Martina McBride Talks Empowering New Single and Importance of Mentoring Up-and-Coming Artists

Martina McBride has been busy!

Hunkered down with her family in Nashville since March, the songstress and celebrated cook has been keeping herself occupied tending to her backyard garden, promoting new music, and encouraging a new generation of country stars.

Aside from her bountiful tomato harvest, (she's a big fan of our tomato pie recipe!), McBride told Southern Living that she is particularly excited about her latest single, "Girls Like Me," which was released in May.

"It's been a long time since I've had new music on the radio!" the 14-time Grammy Award nominee noted.

"Girls Like Me" came to McBride via NBC's Songland, a reality show that connects recording artists with up-and-coming songwriters. The empowering anthem for women was penned by 20-year-old Nashville-based songwriter Halie.

For McBride, who describes songwriters as "near-and-dear to her heart," the single is meaningful in more ways than one.

"The message of the song is really universal. It's all about reminding people that we all go through things in life. We all go through heartache, we all have insecurities, we all make mistakes," she explains. "Those are the things that make us stronger and it's going to be OK. I just love—especially during this crazy time—being able to sing that message. It's hopeful. I've been there too."

And, as the mom of three girls—aged 25, 22, and 15—McBride can relate to the song's lyrics on an even deeper level.

"These are things I would say to them. Things I have said to them," she says of her daughters.

WATCH: Martina McBride's Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Thanks to a new partnership with Country Crock, fans will have the opportunity to watch McBride perform with her band for the first time in nearly a year.

McBride, who grew up on a farm in Kansas, recently joined forces with the plant-based butter brand to spotlight their new sustainability initiative, The Cover Crops Project. To celebrate, Country Crock and McBride are collaborating with iHeartRadio to bring fans the Red Barn Sessions, a new, virtual concert series highlighting up-and-coming country stars Gabby Barrett and Jimmie Allen.

For McBride, the Red Barn Sessions are an opportunity to pay it forward.

"I got a lot of help from people when I was coming up. Garth Brooks gave me an opening spot on his tour right off the bat. It feels good to pay it forward and be a part of these Red Barn Sessions that help support new artists.

Listen to Southern Living's "Biscuits & Jam" podcast to hear interviews from Martina McBride, Dolly Parton, Darius Rucker, and more!

The first session will air September 29, and continue through December 22. All content will be available to stream at Countrycrock.com/RedBarnSessions.