Just a simple, authentic country girl, Holly Marie Tong has been called the "Jane of all trades" and a notable "mover and shaker" as she confidently dabbles in a bit of everything here in Music City. In a nutshell, she is a Legal Assistant, Songwriter, Journalist (for multiple outlets), Book Transcriber, Author of "Chick Flicks Lie" (Sugar-free Accounts of a Positive Pessimist), and a Freelance Writer/Publicist (specializing in press releases, professional biographies, and promotion for various events, businesses, and entertainers). When she can fit it in, she also enjoys taking on acting and modeling opportunities. To view the specific credentials, click on the Songwriting, Journalism, and Acting/Modeling Tabs. To see her complete list of services offered, prices and monthly specials, please click on the Services tab. For inquiries and bookings, please contact [email protected]
Read on for Holly's journey to and in Music City USA:
Raised in the country in Northwestern Ohio, as a farmer's Granddaughter and a proud blue collar daughter, Holly was taught to follow Jesus, to work hard, to listen to country music and was encouraged that she could do anything if she just put her mind to it. From the first time her Dad introduced her to the band "Alabama," she was hooked on country music and the lyrics that went along with it. Studying lyric craft early on, she decided songwriters must have the coolest job in the world.
Graduating from the smallest (or 2nd smallest?) public school in the state of Ohio, a dream of pursuing goals in Nashville, TN seemed far away. However, the opportunity to compete in the Miss Ohio Teen USA 2002 Pageant as "Miss Findlay USA" led her to realizing there are opportunities out there that are ready to be seized. She was an honor student, a cheerleader, an actress in school plays and a Mock Trial member, but her love of country music, acting and writing couldn't be fully pursued unless she made the big move. Writing and acting were always the two talents that seemed to come easy to her, but she didn't realize how far any of it could go. It wasn't until her mother convinced her that she thought she was a songwriter that Holly took up writing lyrics and guitar lessons. Soon, songwriting material, instead of class notes, was dominating her school notebooks.
Upon high school graduation, she took classes one year at a local university before taking a semester off to work 12 hour days/nights alongside her dad at the factory before taking the dive and packing her bags. In 2005, she loaded up all she could in her Dad's pickup truck, and listened to Sugarland's "Baby Girl" for motivation as she rode to Nashville preparing for her new life.
Life in Nashville proved to more difficult than expected as she crammed in credit hours at Trevecca Nazarene University and worked long hours to keep her stay. She found little time for songwriting as life often threw her unexpected setbacks and responsibilities. She graduated with a social work degree and found her share of experience with a diverse array of populations and demographic groups. Thankfully, in the midst of her busy schedule, she found inspiration and encouragement with her writing abilities from meeting songwriters Kim McLean and Devon O'Day.
Upon college graduation, she found it even harder to balance full time work with her music goals. Working 7 days a week much of the time, she gained additional experience in retail, door to door sales (in the winter time!), and soon took a job at a private University. Throughout her time there, she worked long hours and wore many hats whether she was recruiting, setting students up for classes, helping them do their financial aid or providing general student support. She became instant friends with fellow co-worker/singer Holly Bakehorn and together they and professional musician Joel Van Tassel (Former musician for Jeff Bates, Tracy Byrd and Sarah Johns) penned the title cut of Bakehorn's new album. "Yellow Ribbon Prayers" was penned as a song of support for American soldiers and their wives who await their safe return. Bakehorn had said before the co-write even began that she was wanting a patriotic song with a HAPPY ending. The team of 3 wrote just that, and the positive response from not just Nashville, but across the US, all the way to Afghanistan was overwhelming. Tong even received word that a childhood friend that she hadn't seen in years had heard her song in Afghanistan, and had no idea that she was one of the writers until his fellow soldier read him the story behind the song. The song has been promoted on Homefront United Network and received some radio play. It also received an impressive rating in a local songwriting contest. Just this experience alone made Holly realize just how much power one song could have. She also enjoyed other co-writing opportunities she was having during this time such as Rodney Griffin (Matt Mason's Guitarist) and Brian Desveaux (Nine Days - "Story of a Girl") and several others. Soon, she was offered a professional song pitching deal with "Perfect Pitch Nashville." Holly has also written with American Idol Top 9 Finalist, Paul Jolley. Currently, Holly is enjoying a consistent co-writing partnership known as "Hahn-Tong" with talented singer/songwriter Katie Hahn.
By night, she would frequently hit downtown and network with other songwriters and industry professionals still trying to keep her dreams alive. As time went on, she found herself realizing she was more than a songwriter alone. She had always been passionate about promotions and supporting her talented friends, but hadn't had a light bulb moment of any sort about what to do with this particular interest. As a fan of all types of writing, she began writing for the Examiner as the "Nashville Local Music Examiner." She originally thought she was just picking up a fun new gig, but it soon turned into so much more. Top notch interview offers and positive exposure happened quickly. She soon found herself gaining loyal readers, interviewing some of her own heroes and being asked to cover some of the most entertaining events in Nashville. One of her favorite events to cover was and STILL is, the house concerts in the home of Terry and Wanda Seay in which some of Nashville's top hit songwriters gather to play their originals in a private, intimate setting.
Less than a year into her new gig, she was contacted and offered an opportunity to be the editor for a new entertainment magazine that was developing here in town. This would give her the unique opportunity to not only have her work published online, but also to be a writer for a publication that would distribute to 50+ local locations, and in various places across the US. Her articles had already been known to rapidly circulate the web as she has been/and continues to be featured on numerous websites. She accepted the offer and her inbox continued to fill up with exciting opportunities. By this time, she had recently began working as a Legal Assistant in a Pharmacy unit. For almost 2 years, she chose to balance both full-time work and the magazine responsibilities.
Not long after her run with the magazine, she was contacted to take on a special transcription project. Country Singer/Hit Songwriter Ira Allen, who toured the world and wrote the smash hit "Just Enough To Keep Me Hangin' On" (which was recorded by everyone from Cher, to Waylon Jennings, to Barbara Mandrell to Conway Twitty) called upon her for assistance. Currently, Holly is still helping with transcription as Ira communicates his story, and is hoping to soon complete it so that Ira, his family, his fans and new fans, can read this intriguing book about a down to earth, talented man who humbly began life on the farm and later experienced his dreams coming true.
Currently, writing-wise...Holly runs a thriving Pop Culture column on Examiner.Com, and is ranked as a top Nashville Arts & Entertainment Examiner. She also always remains within the Top 20 Celebrity Examiners in the country. Whether she is covering reality TV, music, or something in between, she has gained a solid base of supporters across the U.S.
She is also now a contributing writer for the Portland Leader and formerly the White House Tribune newspaper. She enjoys interviewing local residents, promoting community events and benefits, and just simply supporting a great town. At the TN State Press Awards in July of 2013, she was awarded a 4th place award in the Social Service category for her article on the reopening of the historical Temple Theatre in Portland, TN. At the 2015 TN State Press Awards, she was received a 1st place for local feature writing, as well as a 5th place for her business coverage.
From TV stars to pro athletes to country stars, Holly has developed a solid roster of clients that she regularly promotes. She is also available for writing professional biographies, press releases, and other freelance writing projects.
If all of that wasn't enough excitement for Holly, she soon found herself doing music videos and working around today's top talents in the industry. She is a frequent face on television as she often participates in music videos and national television tapings for CMT, GAC and sometimes others. To date though, she would have to say her most exciting television moment ever would have to be dancing on stage with Lady Antebellum for their "We Owned The Night" performance at the 2011 CMA Awards Live on national television. She also has worked promotional model for various brands. In 2014, Holly was selected to be a contestant on the reality TV show "Zebras & Cheetahs." She is featured in episode 4 "Women In Business," and she had the unique opportunity to be coached by Coach Micheal Burt. At the show's end, she branded herself as the "Witty Warrior Woman," - a title which has stuck with her ever since. Holly is often asked to tell her story, and as a result, she has been finding herself in speaking engagements and documentaries these days.
Currently, Holly is also focused on the release of her debut book Chick Flicks Lie (Sugar-free Account of a Positive Pessimist), which is now available on Amazon. See the "Author" tab for more info.
As her journalism roster grows longer and her songwriting catalog grows larger, she finds herself constantly meeting new and exciting people, resulting in new, priceless opportunities every day. Determined to succeed and tough as nails, Holly Marie Tong came to Nashville for the long haul....and over 9 years into it, she has had more dreams already come true than she could ever imagine. What's next? Only God knows...but she will keep on living by Proverbs 3:5-6 and Jeremiah 29:11 believing that the best is STILL yet to come :)
Read on for Holly's journey to and in Music City USA:
Raised in the country in Northwestern Ohio, as a farmer's Granddaughter and a proud blue collar daughter, Holly was taught to follow Jesus, to work hard, to listen to country music and was encouraged that she could do anything if she just put her mind to it. From the first time her Dad introduced her to the band "Alabama," she was hooked on country music and the lyrics that went along with it. Studying lyric craft early on, she decided songwriters must have the coolest job in the world.
Graduating from the smallest (or 2nd smallest?) public school in the state of Ohio, a dream of pursuing goals in Nashville, TN seemed far away. However, the opportunity to compete in the Miss Ohio Teen USA 2002 Pageant as "Miss Findlay USA" led her to realizing there are opportunities out there that are ready to be seized. She was an honor student, a cheerleader, an actress in school plays and a Mock Trial member, but her love of country music, acting and writing couldn't be fully pursued unless she made the big move. Writing and acting were always the two talents that seemed to come easy to her, but she didn't realize how far any of it could go. It wasn't until her mother convinced her that she thought she was a songwriter that Holly took up writing lyrics and guitar lessons. Soon, songwriting material, instead of class notes, was dominating her school notebooks.
Upon high school graduation, she took classes one year at a local university before taking a semester off to work 12 hour days/nights alongside her dad at the factory before taking the dive and packing her bags. In 2005, she loaded up all she could in her Dad's pickup truck, and listened to Sugarland's "Baby Girl" for motivation as she rode to Nashville preparing for her new life.
Life in Nashville proved to more difficult than expected as she crammed in credit hours at Trevecca Nazarene University and worked long hours to keep her stay. She found little time for songwriting as life often threw her unexpected setbacks and responsibilities. She graduated with a social work degree and found her share of experience with a diverse array of populations and demographic groups. Thankfully, in the midst of her busy schedule, she found inspiration and encouragement with her writing abilities from meeting songwriters Kim McLean and Devon O'Day.
Upon college graduation, she found it even harder to balance full time work with her music goals. Working 7 days a week much of the time, she gained additional experience in retail, door to door sales (in the winter time!), and soon took a job at a private University. Throughout her time there, she worked long hours and wore many hats whether she was recruiting, setting students up for classes, helping them do their financial aid or providing general student support. She became instant friends with fellow co-worker/singer Holly Bakehorn and together they and professional musician Joel Van Tassel (Former musician for Jeff Bates, Tracy Byrd and Sarah Johns) penned the title cut of Bakehorn's new album. "Yellow Ribbon Prayers" was penned as a song of support for American soldiers and their wives who await their safe return. Bakehorn had said before the co-write even began that she was wanting a patriotic song with a HAPPY ending. The team of 3 wrote just that, and the positive response from not just Nashville, but across the US, all the way to Afghanistan was overwhelming. Tong even received word that a childhood friend that she hadn't seen in years had heard her song in Afghanistan, and had no idea that she was one of the writers until his fellow soldier read him the story behind the song. The song has been promoted on Homefront United Network and received some radio play. It also received an impressive rating in a local songwriting contest. Just this experience alone made Holly realize just how much power one song could have. She also enjoyed other co-writing opportunities she was having during this time such as Rodney Griffin (Matt Mason's Guitarist) and Brian Desveaux (Nine Days - "Story of a Girl") and several others. Soon, she was offered a professional song pitching deal with "Perfect Pitch Nashville." Holly has also written with American Idol Top 9 Finalist, Paul Jolley. Currently, Holly is enjoying a consistent co-writing partnership known as "Hahn-Tong" with talented singer/songwriter Katie Hahn.
By night, she would frequently hit downtown and network with other songwriters and industry professionals still trying to keep her dreams alive. As time went on, she found herself realizing she was more than a songwriter alone. She had always been passionate about promotions and supporting her talented friends, but hadn't had a light bulb moment of any sort about what to do with this particular interest. As a fan of all types of writing, she began writing for the Examiner as the "Nashville Local Music Examiner." She originally thought she was just picking up a fun new gig, but it soon turned into so much more. Top notch interview offers and positive exposure happened quickly. She soon found herself gaining loyal readers, interviewing some of her own heroes and being asked to cover some of the most entertaining events in Nashville. One of her favorite events to cover was and STILL is, the house concerts in the home of Terry and Wanda Seay in which some of Nashville's top hit songwriters gather to play their originals in a private, intimate setting.
Less than a year into her new gig, she was contacted and offered an opportunity to be the editor for a new entertainment magazine that was developing here in town. This would give her the unique opportunity to not only have her work published online, but also to be a writer for a publication that would distribute to 50+ local locations, and in various places across the US. Her articles had already been known to rapidly circulate the web as she has been/and continues to be featured on numerous websites. She accepted the offer and her inbox continued to fill up with exciting opportunities. By this time, she had recently began working as a Legal Assistant in a Pharmacy unit. For almost 2 years, she chose to balance both full-time work and the magazine responsibilities.
Not long after her run with the magazine, she was contacted to take on a special transcription project. Country Singer/Hit Songwriter Ira Allen, who toured the world and wrote the smash hit "Just Enough To Keep Me Hangin' On" (which was recorded by everyone from Cher, to Waylon Jennings, to Barbara Mandrell to Conway Twitty) called upon her for assistance. Currently, Holly is still helping with transcription as Ira communicates his story, and is hoping to soon complete it so that Ira, his family, his fans and new fans, can read this intriguing book about a down to earth, talented man who humbly began life on the farm and later experienced his dreams coming true.
Currently, writing-wise...Holly runs a thriving Pop Culture column on Examiner.Com, and is ranked as a top Nashville Arts & Entertainment Examiner. She also always remains within the Top 20 Celebrity Examiners in the country. Whether she is covering reality TV, music, or something in between, she has gained a solid base of supporters across the U.S.
She is also now a contributing writer for the Portland Leader and formerly the White House Tribune newspaper. She enjoys interviewing local residents, promoting community events and benefits, and just simply supporting a great town. At the TN State Press Awards in July of 2013, she was awarded a 4th place award in the Social Service category for her article on the reopening of the historical Temple Theatre in Portland, TN. At the 2015 TN State Press Awards, she was received a 1st place for local feature writing, as well as a 5th place for her business coverage.
From TV stars to pro athletes to country stars, Holly has developed a solid roster of clients that she regularly promotes. She is also available for writing professional biographies, press releases, and other freelance writing projects.
If all of that wasn't enough excitement for Holly, she soon found herself doing music videos and working around today's top talents in the industry. She is a frequent face on television as she often participates in music videos and national television tapings for CMT, GAC and sometimes others. To date though, she would have to say her most exciting television moment ever would have to be dancing on stage with Lady Antebellum for their "We Owned The Night" performance at the 2011 CMA Awards Live on national television. She also has worked promotional model for various brands. In 2014, Holly was selected to be a contestant on the reality TV show "Zebras & Cheetahs." She is featured in episode 4 "Women In Business," and she had the unique opportunity to be coached by Coach Micheal Burt. At the show's end, she branded herself as the "Witty Warrior Woman," - a title which has stuck with her ever since. Holly is often asked to tell her story, and as a result, she has been finding herself in speaking engagements and documentaries these days.
Currently, Holly is also focused on the release of her debut book Chick Flicks Lie (Sugar-free Account of a Positive Pessimist), which is now available on Amazon. See the "Author" tab for more info.
As her journalism roster grows longer and her songwriting catalog grows larger, she finds herself constantly meeting new and exciting people, resulting in new, priceless opportunities every day. Determined to succeed and tough as nails, Holly Marie Tong came to Nashville for the long haul....and over 9 years into it, she has had more dreams already come true than she could ever imagine. What's next? Only God knows...but she will keep on living by Proverbs 3:5-6 and Jeremiah 29:11 believing that the best is STILL yet to come :)