Country musician Madeline Merlo is as cool as her grandma

Madeline Merlo might live in Nashville, Tenn., and play the Grand Ole Opry these days, but Canada will always be in her heart. Shania Twain is her country music inspiration and if given the choice of dipping her toe in any ocean from anywhere on earth, she’d choose the Pacific off Vancouver Island. 

It was in her home province of British Columbia that the singer-songwriter learned to care for the environment, largely from her grandmother, who was “recycling before it was cool.” That’s one of the things Merlo — who won the songwriting competition Songland, has been pulled onstage by Jelly Roll and recently put out an EP, One House Down (from the girl next door) — told us when she answered the Moose Questionnaire.

This interview is edited and condensed for clarity — all opinions are the subject’s own.

What’s the most awe-inspiring natural sight you’ve witnessed between the Pacific, Atlantic, 49th parallel and Hudson Bay, i.e. Canada?

Banff National Park in Alberta.

What’s the most awe-inspiring natural sight you’ve witnessed outside of Canada? 

Yosemite National Park in California, or Kauai, Hawaii.

Think of three iconic Canadian animals. Choose one each to kiss, marry and kill. 

Kiss an orca, marry a moose and kill a deer fly.

Name a person or group doing something meaningful for the environment that everyone should know about.

Sea Shepherd and 4ocean.

Name one person who could significantly help mitigate the climate crisis if they really wanted to.

Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, Jeff Bezos.

Tell us about a time you changed your mind about something, environmental or otherwise.

I have always been passionate about learning and changing my habits that impact my health and the world around me. I have recently changed my mind about having plastic Tupperware in my home and am moving to all glass products!

Tell us about a time you tried to change someone else’s mind about something, environmental or otherwise.

I am always trying to try to encourage people to enjoy the magic of animals in an ethical way! Places like SeaWorld and zoos are entertainment for humans at the cost of animals. I know it’s so cool to see a tiger that close or how cute the monkeys are but these are intelligent creatures with incredible capacities for emotion and connection. They deserve better.

Yes, you have to choose: Rocky Mountains or Great Lakes?

Rocky Mountains.

Researchers at Yale University, the France-based Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society and other institutions have found women tend to be more concerned about climate change than men. Why do you think that is? 

I think women in general are more inclined to empathy and compassion. I think perhaps seeing the negative impacts on the environment, animals and ecosystems may impact us more emotionally than men. I also think that women can be better at thinking things through in advance and evaluating consequences in the future.

If you could dip a toe off Canada’s coastline, which ocean would it be in?

Pacific Ocean, Vancouver Island.

What’s a beautiful or useful thing you’ve owned for a really long time?

Probably my Gibson guitar? I truly love her and have played every show with her by my side for the last eight years.

What’s the farthest north you’ve ever been and what did you do there?

Fort St. John, B.C., played a show!

What’s one way you interact with the natural world on a daily basis?

When I go for a walk with my dog or feel the sunshine on my face in the morning.

 If you could ask one person, alive or dead, about their thoughts on climate change, who would it be?

John Muir, he was an explorer and early advocate for the environment!

Yes, you have to choose: smoked salmon or maple syrup? 

Maple syrup.

Who, in your life, has had the greatest impact on your connection to nature?

I was raised in a very environmentally conscious environment. My grandmother was recycling before it was cool to do so. My sister also has a deep love of the natural world and is very mindful about reducing her footprint. It’s very inspiring to me.

Whose relationship with the natural world would you most like to have an impact on?

My friends here in Nashville! My husband and I are both passionate about the natural world and love to inspire our friends to get outside and also be mindful about our impacts to it.

Would you rather be invited to David and Victoria Beckhams’ Muskoka cottage or Harry and Meghan Sussexes’ B.C. escape?

Harry and Meghan. 

Camping, yes or no?

Glamping.