Stage Wives

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Stage Wives šŸ’› For wives of touring husbands
🚌 Holding the home front, together
šŸ‘‡ Join our sisterhood

09/25/2026

We’re not, I repeat, NOT….going anywhere.

09/24/2026

If you haven’t listened to our latest episodes of Offstage & On Duty yet… what are you doing?! šŸ˜‚

The 10 Minute Marriage Parts 1 & 2 are LIVE, and we’re talking about the stuff that actually keeps a marriage connected when life is busy, schedules are chaotic, and touring has a way of turning ā€œquality timeā€ into a logistical miracle. šŸ˜‚

We’re getting into communication, connection, intimacy, s*x, and simple ways to keep choosing each other—both on the road and at home.

It’s honest. It’s practical. It’s a little spicy. šŸŒ¶ļø And as always, there are plenty of laughs along the way.

šŸŽ§ Go listen to The 10 Minute Marriage Parts 1 & 2 wherever you get your podcasts!

Then come back and tell us: What’s one little thing that helps you and your spouse stay connected when life gets crazy?

Send this episode to a fellow Stage Wife who needs it.

09/22/2026

If you haven’t listened to our latest episodes of Offstage & On Duty yet… what are you doing?! šŸ˜‚

The 10 Minute Marriage Parts 1 & 2 are LIVE, and we’re talking about the stuff that actually keeps a marriage connected when life is busy, schedules are chaotic, and touring has a way of turning ā€œquality timeā€ into a logistical miracle. šŸ˜‚

We’re getting into communication, connection, intimacy, s*x, and simple ways to keep choosing each other—both on the road and at home.

It’s honest. It’s practical. It’s a little spicy. šŸŒ¶ļø And as always, there are plenty of laughs along the way.

Go listen to The 10 Minute Marriage Parts 1 & 2 wherever you get your podcasts!

Then come back and tell us: What’s one little thing that helps you and your spouse stay connected when life gets crazy?

Send this episode to a fellow Stage Wife who needs it.

MEET THE AUTHORS ✨Meet Rhyan Shirley and Rachel ā€œRayeā€ Smith, best friends, cofounders of Stage Wives, and authors of Th...
08/27/2026

MEET THE AUTHORS ✨

Meet Rhyan Shirley and Rachel ā€œRayeā€ Smith, best friends, cofounders of Stage Wives, and authors of The Invisible Backpack—the first book in the Touring Tales series.

šŸŽ¶ MEET RHYAN

Rhyan wrote her first song at seven years old and has been telling stories ever since—first through homemade plays and notebooks filled with stories, and later through music. After moving from a small town in Arkansas to Nashville in 2011, she became a BMI Award-winning songwriter whose songs have been recorded by many artists across many genres. Her music has also appeared in television and film, while her own artist project, Ri-An, has accumulated more than 10 million Spotify streams. Whether she is writing a song or a children’s book, Rhyan’s greatest love has always been finding the words that help people feel seen.

šŸ”„ MEET RACHEL

Rachel—better known as Raye—is a pyrography artist, instructor, and the creative force behind Cinder Bella Studios and Raye Ann Pyrography. For more than seven years, she has used fire to create original wood-burned artwork designed to hold stories, preserve memories, and be passed down. When she isn’t creating one-of-a-kind pieces or teaching others the art of wood burning, she is dreaming up new ideas alongside her husband, Hunter, and raising their daughter. Her work is thoughtful, deeply personal, and rooted in the belief that art can turn even the things that have burned us into something meaningful.

Together, Rhyan and Rachel bring two very different artistic worlds to The Invisible Backpack, but they share the same heart behind it. Both have lived the life of a Stage Wife for more than a decade, and both understand what it is like to love someone whose work takes him away from home. This story was born from their own experiences of helping children understand where Dad goes, why he has to leave, and what to do with feelings that are often too big for little hearts to explain. The Invisible Backpack gives children and parents a gentle way to name those feelings, carry them together, and stay connected across the miles.

Every single page of The Invisible Backpack exists because of one incredibly talented artist: Trea Bailey.Trea is the il...
08/26/2026

Every single page of The Invisible Backpack exists because of one incredibly talented artist: Trea Bailey.

Trea is the illustrator who turned this story into a world kids could actually step into — and getting to watch him meet the families who’ve fallen in love with his artwork at our release party was a moment we’ll never forget.

If you don’t already know his work, Trea has spent his career as a visual development artist, character designer, and 2D animator on projects like Disney’s Disenchanted, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Magic: The Gathering, Sesame Street, Warner Bros., and so many more. And somehow, with all of that on his resume, he brought the same heart and care to our little touring-family story that he brings to the biggest names in animation.

Trea, thank you for giving The Invisible Backpack its heart on every page, and for being part of this celebration with us. We are so lucky.

Go give him some love!! → Trea Bailey

The Invisible Backpack has been such a beautiful journey, but none of it would have been possible without our publishers...
08/26/2026

The Invisible Backpack has been such a beautiful journey, but none of it would have been possible without our publishers and partners in Stage Wives, Jason and Rhonda Halbert.

Through every season of building Stage Wives and every step of bringing this book into the world, they have believed in us, championed this vision, and offered their unwavering support. Their wisdom and generosity have been an extraordinary gift, and there are simply no words to express how deeply grateful we are.

Jason and Rhonda are also accomplished authors who write together as R.J. Halbert. Their remarkable Goodpasture Chronicles trilogy recently concluded with the release of its final book, Architect. And through their publishing house, Novus Press Works, they are helping other authors bring their own stories to life. If you are an author searching for a publisher who will genuinely believe in your work and thoughtfully guide it into the world, we could not recommend them more highly.

On July 28th, we celebrated something huge: our very first book signing and the official release of Touring Tales BOOK O...
08/24/2026

On July 28th, we celebrated something huge: our very first book signing and the official release of Touring Tales BOOK ONE: The Invisible Backpack.

But what made the night so special wasn’t simply releasing a book—it was getting to celebrate it with the very community that inspired it.

Sitting across from you, signing books for your families, hugging your kiddos, and hearing pieces of your own touring stories made the entire night feel incredibly personal. This book was created for families like ours—for the children carrying feelings they may not always know how to explain and for the Stage Wives helping them carry it all while someone they love is away.

To every Stage Wife who came, brought her family, bought a book, shared a hug, or simply reminded us why this work matters: thank you. This story belongs to you, too.

We have so much more love and gratitude to share this week, but for now, swipe through and relive this beautiful night with us. Thank you SO MUCH to Lisa Taylor Gray for capturing this magical night!! Can’t wait to share more photos this week!

Thank you to all the Stage Wives and kiddos who came out for our Stage Wives Pool Party today!Not to brag, but let’s jus...
08/23/2026

Thank you to all the Stage Wives and kiddos who came out for our Stage Wives Pool Party today!

Not to brag, but let’s just say it went swimmingly.

There’s something really special about getting out of the house, letting the kids wear each other out, and spending a few hours with women who just get this life. Thank you to everyone who showed up, hung out, and made today so much fun.

We’re so grateful for this community and already looking forward to the next one.

If you weren’t able to make it, you were missed. BUT you can always follow Stage Wives for more in-person and virtual meetup info coming soon!

Sometimes the hardest battle of tour life isn’t happening out on the road—it’s happening between our ears.Victim mentali...
08/10/2026

Sometimes the hardest battle of tour life isn’t happening out on the road—it’s happening between our ears.

Victim mentality can sneak in quietly. Resentment, comparison, self-pity, hopelessness. And before we know it, the thoughts we’ve repeated have started to feel like truth.

But friend, you are allowed to be tired without becoming powerless.

You may not get to choose the schedule or change the circumstances, but you DO get a say in what takes root in your mind, your heart, and your home.

So put the gloves on. 🄊
Take the thought captive.
Challenge the lie.
Fight for gratitude. Fight for joy. Fight the right fight.

You are not powerless.

We’re in your corner.
-Stage Wives

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Nashville, TN
37201-37250

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