HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Getting the chance to hear Sara Gazarek sing her rendition of Dolly's Parton's classic, "Jolene" will bring you chills.

For the first time in her career, Gazrek has been nominated for not one, but two Grammy's, including one for "Jolene" in the category of Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals. 

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"Any artist would agree that a Grammy nomination is sort of like the greatest honor," Gazarek said. 

Her other nomination is in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for her album Thirsty Ghost.

What makes this honor just that much sweeter is that her album was self-produced and self-released, and . . . that although she shopped it around, record labels took a pass. 

"That doesn't necessarily mean that those gatekeepers actually hold a key to the gate," Gazarek said. "The gatekeepers are the artists, the ones who create the music, and that if you have faith in your art, not to be deterred." 

That faith is what got her here.

Prior to this album, the songs she was singing weren't reflective of her own life.

Her marriage was crumbling and her mom was in a catastrophic car accident. 

"My life was falling apart and I was still on stage promoting this concept of authenticity, but not singing about anything that was authentic," she said. 

Eventually, she found the courage to explore those wounds through music.

Every song on Thirsty Ghost speaks to something specific, like "Jolene." 

"For better or for worse there was a Jolene in my life," Gazarek said. "And I'm not the only one, there are a lot of people who have had a Jolene." 

Despite her authenticity, she questioned if her audience was ready for this music. But ultimately, she trusted she was on the right path. 

"Of course it's terrifying, because you're singing or creating art that's about something that is as real and as authentic as the human experience can get," Gazarek said.

That risk turned into a big reward with her first-time Grammy nominations. 

"It would be thrilling to get up on stage and thank the people that contributed to this album and to have a record that was self-produced and self-released," Gazarek said.

As an underdog she hopes she can inspire other artists to put things out there in a way they felt they couldn't before.

In the meantime, she'll enjoy the spotlight two Grammy nominations have brought her.