In country music, Jada Cato stands out as a distinctive and powerful voice. For her, storytelling is at the heart of everything she creates, elevating her music from good songs to emotional journeys.

Cato came to Birmingham to attend Birmingham-Southern College and stayed. She earned her degree in theater and religion and has evolved into a rising star in country music. Six years after graduating, she navigates the genre alongside fellow Black female talents. She also serves as a member of the junior advisory board for the Central Alabama Theater and is an upcoming co-director for the Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre.

Her manager recognized her songwriting prowess and pushed her to use her music and platform to speak up about what she believes in.  As an advocate for justice and humanity, she is a recipient of GLAAD’s National Rising Star Grant. She is ready to use her voice in Birmingham and beyond to speak about matters close to her heart.

We asked her a few not-so-serious questions about her love of her adopted home.

Jada Cato came to Birmingham for college and discovered she loved the Magic City. (Jada Cato / Facebook)

This is Alabama: What do you love most about Birmingham? 

Jada Cato: I love the food! And I love that Birmingham kindness – the kind that lets you cross the street even when you don’t have a light.

TIA: If you had to make a soundtrack about your life in Alabama, name three songs you would choose and explain why they made the list. 

Cato: My three songs would be:

“Practice Kissing” by Jada Cato because there’s always a bar or honkytonk to pick someone up at.

“Shooting Stars” by Jada Cato because a lit-up Alabama night sky is absolutely unmatched.

 “Cowboy” by Jada Cato because sometimes Alabama needs to take a chill pill!

Cato loves Fife’s Southern food and hospitality. (Fife’s)

TIA: What’s one restaurant you recommend people go to when they visit your town?

Cato: Fife’s, but I could do a whole list of good food in Bham. Fife’s is just good ol’ Southern cooking — breakfast, lunch, dinner. And everyone is always so nice. It just feels like someone’s grandma’s house.

There’s also Lé Fresca, Luca (in Homewood, if that counts), Taj India and Galley and Garden off the top of my head.

Check out her music and learn more about her at: www.jadacatomusic.com.

Follow her @jadacatomusic on all platforms.

This story was previously published by This is Alabama. Want to read more good news about Alabama? Sign up for the This is Alabama newsletter here.