Jennifer Nettles’ middle name, Odessa, is a family name that has been passed on through the generations from her great aunt, to her grandmother, and now to her, her niece and even one of her goddaughters. And it turns out Odessa was an inspiration for one of her family nicknames. Jennifer says, “When I was a little girl I loved to travel, and as a little girl that meant like go into town, okay, that was a big deal when I was from a little small South Georgia town. My great grandmother consequently named me Jennifer Go-dessa because I always liked to go. So I know she is up there watching right now and chuckling to herself at all the going that I continue to do now as I continue to go through my life as a musician and as an artist.”
One thing that continues to keep Jennifer going these days is her latest single, “I Can Do Hard Things,” which was inspired, in part, by Glennon Doyle Melton’s 2016 memoir Love Warrior.
Jennifer Nettles – middle name Odessa :49
“My middle name is Odessa and I was named after my grandmother, Silvia Odessa, who was named after my great aunt, Odessa. So it’s a family name and actually now my niece is named that after me and also one of my god daughters is named that after me so it’s a name that continues to make its way and I love it for that. And also a funny story, when I was a little girl I loved to travel, and as a little girl that meant like go into town, okay, that was a big deal when I was from a little small South Georgia town. My great grandmother consequently named me Jennifer Go-dessa because I always liked to go. So I know she is up there watching right now and chuckling to herself at all the going that I continue to do now as I continue to go through my life as a musician and as an artist.”