. to take a 5:30 a.m. class at the gym. I meditate, even if for only 10 minutes each day. When I am home, I try my best to be a present parent. We also travel as a family because it is so important to me to create memories with my kids. I believe and know that women can have it all but that doesn’t mean it is easy. I have never been on one of my kids’ school field trips and I have missed countless other events due to my work and travel schedule. In these current times of me working from home, I am trying to embrace the time with my kids because I will likely never have it again. This will be the first baseball season where I don’t miss a game, and for that I am grateful.