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Girlilla Marketing Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jennie Smythe has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Resolve Editions, an imprint of Forefront Books. The Nashville-based independent publisher, distributed by Simon & Schuster, will release Smythe’s memoir in 2025.

Smythe shares, “I have learned so many things from so many smart people—some of whom are no longer with us—and I want to honor them by passing on what they taught me. I continue to be mentored by strong and clever people who are generous with their time. I am surrounded by co-workers who renew my inspiration and who, I believe, are more talented than me (which is great!). I have loyal clients who have stuck by me. I’ve seen trends in my business that we keep unnecessarily repeating. I see frequent mistakes employees make in their formative workplace years. I’ve made epic bad decisions as both an employee and a boss. But, where there was pain and struggle, there’s always been growth and opportunity for me. Where there’s been despair, faith has kicked its ass. Because of my losses, I’ve appreciated my wins more. I hope I can save you some hassle. I hope that I can make you think, laugh and see your own story in mine… because we are all connected, online and offline.”

A forward-thinking entrepreneur who leads her self-built digital marketing agency — Girlilla Marketing — with equal parts passion and drive, it is no accident that Smythe has emerged on top of an ever-evolving field. Founded in 2008, the female-led company spearheads the digital marketing endeavors for a diverse roster of world-famous entertainers and brands including Dead & Company, Willie Nelson, Darius Rucker, Blondie, Brooke Shields, Iliza Shlesinger, Terry Crews, Kristin Chenoweth, Vince Gill and many others.

Motivated by a lifelong love of music, Smythe’s creative approach has earned numerous awards and recognition. She has been featured in the Associated Press, Billboard, MusicRow, Fast Company, People, HITS and The Tennessean. She is a multi-year winner of the Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City Awards, a MusicRow magazine Rising Women on the Row honoree and was recognized on the Nashville Post In Charge 2023: Music list.

Smythe’s more than two decades of experience in the entertainment industry and digital marketing space, including launching Girlilla Marketing in 2008, will take center stage in her upcoming memoir where she’ll also explore the challenges of becoming an entrepreneur, fighting breast cancer and more. In the meantime, Smythe’s latest endeavor, Becoming Girlilla, offers a newsletter and content hub about all-things digital, including her musings on how her lack of respect for authority, failure in higher education, and chronic insubordinate employee behavior trained her to run a successful digital marketing agency based in common sense and humanity. Her motto: Be good…online and in real life.
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“From the moment I met Jennie and read her manuscript, I knew it was a perfect match,” says Becky Nesbitt, publisher, Resolve Editions. “Her journey to the top of the industry is a testament to her grit, determination, and resilience through both wins and losses.  Her story will undoubtedly inspire readers everywhere. Having worked with a diverse range of clients, Jennie has proven herself to be a force for good in the industry, and we could not be more pleased to share her incredible story with the world next year.”  

Smythe is President of the Country Music Association Board Of Directors, as well as on the boards of the CMA Foundation (past chairperson) and Music Health Alliance and a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Music executive development program. Her early career includes time at Disney’s Hollywood Records, YAHOO! Music, Warner Bros. Records and Clear Channel. She is married to fellow entrepreneur Shannon Houchins and resides in Nashville with their two children.

About Resolve Editions, an imprint of Forefront Books:
Resolve Editions publishes leadership, lifestyle and entertainment books to inspire readers to find meaning and enjoy life. Forefront Books is a unique publishing company that caters to the most successful men and women in their respective fields - the thought leaders, the visionaries, the pioneers, the business owners, and the entrepreneurs who have a compelling story to tell - and delivers a world-class end result from a team which has helped create more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including thirteen number one bestsellers.