BiB: Cate Turner – From American Idol to DIY Stardom: Her Honest Journey Back to the Stage

Welcome back to Bringin’ It Backwards, the podcast where rising and legendary artists share their real stories and spill the secrets behind their journeys to stardom. In this episode, Adam welcomes back singer-songwriter Cate Turner for an unprecedented fourth appearance—making her the reigning record holder for most visits to the show!

Cate first joined us in 2021, and since then, her story has been anything but stagnant. We pick right up where we left off, diving into the whirlwind of the last few years: the release of her two-part EP, the deeply personal aftermath of losing her father, her transition from a major label to full independence, and how all of that shaped her music and identity as an artist.

With Cate’s signature honesty and humor, she talks about the reality of leaving Atlantic Records—what it means to no longer have the safety net (and, yes, the “Amex-wielding father” label experience), and the freeing but terrifying process of steering her own ship. Cate opens up about finding her confidence as an independent artist, the strategy behind splitting her album into two EPs, and the challenges of writing and releasing music after such a loss.

We get into the nitty gritty—how she decided which songs went where, the vulnerable themes in tracks like “I Might,” and why fan connection at live shows means more than any streaming statistic. Cate also shares her no-nonsense advice for aspiring artists: get out of your own head and trust yourself, even when everything feels uncertain.

If you’re an independent musician, someone who’s gone through loss, or just a fan of Cate’s refreshingly self-aware songwriting, you won’t want to miss this conversation. So, tune in, hear Cate drop some real talk, and let her story inspire your own journey.

And as always, be sure to subscribe, follow @BringinBackPOD, and check out the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.