Jessie James Decker

At seventeen, Decker was introduced to Carla Wallace of independent label Big Yellow Dog Music, who helped her with her songwriting and singing. One of her songs, "Gypsy Girl", was written with two writers from Yellow Dog and made it into the hands of record executive David Massey, who brought her to the attention of L.A. Reid. She auditioned for Reid by singing her song "My Cowboy", produced by John Rich. Decker soon signed a contract with Mercury Records.[10]

Even though she originally thought that she would be producing a country record, Decker was later told to record a pop album by record executives.[11] She also claimed to have been asked to sound like pop singer Britney Spears.[12] She described the recording process as "intense" due to the genre crossing.[11] She described herself in an interview as "a country girl at heart," having grown up listening to this music.[13]

Her debut album, Jessie James, was released in August 2009, debuting at number 23 on the Billboard 200. It was a fusion between country and pop music, with more emphasis placed on the latter as dictated by her label. The album also featured writing credits from Decker and seasoned pop songwriter Kara DioGuardi and Mitch Allan, among others.[13] The album received mixed receptions from critics. Allmusic received the album positively, but found that despite being marketed as such and featuring some country-influenced production, the music on the album was a far cry from country music.[14] Slant thought that the album only superficially pulled together influences from pop, country and hip-hop while failing to pander to any of those audiences.[15] The album's first single, "Wanted", produced by Allan, had been released in April and peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Decker later performed in the Middle East with singer Kid Rock and comedian Carlos Mencia for US troops stationed overseas.[7]

Decker began working on her second album, Sweet American Dreams,[16] in 2010, which was initially planned to be released in late summer.[17] The album was to have the same country-pop sound as her debut, with Decker being given more leeway by Mercury in incorporating country sounds.[13] The first single, "Boys in the Summer", released in June, was a minor country success but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Having struggled with accepting her career path as a pop singer, Decker told her label in the midst of preparations for her album that she did not want to be a pop artist and wanted to record country music.[12] After negotiations, Massey asked Mark Wright from Show Dog-Universal Music, which had facilitated the country release of "Boys in the Summer" in November, to help Mercury/IDJ launch Decker in the country genre.[18] Decker began recording in April 2011.[16] "When You Say My Name" was produced by Wright and released on January 31, 2012. "Military Man" was released on May 22, 2012. She was removed from the Show Dog Universal roster in 2013.[19] Decker released an extended play, Comin' Home, on April 18, 2014, which hit number one on iTunes top albums chart and debuted in the top 5 on Billboard's top country albums chart.[2]

Decker was featured on former Hinder lead singer Austin John's debut solo EP Love Sick Radio, on the track "Howlin'". The EP was released April 22, 2016.[20]

She finished the Lights Down Low tour. On her new label Epic she released a five-track EP, Gold, on February 17, 2017, and released a surprise live EP on June 9, 2017, titled Blackbird Sessions. On October 13, 2017, she released her second full-length album and first for Epic Records, Southern Girl City Lights.

On November 27, 2017, Decker appeared in "12 Days of Cracker Barrel", ending on December 8.[21] Each day got a new YouTube video in the style of the original 12 Days of Christmas song.

In 2013, Decker starred with her husband Eric Decker, a wide receiver in the National Football League, in the E! reality show Eric & Jessie: Game On. It ended its run in April 2014, but returned in September 2017.[22][23] It ran for 20 episodes in three seasons.[24]

Decker launched a clothing line called Kittenish online.[25] Kittenish opened its first physical location in February 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee.[26] A second branch is located near Destin, Florida.[27]

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