The Daily Standard
Story Archive
Natalie Uhlenhake will be back in Mercer County for a series of performances in May.
NASHVILLE - Singer-songwriter and St. Henry native Natalie Uhlenhake is making waves once again with the release of her brand-new single, "Four Kids and a Picket Fence," available digitally everywhere today.
Uhlenhake, who has been singing, writing, and playing music since the age of 13, describes the song as a heartfelt tribute to her parents and their love story.
"It's called "Four Kids and a Picket Fence," and I wrote it about my parents and their love story," Uhlenhake says. "I usually come up with one line that I really like and write a song around that, and the line I came up with was 'four kids and a picket fence,' which I really felt encapsulated what we might call the American Dream. When I actually sat down to write it, I initially pictured it being an angsty song, but that day I was talking to somebody new, so I felt really romantic."
That romantic inspiration led Uhlenhake to reflect on the life her parents built together.
"My parents have four kids and I'm the oldest," she says. "They don't have a literal picket fence, but we're a very beautiful Middle American family. I thought about their lives, and I just decided that was a story worth telling. So, I wrote a song about it, and I hope I get a story like theirs one day."
Uhlenhake's parents even joined her in the studio while she recorded the song, making for an emotional experience.
"They got to watch the entire process of the final track coming together," she recalls. "There were a lot of tears."
After earning a business degree, Uhlenhake left St. Henry and made the move to Nashville in August 2023 to pursue her dreams full-time. These days, she's a familiar face on Nashville's historic Broadway street, performing in the city's famed honky-tonks and collaborating with other aspiring songwriters.
While her first two singles leaned into a pop-country sound, "Four Kids and a Picket Fence" takes a turn toward a more Americana/folk influence, showcasing Uhlenhake's versatility as a songwriter and musician. She also fronts her own four-piece band, Natalie and The Nonsense, a name that came about in a fun and fitting way.
"I really like alliteration, so I knew it had to be 'Natalie and the something.' So, my mom and I literally went through a dictionary, and came up with a bunch of words that start with 'n.' I texted some of my favorites to my bandmates, and one of them said, 'We are Natalie and The Nonsense! That sums us up perfectly!' We goof around with each other all the time. They are great guys and they're super talented. I love having them around."
Uhlenhake will soon be back in Mercer County for a series of performances in early May.
"I'll be at Gilbert Station in Burkettsville on Thursday, May 1, and then on Friday, May 2, I'll be at the Vineyard at Evergreen Farm in Coldwater, which is actually the first place I ever did a professional gig, so it'll be a very full-circle moment," she says.
Fans can also look forward to seeing Natalie at the Mercer County Fair in August.
With "Four Kids and a Picket Fence" now out and a busy schedule ahead, Uhlenhake continues to build on her "Neon Cowgirl" songwriting style, bringing heartfelt stories and undeniable talent to audiences everywhere.
For more updates and tour dates, fans can follow Natalie Uhlenhake on social media and streaming platforms.
