Girls With Guitars hosted by “Mama Jan” Smith

Overview

“Mama Jan” Smith is a nationally recognized singer/songwriter/musician, Jan Smith is also a Grammy recognized producer, GA Music Hall of Fame inductee, and a multi-platinum certified vocal coach/vocal producer who has tended to some of the most distinctive voices in the business. With over 40 years of performance acumen, her natural stage banter and vocal prowess remain her mark of excellence as a mentor and performer.

Heidi Huelskoetter is a seasoned singer-songwriter with deep roots in the Nashville music scene. As a former signed artist and writer at PolyGram Publishing and Radney Foster, Heidi spent six years honing her craft among some of the industry’s finest. Heidi’s music blends Americana, and Country storytelling, creating songs that are melodically moving and lyrically deeply personal. In addition to her songwriting career, Heidi has dedicated 30 years as a Master Vocal Coach at Jan Smith Studios in Atlanta, GA, mentoring vocalists and songwriters across all genres. This dual role as both artist and mentor reflects her unwavering commitment to the transformative power of music.

Janelle Arthur got her start at eight years old portraying a young Dolly Parton in the production of "Paradise Road". She went on to perform over 5,000 shows in the Pigeon Forge area before moving to Nashville, TN to pursue her love of songwriting. Janelle landed in the top five on American Idol, has performed at the Grand Ole Opry over 25 times and has duets with Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, The Isaacs and more. Arthur is a multi-dimensional artist as she has also starred in two Feature Films, "' From My Roots" and romantic comedy "Five Date Rule".

Erin Kirby is a Georgia-born country artist whose unmistakable voice and heartfelt songwriting have earned her performances on stages from the Grand Ole Opry to SXSW. Since signing as a songwriter to Concord, she is steadily carving out her place in the modern country landscape. After early national exposure on Lifetime’s Kim of Queens, Kirby transitioned from her pop and R&B beginnings into a signature style she describes as “Adele Country” - a blend of raw soul, emotional power, and southern authenticity. Her 2026 debut EP introduced her as a compelling new voice, and she followed it with the motivational ballad “Darkness Win,” a track that showcases both her vocal range and her ability to write with vulnerability and hope.