What does it really take to survive—and thrive—in the music industry? In this episode of The Stiletto Room, I sit down with two of the most brilliant (and brutally honest) hitmakers in the game: Bonnie McKee (the pen behind Teenage Dream, California Gurls, Roar) and Shane Stevens (the voice behind American Honey, Fancy Like, and countless Nashville gems). We go way beyond the highlight reel. Bonnie opens up about losing her first record deal at 16, falling into addiction, and clawing her way back with one hit after another. Shane shares how George Michael and Mariah Carey inspired his songwriting dreams, how rejection almost ended his career, and how sobriety gave him back his purpose. Together, we dive into:
- The real life of a songwriter (spoiler: it’s not all glitz and Grammys)
- Why failure and struggle are essential to becoming an artist
- How sobriety sharpened their creativity and saved their lives
- Full circle moments that prove the universe is always listening
- Why mentoring the next generation is the greatest legacy
Funny, raw, and unfiltered—this episode is as much about survival as it is about songwriting. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to make it in music, this is your masterclass.
