In October 2023, Linfield University hosted its second annual NW Media Fest – a four-day celebration of media featuring workshops led by industry experts on entertainment, movies, music, journalism and comics.
Singer-songwriter Jessie Goergen ’12, known professionally as Jessie G, was one of the featured guests. The Nashville-based performing artist, who originally hails from Brookings, offered sessions to students on the writing process and succeeding in the music industry. On Wednesday night, she and percussionist/guitarist Christian Santangelo ’15 performed on the Delkin Recital Hall stage.
The pair met at Linfield, first performing together at Wildstock in 2012, where they opened for Macklemore. At the time, neither could have predicted that they would reunite in Nashville and be performing together nearly 11 years later.
After graduating with degrees in political science and vocal performance, Jessie won a “Battle of the Bands” competition in 2013, earning the opportunity to open for country legend Gretchen Wilson. Jessie would eventually tour with Wilson and released her first single “Army Ranger” through Wilson’s label, Redneck Records, in 2018. Her first album – self-titled “Jessie G” – was produced in 2019.
Santangelo, who came to Linfield from Mulkilteo, Washington, moved to the country-music heartland in Nashville shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree in music. In addition to touring regularly with Jessie and others, he also works as a studio musician and producer.
When COVID-19 hit the entertainment industry, Jessie decided to become an independent artist, obtaining full rights to her previously recorded songs from Wilson. Since then, she has released seven new singles, including “You Lit a Fire” in 2023. She has also continued touring – usually accompanied by Santangelo – with prominent artists such as Jarrod Niemann, Sara Evans and Brothers Osborne.
Even though Jessie is no longer signed to the Redneck Records label, she and Wilson have announced plans to release a duet in 2024.
Read more about Jessie G at linfield.edu/jessie-g.
