Hello, my name is Nancy Carey Johnson. I am a singer-songwriter in my early 60s, and I am asking for your help to finally give my music the chance it deserves.

Like many women of my generation, having a dream was not considered practical or important. I was encouraged to follow a safer, more acceptable path: grow up, get married, raise a family, and put personal dreams aside. With no guidance, no support, and no roadmap for pursuing a career in music, I did what was expected of me.

That path led to 31 years in an abusive marriage. My husband knew my dream when we married, yet he did everything he could to undermine it. I stayed because we had four sons together, and at the time, leaving was not an option. For decades, my voice was silenced -both literally and emotionally.

My parents and husband are gone, and my sons are grown. For the first time in my life, I am free to pursue the work I was always meant to do.

In October 2022, I recorded my first album, Chaos & Grace. It received strong reviews, and one of its songs, “Birthday Cake for Breakfast,” won First Place in the American Songwriter Magazine Heartbreak Lyric Contest.

I recently recorded a new EP, Shine Your Light, featuring four original songs. As my producer and I listened to the final tracks, we both realized that two of these songs, “Shine Your Light” and “Guano Loco,” have genuine commercial and emotional potential.

“Shine Your Light” is an uplifting, soulful song with lush harmonies and a simple but powerful message: you matter, and you are more wonderful than you realize. I wrote it because encouraging others to see their own worth is deeply important to me.

“Guano Loco” is joyful, funny, and danceable. It tells a story many people can relate to, which is exactly why I believe it has real staying power and audience appeal.

Here is the truth. I don't know how far this journey will take me. But what I do know is that something inside me refuses to quit. And after everything I've lived through, it matters profoundly to me to encourage others, especially those who were never given the chance to follow their dreams or whose voices were silenced, to keep believing in themselves.

If my music can inspire even one person not to give up, then this journey is worth it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you choose to support this campaign, please know how grateful I am for your kindness and belief.

With heartfelt thanks,

Nancy Carey Johnson