Julia Dunagan JoJo and Emmy Meli turned Nashville’s Marathon Music Works into a sanctuary of self-love and raw energy on February 22, 2025. The glam-packed crowd soaked in every defiant, soulful note. It was a night that fused glitter with grit, leaving us all a little more fearless, bound by an unspoken promise: here, everyone is accepted.
Emmy Meli
Emmy Meli kicked off the evening with a bang, her set a fierce rallying cry for self-advocacy and community. Her track “Breakthrough” brought a playful twist—she sang about never dating a Virgo, then flashed a grin and apologized to all the Virgos in the crowd, sparking laughter and cheers. It wasn’t until she launched into “I Am Woman”—a mainstay on my empowerment playlist—that it hit me: Meli was the voice behind my anthem. “Special songs find us when we need them most,” she said, and the truth of it rippled through the room. With declarations to “love the fuck out of yourself” and warnings to “never forfeit your power by not knowing yourself,” Meli didn’t just perform—she sparked a shared rebellion wrapped in love. Her electrifying set left the air buzzing with anticipation for JoJo.
Photos by Julia Dunagan Photography. All images © 2025 Copyright Julia Dunagan Photography. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
JoJo
When JoJo’s moment arrived, she stepped into a single spotlight, her all-black ensemble a stark, powerful silhouette that commanded not just attention, but awe. The crowd swept up in her presence and energy all night long. “These songs are stories,” she shares, her voice a warm embrace pulling us into her world. She wove tales of depression, love, and renewal—none more poignant than her ritualistic ode to fresh sheets after a breakup, a simple yet profound act of renewal we could all relate to. JoJo’s power lies in her honesty; she doesn’t just sing, she testifies, urging us to embrace who we are. Her rich, commanding vocals carried each story with a hard-won grace that felt deeply human. Against a backdrop of beaming faces, her set mirrored our own resilience.
Photos by Julia Dunagan Photography. All images © 2024 Copyright Julia Dunagan Photography. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
What tied the night together was its fearless celebration of self-love—the messy, real, all-in kind. JoJo and Meli, each in their own way, built a space where glitter-dusted fans and soul-searchers alike could revel in their truth. It was a night of good vibes that lingered long after the lights came up.
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