Country Singer-Songwriter Francine Honey Shifts into High Gear with Sassy Single, “Cadillac”
Ever wish your life came with leather seats, cruise control, and a killer soundtrack? Look no further. Canadian singer-songwriter Francine Honey’s single *’Cadillac’* is a joyful, high-octane ode to blazing your own trail with horsepower and heart. With lap steel licks and a hook you’ll be humming for days, ‘Cadillac’ is the feel-good anthem for anyone who’s ever wanted to floor it — in heels.
Francine Honey is a little bit country, a little bit folk, a little bit blues — and all heart. An internationally acclaimed, bilingual artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Francine has racked up accolades including 2023 Songwriter of the Year from the Austin Songwriting Group and multiple international songwriting wins. Her seventh album, *Rockets In My Boots*, is just around the bend, and ‘Cadillac’ is one of the shiniest gems in the garage.
“I grew up in the pits — literally,” Francine laughs. “My dad raced snowmobiles and cars, and we owned a stock car racetrack. There were more weekends at the track than the mall, that’s for sure.” The song’s inspiration started with a riff on her Ben Harper Asher lap steel and a songwriting group prompt. “I heard the word ‘Cadillac’ and boom — I was off to the races.”
Honey isn’t just waxing nostalgic. ‘Cadillac’ blends memories of her dad’s classic Eldorado with her own drive to carve a path in male-dominated spaces — from IT to country music. “I can do anything,” she sings. “Burning down the track in my Cadillac.” It’s playful, empowering, and radiates pure joy.
“This song is for anyone embracing their own curves and swerves,” says Francine. “You can be a classy car chick, break the mold, and still chase what you deserve.”
The result? A bluesy rockin’ anthem featuring the legendary Fats Kaplin and produced by Grammy-nominated Neilson Hubbard — best enjoyed with the top down and volume up.
The song’s bridge comes straight from her dad’s advice: *“Life’s like that car / It’s gonna fly by girl / So hit the gas / Then enjoy the ride.”* That advice — and those Sunday drives — fuel the soul of this song.
While the track revs with sass, underneath the hood it’s classic Francine: honest, hopeful, and grounded in lived experience. “It’s a reminder to take the wheel in your own life.”
*’Cadillac’* is out now on all streaming platforms. It’s already a finalist in the ASGI Rock category — not bad for a song born in the fast lane and raised on grit, grace, and gasoline.
Whether you’re chasing dreams, healing heartbreak, or just running errands with the windows down, Francine Honey’s *’Cadillac’* is your new musical co-pilot.
Hi, Francine! Good to see you again! Care to introduce yourself to the readers for those not familiar with your music?
It’s so good to be back, and I really appreciate your continued support — it means the world as an independent artist. The work you do here at Canadian Beats helps artists like myself reach more Canadians, and I’m so grateful for that. After all, I am a Canadian singer-songwriter writing music that spans the genres of Contemporary Roots (Americana), Folk, Country, Singer-Songwriter and Blues. Years ago, I left a steady career in Business Process Management because I knew I had stories to tell through song — and I wanted to spend the rest of my life inspiring people through music. I never dreamed that the songs I wrote by myself in my bedroom would find their way to Nashville & Austin to get recorded, or that I would be internationally recognized and win songwriting awards like the Austin Songwriting Group International’s Songwriter of the Year Award. I never imagined my songs would be played on radio all over the world, that millions of people would watch my videos, or that these listeners would become my friends — some of whom I’ve never met in person, but who connect with me through live streams, social media, and coverage like this. At the heart of it all, I’m a storyteller and creator. My mission is to help people tune into their own inner fire — their “rockets in their boots” — and to remember that you never know where life will lead you, what’s around the next corner, or what the next chapter might bring. My songs are there to empower, inspire, and remind us we’re not alone on this journey called life.
You’ve said “Cadillac” was sparked by both a lap steel riff and a songwriting prompt. Can you walk us through how those two threads came together?
Absolutely. I have hosted a songwriting group since 2013 where we throw out prompts. One of the members threw out the word “Cadillac.” That was a no-brainer for me since my Dad has adored Cadillacs and driven them for years. I knew I’d be able to find an emotional hook in that. That same week, my Ben Harper Asher lap steel that I had my eyes on for years, finally found it’s way to me. I was playing around with it and this riff came out. When I put the two together, the song practically wrote itself. I mean here I was, my first time sitting at that guitar and the song appeared. This idea that I was bold enough and brave enough to be a woman rockin’ out on my lap steel made my heart sing. Gritty sounds coming out of the amp finding the sound of a car flying by at the racetrack feeling the reverberation as the car rolls by, brought me back to my childhood growing up around the racetrack with my Dad racing cars and snowmobiles. The Cadillac became the perfect symbol of living boldly, being true to yourself, and enjoying the ride. That is exactly how I was feeling writing this song and what I hope people feel when they hear it.
What was it like working with Fats Kaplin and Neilson Hubbard on this track, and how did they help shape its sound?
Working with Fats and Neilson was such a privilege. Fats Kaplin is truly a legend — the way he plays is so expressive that it almost feels like another voice weaving through the track. We recorded this during the COVID times and so I was in my home studio and the rest of the band were together in Nashville. I was almost embarrassed having this amazing steel player listen to my work tape given that I was so new to playing the lap steel. He was so gracious and grinned as I showed him how I played it on my guitar. He tuned his guitar and said “You mean something like this” and it just blew my mind! He brought the vroom, the grit, the warmth, and that playful swagger that fit “Cadillac” perfectly. Neilson Hubbard, as producer, has this incredible ability to bring the right people into the room for all of my songs, he keeps the heart of a song intact while elevating it. He doesn’t try to make the music something it’s not — he listens deeply, and then serves every song. With Neilson at the helm and Fats adding his magic, the song became exactly what I imagined: bold, fun, and empowering, but still grounded in honesty. It’s this kind of live off the floor collaboration that I am always so grateful for because each person brings their own creativity to the table and we end up making music that I couldn’t have created on my own.
The bridge comes straight from your dad’s advice. How important has family wisdom been in fueling your career and music?
My dad always said, “life goes fast,” and he’s lived that out every single day. Coming from a family of 16 kids, he beat the odds by carving out his own path — first by running his own hair salon, and then by racing cars and snowmobiles. Whether he was behind the chair or behind the wheel, he lived life with passion and determination. And he still does — he’s in his eighties now and still drives around in his Cadillac. Growing up, I saw firsthand how much courage it took for him to set his own course, and that example has stayed with me through every chapter of my life. He always told me I could do anything I wanted, and I carried that with me as I studied mathematics at a time when very few women were in that field, and later as I rebuilt my life after raising two kids on my own and losing my job. I’ve had to make my way in a man’s world more than once, and part of that journey has been learning to embrace my power as a woman rather than hide it. Eventually, that courage led me to take the leap into songwriting full time, even though it was scary. All along, my dad’s wisdom — that life goes fast, so don’t hold back — has been the thread running through my choices. It means so much to me that he appears in the “Cadillac” video with me, because the song is really about the spirit he’s lived his whole life by. That’s the lesson I try to pass along through my music too: that no matter what curves life throws at you, you can embrace the ride and keep going.
If “Cadillac” were an actual ride, where would it take listeners on their first spin?
For me, the first time I drove my “Blue Rocket” down to Nashville is exactly what this song feels like. I remember crossing the border, driving through Michigan and Ohio, and finally pulling into Louisville, Kentucky, for the night. I had my guitars in the back, my songs with me, and I was on my way to record live off the floor in the studio — another dream coming true. I didn’t think of myself as bold or brave at that moment, I was just doing it. Looking back now, I can see it took both grit and courage.
The same feeling I had during those carefree days driving the dirt roads around Stoco Lake in Tweed as a teenager, singing at the top of my lungs in my little Datsun B-210 with the windows rolled down. That’s why it was important for my dad and me to film the video there. To this day, whenever I drive that same loop around the lake or run the quarter mile flat at Sulphide, I’m reminded of where I started and how far I’ve come. No matter where I travel — Nashville, Texas, Scotland, or Switzerland — when I see a road winding around a lake, it feels like home.
For me, “Cadillac” is about that mix of freedom, gratitude, and courage it takes to keep moving forward — to take the next adventure. It’s about riding with a “pinch of sass, all class”, setting your own path, and never looking back with regret. Chasing a dream with guitars and songs in the trunk, heading toward Nashville and a future wide open — where anything is possible when you’ve got the nerve to go for it and enjoy the ride. That’s the feeling I hope listeners carry with them as they drive smack dab down the track into their own future.