Jessie James Decker Sings ‘Didn’t You Cry’ at the Opry: ‘All of My Idols and the Legends Have Played’ Here
When it came to body confidence, the country crooner reached her peak after having two kids. "I feel better now after two children — I think I look better, I feel better," Decker, who is mother to daughter Vivianne, 3, and son Eric, 19 months, told PEOPLE. "My body's in the best shape I've ever been in my life." she continued: "When I was younger, I was relying on those young girl genetics. I wasn't watching what I was eating or looking at nutrition. Now I'm paying attention, and my body is leaner, I'm healthier, I'm eating better. I'm just in better shape."
Jessie James Decker has taken the Grand Ole Opry stage before, but every time is more and more special.
During her most recent performance at the iconic Nashville, Tennessee, theatre this past October, Decker sang “Didn’t You Cry” with co-writer Alyssa Bonagura.
“One of my favorite things about country music is our ability to tell stories, and the other great thing about country music is when you tell your story, it doesn’t always have to be yours — that’s the beauty of it,” Decker told the audience. “Sometimes you want to tell somebody else’s story.”
Decker and Bonagura wrote the song with another friend, Chantelle Paige, channeling a “sad housewife” of the 1950s, she tells PEOPLE exclusively.
“Sometimes we just like to get creative and write songs that have nothing to do with us but still have that emotion when we sing,” Decker, 28, says.
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The “Lights Down Low” singer calls the Opry “classic and timeless,” adding, “No matter what has happened in my career I will always feel like I have made it because I have been on that stage performing where all of my idols and the legends have played.”
Decker is currently working on a new album, slated to drop sometime in 2017.”Being in the studio for this album has been so much fun,” she shares.
In the meantime, Decker is focused on closing out 2017 with family – including husband Eric Decker and kids Vivianne Rose, 2, and Eric Thomas II, 15 months.
RELATED VIDEO: How Has Jessie James Decker’s Life Changed With Addition of Baby Number Two?
“My family always goes all out for Christmas,” the star tells PEOPLE. “I personally love Christmas morning. Waking up and having a cup of coffee and getting the kids really excited and telling them that Santa came and brought them all sorts of presents.”
She’s particularly looking forward to gifting what she hopes will be treasured presents.
“I love watching everyone’s faces when they open what I got them,” Decker says. “Especially, the kids. They just light up and it’s so much fun.”
