“My experience at BSC taught me that no matter what room you get into, you can be successful,” says Jada Cato ’17.

Only four years out of college and the Birmingham-based country music singer/songwriter has already been in some impressive rooms. In 2020, Cato made her Country Music Television debut on a “Concert for Love & Acceptance” – Grammy nominee and Dove Award winning country star Ty Herndon created the annual concert with GLAAD in 2015, and past performers have included Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Mickey Guyton, and Tanya Tucker. Cato also was the 2019 recipient of GLAAD’s National Rising Star award for her commitment to enhancing LGBTQ representation.

Cato’s range of talents is impressive – she plays the guitar, piano and ukulele. She has been seen across the country in “Legally Blonde,” “Into the Woods,” and “Sing Out!”  She has also appeared in commercials for companies like State Farm and Adopt-A-Highway, and skits for “It’s A Southern Thing.” Her songwriting sessions with Nashville producer, songwriter, and musician Erik Halbig, who has written songs for Sara Evans, Collin Raye and more, led to her recording her first EP with Halbig at the helm.

A Georgia native, Cato was a theatre major and religion minor and says her Hilltop experience prepared her well for taking the stage, in venues around Birmingham and across the country.

“In country music, performance-wise, having a good awareness of yourself and of others on stage and knowing how to navigate to stage is huge,” she says. “Dance was a huge part of my training, and something that I like to incorporate into my shows now as well.”

She says BSC prepared her for the business side of country music, too.

“They teach you to stay one step ahead of the game. And that’s what you have to do in this business. The hardest class that I took was probably my theatre literature class. I learned so much. The professors really care, so they push you. They also give you a lot of grace.”

This story was published in the Fall/Winter 2021 issue of ’Southern, BSC’s alumni magazine.

If you have ideas for our next issue of ’Southern, please email [email protected]. We always welcome stories about outstanding people from the BSC community.

Listen to Jada Cato on Spotify here.