The country-music industry tried to turn Rissi Palmer and Miko Marks into rivals.
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There is always crying when Rissi Palmer and Miko Marks are together.
Later, backstage, as Rissi recounted the early seeds of their friendship, there was more crying still.
Miko didnt know Rissi in 2007, the year she had her own Opry debut.
But Rissi was just getting started, and Miko wanted to send her blessings.
Everybody wanted us to be in competition and not be friends.
Miko, are you crying right now?
MM:Thats exactly how I felt.
Now, fast-forward 15 years I dont care about this fucking box.
I dont care about what you want me to be.
It makes me recoil, in a certain way.
RP:[Laughs.]
MM:I love that about her.
RP:Imma tell you a story.
When we were in Europefor the Color Me Country show,Miko went second to last.
She went right before me.
She laid the gauntlet.
I had to do a full Patti LaBelle cause she just turnt it.
Did you roll on the ground though?
MM:Like, for real?
She got the holy ghost.
RP:But, like, when I tell you: Miko had everybody crying.
She had everybody laughing.
Lovely, lovely, Miko said, Uh-unh.
Yall just got done doing the electric slide for Madeline Edwards.
I want that too!
It was 45 minutes of concentrated, unadulterated Miko.
And they loved it.
MM:People be saying, Miko.
it’s crucial that you go get some help.
you oughta go get some therapy.
MM:People that really know me.
They be like, I dont mean to be intrusive.
But at the same time, theyre right.
But they dont know Ive already done that.
Ive done the therapy; Ive gotten the help.
And this is just
This is the helped Miko.
RP:[Laughs.
RP:Were girlfriends.
MM:To define it?
I dont want that.
So was Rissis first Opry performance what brought yall together?
RP:Well, to go back way before then, herrecordcame out before mine.
You have to beat her, was basically the conversation.
MM:When I saw Rissi and what she was doing, I was a little scared.
But at the same time, when Country Girl came out, that shit was fire.
RP:You had maturity on your side.
I had a husband, a child adult responsibilities and Rissi wasnt the central character in the story anymore.
I could see things; I had a different perspective.
And she was, like, Nah, girl, you coming over to the house.
Miko, you said you didnt think youd ever get the chance to play the Opry.
MM:I do.
Because whats happening with Rissi and me, were making our opportunity.
Were not getting it.
Were a team, on a certain level.
RP:Do I believe in trickle-down economics?
Is that what youre asking me?
That wasnt quite how I phrased it, but Im not mad at your take.
RP:Well, I dont get thought of as an artist anymore.
It is what it is.
The thing is, for the last 13 years, Ive been exactly the same.
And when I say paying rent, I mean paying rent to be on this earth.
The other stuff is just me feeding my soul, and Im trying to do them in tandem now.
During Rissis Opry and AmericanaFest sets, yall performed your new duet, Im Still Here.
Whats the origin story for the song?
And I had the hook:Im still here.
Fighting all this and being relentless about it theres a story to that.
And I just wanted something that was endemic, something that meant something to both of us.
I know Mikos story, and she knows my story.
And its not an easy thing to remain a professional musician for 13 years in any capacity.
So its, like,Yeah, were still here.
MM:We were strangers; we were competitors, in a certain way.
And now look at us.
I always end up welling up around that, cause its a full-circle moment.
Even though it took years for us to work together, its a real thing.
And yall had so much fun recording you decided to take the show on the road and tour together.
Thats all I wanna do.
MM:We about to show up and show out.
Imma show out; shes just gonna show up.
Like, you dont have to be in competition with somebody.
So is itThe Rissi and Miko ShoworThe Miko and Rissi Show?
But I think it should be Rissi and Miko.
Its cause I thinkThe Miko and Rissi Showsounds better.
Shes got all these different things going on.
Im just singing, and Im just coming back into the game.
So why we cant put her first?
Strategy-wise, am I wrong?
RP:Im fine either way.
I just thought Miko and Rissi flows better.
MM:No, it doesnt.
RM:Well then damn.
ItsThe Rissi and Miko Showthen.
