Miles Away Interview with Shelley Rená

by Ben Childers

Photo credit: Michael Weintrob

Miles Away, the debut album by Shelley Rená, Dolly's cousin, was released on Friday, October 17, 2025, by Owepar Records. It may come as a surprise to some, considering her family's musical legacy in the Country, Bluegrass, and Americana genres, but the album is an 11-track collection of Soul and R&B inspired music. 

After honing her craft for years singing with family and performing at Dollywood, Shelley Rená arrives a fully formed artist who knows exactly what she wants to say. The title track serves a a sort of mission statement from the singer, with lines like, "I'm not stealing the spotlight, just making my own way." Shelley co-wrote seven of the album's 11 tracks, mostly with musician Peter Keys and her sister Karen Light. The album features a cover of her cousin Dolly's "Blue Me" from the 1992 soundtrack of Straight Talk, and two collaborations with her cousin Sabyn (Randy Parton's son). Other notable moments include a cover of the Bill Withers classic "Use Me" and Muddy Waters' "Can't Be Satisfied."

I interviewed Shelley about the creation of the album and her musical inspirations recently. Check out the full interview below!

Miles Away is available now on all streaming platforms and is also available as a download and CD from the Smoky Mountain DNA store here.

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Album cover. Owepar (2025)

The Dolly Parton Discography: Where did the album title Miles Away come from? Did you decide on it for the album title before or after the song was written?
Shelley Rená: The title Miles Away actually came with the music accompaniment by Peter Keys. And then my sister Karen [Light] and I got together and wrote it from that title.

TDPD: What was the songwriting experience like, and how did you go about selecting the songs included?
SR: The songwriting is honestly one of my favorite parts of the process. Getting to just sit together with likeminded people that you love and trust to just be creative with is the best experience. When choosing which cover songs to use, Richie [Owens], Peter, Karen, and I would share playlists of funky songs and we all ended up agreeing to the ones chosen.

TDPD: Can you talk about the recording process, the musicians, and where the album was recorded?
SR: The album was recorded at Stoner Creek Studios, which is owned and operated by Peter Keys. There are quite a few musicians on the album. There is Peter Keys on keyboards, piano, Hammond B3, and programming. There is Bob Ocker and Richie Owens on guitar. There is Miqui Gutierrez on saxophone and Pino Squillace on percussion. 

TDPD: Why did you decide to cover your cousin Dolly's "Blue Me" from the Straight Talk soundtrack?
SR: The song "Blue Me" was actually suggested by John Zarling and his team at Results Global Marketing. They thought my soulful sound would be perfect for that song and I absolutely love that song so it was an easy YES from me!

TDPD: It might surprise some people because of your family's history primarily in Country and Gospel music, but Miles Away is a Soul album. Not including family, who are your musical influences?
SR: Outside of my own family, my musical influences growing up were Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Jett, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Terri Gibbs, Ray Charles, and Whitney Houston.

TDPD: What are your feelings towards singing Country and Mountain Music since this album is Soul?
SR: I still love me some good ol' Mountain Music, it was my musical beginning. It's what made me interested in music, well that and listening to my daddy play saxophone.

TDPD: Did your grandmother Dorothy Jo's music, and that of her siblings (The Kinfolks), have influence on you, and if so, how?
SR: The Kinfolks Show itself is what made me want to be a performer. I memorized all their lines and would picture myself up there performing with them. I remember this one time at a family get together, Uncle Bill [Owens] told everyone to be quiet so I could sing "Coat of Many Colors." In fact, I think there is a VHS out there somewhere with that recording.

TDPD: Last time we spoke, you mentioned being a member of the Gospel group The Generations with your grandmother and dad. Can you tell us more about that?
SR: My grandmother, Dorothy Jo, and my dad, Dale Puckett, were always having me come sing at church with them, and one day Mama Jo said that we should start a group. That lit a fire under my daddy and he got to working on what songs we could do and finally decided that we should be called The Generations. So we instantly got into the studio, made an album, and then toured around Tennessee to different churches singing and Mama Jo would preach afterwards. 

TDPD: Your dad Dale played the saxophone. Did his musical style inspire you in any way?
SR: My dad playing the saxophone is a huge part of why I love Soul, Blues, R&B, and Jazz so much. He would hit those soulful saxophone riffs, and I would try to mimic them with my voice because I didn't know how to play an instrument.

TDPD: Do any of your siblings or children sing or perform music? 
SR: Yes! My sister, Karen, is actually on my new album doing background vocals. My sister, Angela, used to be in a band but no longer performs. All four of my kids are musically talented, some sing, some play instruments and some rap and write.

TDPD: Do you have musical plans for the future? Would you ever consider headlining a solo show of your own at Dollywood? 
SR: My musical plans for the future are to keep doing what I love, and that is to write music, sing music, and perform music. Now where that takes me,  I will leave up to divine intervention. But I will be grateful every step of the way. If Dollywood were to offer me a solo show, I definitely wouldn't turn it down. But for right now, I am very happy with being in the family show.

TDPD: What does being part of the Owens-Parton musical legacy mean to you?
SR: It means everything to me. I am so proud and honored to be able to carry on the gifts that were given to me. Every day I try to make my daddy and Mama Jo proud. Everyone always comments about how I have the biggest smile on stage but what most people don’t know is that when I hit that stage, there may be hundreds of people in the audience, but I am performing for my dad and my Mama Jo, and for all the other ancestors that were involved in passing down that musical gift.