Jennifer Nettles Shows Women’s Strength in ‘I Can Do Hard Things’ Video
Tales of triumph are all around us.
Jennifer Nettles puts a real-life face to the inspiring message of her new single in the powerful video for “I Can Do Hard Things.”
Filmed in black and white and showcasing the strength of women everywhere – even if the world doesn’t always recognize it – the clip shares some of the stark realities women face, and celebrates the community which is forged by overcoming those obstacles. Business leaders, artists, teachers, mothers, firefighters and more are all included, holding their heads high with dignified grace as Nettles sings of empowerment and struggle.
“I Can Do Hard Things” was written by the Sugarland star, and produced by Julian Raymond.
“This song took on a life quickly and unexpectedly,” Nettles says. “For me, in writing it, I was just writing my own truth and story. But what I have come to see is that so many women share this truth and that inspired me to make an invitation.”
The video, directed by Katie Kauss, is being shared across social media, and fans are encouraged to share their own stories of hardship and triumph with the hashtag #ICanDoHardThings.
“This video is an invitation to a community; the beginning of a beautiful tapestry of women sharing their stories of doing hard things,” Nettles continues. “This kind of community is both sword and shield. When you share your own story, you own your power. And when you own your power, it is harder for someone to take it from you. When you share in community, you protect each other’s power and that makes it even harder for someone to take it from you. Owning your power is a shield that says, ‘You can’t take this from me!’ Holding your sister’s power is a sword in front of her that says, ‘Don’t even THINK about trying to take this from her!’”
Presented in quiet, stripped-down country fashion, the song features delicate guitars and sweeping string flourishes as Nettles’ lets her soulful voice soar. She further described the song’s inspiration in a short essay posted on Medium in February, calling it “a blood letting, a real-life heart opening to what it means to be a grown woman.”
Nettles was honored 2019 recipient of the Human Rights Campaign Ally for Equality Award earlier this month, and “I Can Do Hard Things” is her first solo release since a pair of singles and her Playing With Fire album in 2016. Sugarland reunited for their Bigger album last year.
