I wait near a window in the Thompson Hotel, Nashville. It is a stormy winter afternoon; the sky ominous with rain clouds and the possibility of severe storms. The hotel lobby living room is cozy against the elements, and an added brightness appears with the arrival of a stunning stylish woman in a soft butter colored jacket and leather pants. She approaches with the most contagious smile. There is no doubt in my mind that this together woman is Belinda Fraley Huesman. She greets me with the confidence of a celebrity talk show host. Bright eyed, she warms the dreary day with her energy and light.

The lobby living room couches match her jacket — it is as if she knew what the setting required — and I wish that we were filming this interview. She is a natural storyteller. She is as passionate as her track record proves. A woman on a mission with a clear and present vision.

The former Executive Director/CEO of the Chesapeake Arts Center, Belinda and I are meeting to discuss her plan for Menopause Outlaws, a trademarked entity that began almost ten years ago, and is now on its way to fruition. This music project is her next step, in a long line of illustrious accomplishments, in hopes of becoming an entrepreneurial enterprise; transforming the perception of menopause, one wise woman at a time.

Belinda is not only an Executive — maintaining a 1.5 million dollar budget and generating income for the CAC; she is also an accomplished singer/songwriter; motivational speaker; and author of a children’s book. She has written and received over 1.5 million dollars of funding in grants, donations and bond bills for the center. Most impressively, she is credited (along with her sister Brenda) for passing of the 2012 bill, Loretta’s Law, a Maryland Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Belinda continues to strive to create a more accepting and supportive culture for women in the arts.

She exclaims early on, in our pre-interview conversation; “It’s so cool in here. I’m having a blast.” The Baltimore accent is not subtle in her dialect, it is warm and inviting. She engages from a completely authentic and genuine place; Belinda embraces herself and her history. As I listen, I find she is refreshingly candid; her stories resonate with women of all ages and backgrounds. It is clear she was made to take on a goal of such magnitude.

Belinda’s stories are professionally inspiring. Some unbelievable. Or are they? We as women share universal experiences...whether artists or homemakers, professionals or entrepreneurs — we are women — and when we hit a certain age bracket we become almost invisible to the professional world. This reality is the basis at the heart of Belinda’s project. The seed is already blossoming and, for a moment, she is overwhelmed by the vastness of possibility. But the project is not bigger than her abilities; it is apparent she can and will take on the world. It is time and she is ready. She has experience. She shares her challenged past with honesty and grace. She is a dreamer, a fighter, a talent and a spiritual winner. She is woman, hear her sing.

TELL ME A BIT ABOUT MENOPAUSE OUTLAWS...

I heard the term Menopause Outlaws back in 2010, from a church friend, who became a co-writer and business partner. I could really relate to that, because I was fifty, divorced, and starting over with nothing. I left the state of Texas and was pursuing songwriting. I had this dream, and I thought: ‘I am hitting menopause and I am an outlaw.’ I felt that could ring true with many, many women. I wanted to be outside the box. Together, we trademarked the name. I eventually [took sole ownership of] the trademark and kept it going.

I knew this was the direction I wanted to go in, so I kept it on the back burner, because I really believed in it. It might not have been my time back then, but now I feel like it is. All I really want to do is use my talent. There are all these women out there and they are not using their talents. And they know it. I just believe this age of menopause is a gift. We focus on all the bad aspects of menopause — the weight gain, [hot flashes], and all that comes with it — we don’t focus enough on the wisdom. We really are supposed to be teaching the younger women. I feel if God’s given me this wisdom, I want to pass it on.

IN TRUTH, THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF MENOPAUSE OUTLAWS — ALTHOUGH MUSIC INSPIRED — IS NOT JUST FOCUSED ON MUSIC, BUT ALL ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND EXPLORATION OF SELF. IN YOUR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND BUSINESS STRATEGY YOU INCLUDE THE WORDS: “WISDOM, WORDS, MUSIC, STYLE,” AND “THE ART OF LIVING WELL.” I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS.

I believe that the art of living well is not about money. I think it is being in the present moment; being grateful for what you have.

There are ways to live well that are not about money. There are books; there’s music; things to enhance and feed our soul; spending time with people that you love and listening to them...

There’s a side of me that really wants to express that I am about style. My mother was beautiful and she wore beautiful clothes, and I watched her every move. I just wanted to emulate her. She wore heels and boots all the time. I feel like you can elevate any day by setting the table right. I’m not a cook. (She laughs.) I might set the table if someone else is cooking. You feel more confident.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CAREER AND HISTORY AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER...

I have been coming to Nashville since I was thirty. My mom died. She said on her deathbed [that I should follow my dreams]...My dad brought me down [to Nashville] and we pretty much got taken by a con artist. Right away. My dad started giving him money and he was critiquing some of my songs and then they did some demos in the RCA building. The gentleman’s son had a couple of teeth missing, and I remember saying: ‘You know dad? Something is not right here. If he’s this big time producer — or whatever he was trying to sell us — why didn’t he have his teeth fixed?’ That was a big red flag. So my dad stopped giving him money, and I continued to write.

The one good thing that came from this [brief partnership], is we went to CRS. I sat next to Jim McBride (Chattahoochi, Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow) — I was so green — I asked him if he would write with me. (She laughs) I didn’t know that was the way not to do things. But, he actually set up some meetings for me, which was very nice. I wasn’t ready for them. He also pointed me in the direction of NSAI [Nashville Songwriters Association International]. I started running a workshop for NSAI in Dallas, and then when I moved I set up a workshop in Annapolis. I knew I couldn’t be [in Nashville] all the time, but I knew I wanted to be close to writing.

YOUR SONG HERO OF MY OWN STORY REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF MARTINA MCBRIDE. SHE PERFORMS MANY FEMALE EMPOWERING SONGS...WHO INSPIRES YOU AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER?

My first inspiration was Carole King, when I was eleven. I saved up my allowance and bought my first Tapestry album. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a songwriter. 20 years ago, I was in Nashville for a NSAI conference. A tornado hit downtown. We were at the DoubleTree; and she [Carole King] came anyway! I was standing in the back of the room and I was in awe.

(Belinda drops her jaw dramatically and demonstrates her joyous awe.)

I thought: ‘This is the whole reason I am here; I am here because of her!’

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH [MENOPAUSE OUTLAWS] TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR OTHER WOMEN. IN THE FUTURE THAT COULD BE YOU, INSPIRING OTHER WRITERS AND PERFORMERS.

Yeah. That’s what the whole message was when I was playing The Hero of My Own Story — [title of a recent fundraiser for CAC and Belinda’s song] — I wanted to be that. I used to think that only men were heroes. I said to [the audience]: ‘I’m standing here today because I have written my whole life. That is my outlet. And that is what we provide for these kids we serve. They go to stressful homes; they have [lives] that people don’t know [about] — sometimes this is the only safe place for them. For me, writing was my safe space.’

Written By: K.W. Poole

For More Information on Belinda or The M. O. Network

Outlaw With A Mission- A Look Back at Our First Meet