One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting rising artists and knowing that great things are in store for them. I was blown away when I first heard 13-year-old Josie Sal and was surprised to learn she is relatively new to the music scene.

Josie Sal never aspired to be a singer. At just ten years old, Josie Sal took a dare from her father to sing in front of a crowd in Florida, sparking a passion for music that quickly transformed into a promising career. After her impromptu performance of "Dance Monkey" captivated the audience, Josie began taking vocal and guitar lessons and performing at venues across Pittsburgh and Florida. Being the youngest of four children, she was always entertaining her family.

Once Josie decided to give this music thing a go, she settled on country music because she liked its storytelling aspect. Her grandpa loved country music, and they would sit and listen for hours to the legends like Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash. Last year, she began releasing singles. The memory of her grandpa inspired one of her first singles, "Country Gold."

Not long after she started singing, Josie and her dad got tickets to a Jelly Roll concert in Pittsburgh. They were allowed into the pit at the front of the stage, and she held up a sign asking to sing "Save Me" with him. Jelly said, "I got you."

Before she knew it, she was whisked on stage and handed a microphone. "It was really crazy how it happened. But then I sang 'Save Me,' and it got super crazy."

She did the same thing again at a Lainey Wilson concert and got to sing with her as well. Josie stated, "It never sounded good because whenever I sang with Laney, I cried, like bawling my eyes out. And then whenever I sing with Jelly Roll, I didn't have any ears (feedback monitor).

Nevertheless, Josie is one of the few rising artists who can attest to having sung with Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson before they were even 13.

"I started out singing Van Halen," she confessed. I was impressed that one so young knew who they were.

And in case you think a 13-year-old can't hang with the rock or country greats, listen to Josie's cover of Alannah Myles' "Black Velvet."

Although she doesn't live in Nashville full-time, Josie has fully immersed herself in the songwriting culture. She has been journaling since an early age and has always been somewhat of a songwriter. A family friend introduced Josie to Noah Henson, Brantley Gilbert's lead guitarist. He believed in the young singer and has now become her producer, guiding her songwriting.   

One song she released earlier this year, "Two Cents," was born from defiance—written after a family "friend" gave an unsolicited warning about Josie pursuing a music career at such a young age. With razor-sharp lyrics and raw emotion, this track proves Josie's talent is years ahead of her actual age. She makes it clear that she isn't paying attention to negativity. Instead, she stays focused, tunes out doubters, and refuses to let anything derail her from chasing her dreams.

Now, the 13-year-old rising powerhouse is making waves again with her newest single, "Fake Friends." Also produced by industry veteran Noah Henson, the track is an anthem of confidence and resilience.

While still in middle school, many of her friends thought it was odd that she was a performer. "Kids are jealous and mean. I was trying to figure out who my real friends were and who were my fake friends." Even her older siblings have experienced this with their friends. The song speaks of seeing people's true colors, whether good or bad.

With her bold lyrics and undeniable talent, Josie proves that age is just a number and that she is a force to be reckoned with. She was born to create and sing music. With her signature confidence and determination, Josie continues to carve out her place in country music, proving that she's here to stay. I am excited to see what the future holds for her promising career.

Visit Josie's website to view her tour schedule and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.