Starring Marley Sherwood. Photo by @jasonmyersphoto

Don’t underestimate Marley Sherwood. At just 25, the Chicago-native is taking Nashville by storm as a talented producer, television personality, radio host, and journalist.

Nashville since 2014.

Life moves pretty fast for Marley Sherwood. Just four years removed from Chicago’s Columbia College of Journalism, the college-athlete-turned-media-maven has quickly climbed the ladder from her intern position to a nationally-recognized producer & on-air personality.

Her quick rise in the entertainment industry can be largely attributed to a fierce work ethic and an energetic kindness that is endearing herself to audiences across the country.

Though Nashville is where she’s currently making a name for herself, Sherwood’s roots run deep back in Chicago. “I grew up in Chicagoland and I have a huge family,” she said, adding that she has seven aunts & uncles. “I went to high school with 12 of my cousins at one point…we ran the school.” Living in a different city now, she says it has been difficult to be so far removed from her loved ones back home. “Family is so important to me,” said Marley. “It does kill me that I can’t be home. There are so many family things that I missed.”

She has experienced more loss than most people her age, having been to the funerals of almost 40 close family members and friends before the age of 25. Sherwood says that these losses, while tragic, have given her inspiration to pursue her dreams and have helped her understand that the sacrifices she’s made have been worth it. “When you lose so many people that are close to you, you learn to appreciate what’s in front of you,” she said. “In the past few years I’ve learned to live in the moment. There is a meaning to where you are and why you’re there. That’s what helped me get through this.”

“I think what drives me in this city is that everybody here is so young and motivated...Everyone is so good at what they do that it makes you want to be as good as you can be.”

After working in television, radio and print media in Chicago and Ireland, Marley applied for and earned an internship with Viacom-owned CMT in 2014. Nashville was the perfect destination for Sherwood. “Ultimately, I loved country music and I loved television,” said the broadcast journalism major, “and the best place to do both of them is Country Music Television.” The Music City was a refreshing and inspiring change of scenery for Marley. “I think what drives me in this city is that everybody here is so young and motivated,” she said. “Everyone is so good at what they do that it makes you want to be as good as you can be.”

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After a short stint as an intern, Marley was brought on full-time at CMT as a production assistant. In 2017, she officially joined host Cody Alan on CMT After Midnite and CMT Radio Live as an on-air personality. She wears multiple hats at the network and seems to always be on the go. “My friends always tell me I don’t have an off switch,” says Sherwood. “I get stressed out when I’m not doing anything, and I’m such an extrovert that it’s very difficult for me to be still. I thrive when I’m busy.”

“At ‘A Drink With’ we try to be different from the rest of the press...It’s literally supposed to be a conversation between you and a friend having a drink.”

As if she didn’t have enough on her plate, Marley added another line item to her already impressive resume in 2017. She emailed Hillary Sawchuk, founder of the Chicago-based web series ‘A Drink With’, inquiring as to how she could get involved. Within months, Marley was hired as the first remote correspondent for the website and has conducted interviews with successful Nashville personalities such as Ward Guenther, Roman Josi, Zachary Quinn, and her CMT co-host Cody Alan. “At ‘A Drink With’ we try to be different from the rest of the press,” explained Sherwood. It’s literally supposed to be a conversation between you and a friend having a drink.” She says she enjoys the candid conversations with artists, athletes & entrepreneurs, and is very grateful that Hillary took a chance on her. “It’s not my company, but I love that they’ve given me the opportunity to make the Nashville version mine…it’s such an honor.”

At first glance, it may seem that success has come easy for the blonde bombshell with the 6’5” fighter pilot boyfriend (yes, really). The truth, however, is that Sherwood has continued to successfully meet opportunity with flawless execution, proving that she has the natural talent and chops to excel long-term in the entertainment industry. “I love what I do so much that it never feels like work,” she said. “Life’s way too short to be rude to people or be negative about things.”

Marley Sherwood is the perfect mix of Nashville charm and Chicago swagger, and is exactly the kind of person that you’d want to have a drink with.

Read Marley’s ‘A Drink With’ interview with Nashville’s Ward Guenther here

See the one of a kind web-series ‘A Drink With’ here

Check out Cody & Marley here at CMT

Follow them @adrinkwith - Cheers!