Elizabeth Cook | Jack of All Trades, Master of None

Americana Podcast

We’ve all heard the common phrase “a master of none” in reference to an individual who is seemingly versatile, flexible, and knowledgeable in their pursuits. Regardless of what they are. We’re not surprised when an artist is an avid reader nor are we shocked when a mathematician takes an interest in subjects like music. The term “master of none” alone, suggests that having multiple interests and being good at them is part of the deal. In today’s vernacular a “master of none” is good at most things but not great at all things. The full phrase though, I feel is of more worth which is “a jack of all trades, a master of none, but often times better than master of none”- in which it is suggested that those who master one task to its fullest extent would be the optimums example. But those who take no opportunity to master anything are below that standard.

The value, lies in versatility. A jack of all trades is inherently more valuable than a master of one. And that is because a jack of all trades is able to provide an example for the payoff of multiple skills. We’re fortunate to be working in a genre that encourages a “master of none” premise if you will. It is not an infrequent occurrence to see artists working within in Americana to be delving into multiple projects outside of music itself.

Our guest today is a master of none. Elizabeth Cook was born in 1972, and is the 11th out of 12 children and released her first album in 2000. Since then she has made over 400 Opry debuts, hosts a radio show in addition to a fishing show, voices an ongoing character on the show Squidbillies and just always seems to be on the run to her next gig… whatever it may be.

So join us today as our host Robert Earl Keen speaks with Elizabeth about her busy schedule, her songwriting, and maybe some interview tips.

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