Tennessee Titans Cheerleader Heather embraces all of Nashville’s possibilities

Put Titans Cheerleader Heather in a red swimsuit, and major things just happen. Like when she met her husband, country music artist Ryan Kinder, when they were lifeguards during the summer after their high school graduation. Heather says, “He always laughs when we tell people how we met, because he says I was the ‘worst life guard ever, but I sure did look good in that red swimsuit.'” And this season, Heather, while donning another red swimsuit, made the cover of the Titans Cheerleader Calendar. “The calendar is always one of the most favorite experiences of Titans Cheers,” Heather states. “Not every team has a calendar, and if they do the entire team isn’t guaranteed a picture. I love that our Director, Stacie, finds a way to include all of us. Having a picture in an NFL calendar four years in a row is such a privilege and sharing the cover with three amazing women this year is an honor.”

Well, UltimateCheerleaders is honored to feature Heather, and we will share more about this Birmingham, Alabama native, who is ensconced in Nashville’s entertainment sector, between her work, husband, and weekends at Nissan Stadium. We will learn what advice she gives people moving to Nashville trying to make it in the music industry, how being a Titans Cheerleader gave her a chance to cuddle a kangaroo, and Heather will share when she wishes she could throw yellow penalty flags in real life.

It has been an absolutely memorable fourth TTC season for Heather. In addition to being on the calendar cover, she went on two international trips, and Heather is in her first season as a line captain. “I knew from the beginning of my rookie season that I wanted to be a captain one day,” Heather says. “The workload has increased, but I love the challenge. I call myself the ‘rookie captain,’ since Julia, Jessi, and Anne have been in this role prior to this season. I spend a lot of time studying what they do to see what I can apply to my leadership style.”

And as line captain, what advice does Heather have for her rookies as they start their Titans Cheerleader career? “My key advice for a rookie is to soak up every minute,” Heather responds. “You will never get to relive the first time you ran on the field as an NFL Cheerleader. Also, pay attention to the vets and your captains. The atmosphere of game day is overwhelming. Look to the others so you don’t get lost!”

Heather was drawn to being part of the Titans Cheerleaders because two of her interests intersect right on the sidelines of Nissan Stadium. “I love football and performing, and I think it’s really important for an NFL cheerleader to have fun with both,” Heather shares. “Practices and game days are great excuses to hang out with my girlfriends and dance. My Titans sisters have quickly become some of my best friends and my Nashville family. The friendships play a major role in my return each year.”

And Titans Cheer has taken Heather from one end of the globe to the other, from north of the border to south. Way, way south. “TTC has given me endless opportunities,” Heather says. “Each appearance and community event offers such a great experience, but my two trips probably hold the most memories. At the beginning of 2015, I traveled to Alice Springs, Australia, on behalf of Pro Tour Productions and Armed Forces Entertainment. Eight of us, three cheerleaders from other teams, two NFL players and one guide, traveled during the week of Super Bowl XLIX to visit the US military based in Alice Springs. We spent the entire week with the military members and their families. We went off-roading in the outback, visited a kangaroo sanctuary, taught a football/cheerleading clinic for the kids on base, and so much more. The experience was truly a blessing. We wrapped up the trip by watching the game, which aired live at 9 AM on Monday, with the families before heading back to the States.”

International trip number two was when the Titans recently played an away game on Thursday Night Football, Heather and the three other Titans Cheerleaders were the toast of Ottawa, as they brought the game day experience to our neighbors to the north. “I traveled to Ottawa, Canada with Julia, Anne, Evony, and our director, Stacie,” Heather explains. “We were invited by NFL Canada to attend the sixth of eight ‘Thursday Night Football Kickoff Tour’ parties. The idea behind the event is to bring the NFL up close and personal to our Canadian fans. Since the Titans had a TNF away game, we were invited to watch our game with our Canadian fans. We opened the event with a five minute dance, signed posters and calendars, and one lucky guy won two tickets to Super Bowl 50! We were only in Ottawa for a couple of days, but we packed in a ton of activities. We saw Parliament, experienced the ByWard market, and visited the local news, radio stations, and two newspapers. The best part was that the city was already decorated for Christmas!”

When she is not cheering for Nashville’s Titans, she has another person to root for, her husband Ryan Kinder, who is moving ahead in Nashville’s music scene. “I am Ryan’s biggest cheerleader,” Heather says. “The industry isn’t easy, and he has worked so hard to get to where he is today. I’m so amazed by how his creative mind works, how his fingers seem to slide effortlessly up and down the guitar, and his smoothing voice.”

After Heather and Ryan met as lifeguards, they began dating two years later, when Heather was a junior at the University of Alabama. Heather says, “Ryan has a record deal with Warner Music Nashville and a publishing deal with Warner Chappell, so he writes all of his music. I’m a little biased, but I think all of his songs are the best ever.”

Are there songs Ryan sings that are very special to Heather because she inspired them? “Most of them are about broken hearts or break ups, so I hope those aren’t about me,” jokes Heather. “He is currently on radio tour promoting his new single ‘Tonight,’ and he’s touring with Jennifer Nettles as one of her openers. About a year ago he wrote a song for me, ‘Nothing But Time,’ which he plays on both current tours. He always jokes with the audience that the song is so obviously written about me since the first line of the chorus says, ‘I ain’t rich, I don’t have much.’”

Heather has a degree in Public Relations from Alabama, so she is a great resource for Ryan’s career. “I definitely think I can contribute to Ryan’s career because of my experience,” Heather says. “I understand the business side of his career, and I have a passion for brand awareness. I am constantly thinking about what we can do to grow his brand. Young adult females are his target audience, and as a member of that demographic I think that gives me the right to recommend what he wears!”

It seems like Heather and Ryan would seem to be special people to have spouses as performers. Heather is a favorite to many Nashville football fans, and Ryan travels for his career; two things many couples might struggle with. “Neither of us chose traditional careers, and I think that’s why we work,” explains Heather. “We understand and support each other’s lifestyles. When Ryan is on the road, he is the first and last person I think about and pray for each day. FaceTime and iMessages keep us close while he is traveling. When he is home we are very conscious of our time and make sure to spend as much of it together as possible. Our careers keep us busy as individuals, but we always put each other first.”

In addition to her personal connections to sports and entertainment, Heather’s day job is also in that realm. “I just celebrated my three-year anniversary with a business management firm headquartered on Nashville’s Music Row,” Heather says. “Many of the skills I garnered in school have contributed to my success as a full-time executive assistant to the CEO. While I do tend the typical assistant duties, I am also responsible for the firm’s marketing, community involvement and maintaining client relationships. Most importantly I am an extension of (the CEO) Lou and her vision for the staff and clients. Time really does fly when you’re having fun, and I have a lot of fun with my job.”

So Heather’s knowledge and expertise have been an important resource for those, like her TTC teammate Heidi, who are in Nashville to make their start in country music. Asked what advice Heather would give someone looking to move to Nashville and take a chance on the music scene, she replies, “Get involved! It really is all about whom you know in this town. There is so much talent in Nashville, and if you don’t get out and meet people, you will be overlooked. Writer Nights happen seven days a week. Make a point to attend as many as possible. We have the best musicians and artists in this city, so check out live shows. Watch and listen to see what you can take away to enhance your shows. Professional mixers take place almost every week. Attending these mixers allow you to meet managers, agents, attorneys, et cetera. If you’re in your 20’s and 30’s, I suggest checking out Young Entertainment Professionals (yepnashville.com) an organization for young professionals in the industry.”

Nashville’s entertainment talent base has always been strong, and seems like it is only getting deeper, whether for music or dance. The Titans Cheerleaders choose the crème de la crème of the region’s dance talent, so for someone like Heather, being a pro cheerleader in Nashville tends to follow a lifetime of dance training. “I began dancing around age four,” Heather recalls. “I trained in several styles including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, hip-hop and lyrical. I was a member of my middle and high school dance teams, and while in high school I competed across the country with my studio. When I turned 16 I began assisting at my studio and taught through my senior year of college the University of Alabama. Even though I did not major in dance, I took a class each semester from some of the best instructors in the world.”

Asked what she remembers about her big dance performance, Heather answers, “I don’t remember what song I danced to in my first recital, but I do remember what I wore…a red one-piece tutu that had a cluster of grapes on the front that we accessorized with a tambourine.”

Of course, a lifetime of dance usually means a family supportive of artistic passion, and Heather’s dad went above and beyond. “One of my favorite childhood memories is the room my dad converted into a dance floor complete with floor to ceiling mirror. My friends would come over and we would choreograph routines all night long. In middle and high school I spent endless hours practicing my routines, preparing for auditions, competition, and recitals. When I first auditioned for Titans I still lived in Birmingham, so the room came in handy once again. I am forever grateful to my dad for the sacrifices he made and the work he put into that room. Now my nephews, two and a half and eleven months, get a lot of use out of that room!” Born and raised in Birmingham, Heather has two older sisters, Carlin and Meredith.

And it should never be forgotten that pro cheer is an athletic endeavor, and recently Heather broke her hand in practice. “About two weeks ago I fell at practice,” Heather reports. “My teammates and I were warming up some tricks that were in our dance for the upcoming game day routine. Remember, my background is strong in dance, but I have never been a tumbler. The trick was a simple flip with a partner gone wrong. Everything happened so fast that I don’t really know what caused the fall. I either released from my partner too early, or landed hard and then lost my balance. I caught myself on my left hand, breaking a bone and spraining a finger. Julia ended up taking me to the ER to have my hand x-rayed and splinted. We were in and out of the ER super-fast and made it back to the last hour of practice! Hopefully the bone will be totally healed by the holidays.”

But no IR for Heather! “I figured out how to lasso my pom-pom to my left hand so I don’t have to miss out on anything. Ryan calls it my ‘pom sling.’”

One of the fun games of the year is the Halloween costume game, and the last couple of years, Heather has donned referee apparel. So I had to ask, what are things in real life that Heather wishes she could throw a yellow flag and penalize people? “I am a super organized and detail oriented person,” answers Heather. “I take time to write emails, prepare lists, and communicate details and expectations. My biggest pet peeve is when someone doesn’t communicate well with me, or take time to read and digest the information I have prepared for him/her. Hopefully that isn’t too big of an expectation. Right?”

Not at all Heather. And after a memorable 2015, we hope 2016 is even bigger and better for both Heather and Ryan. From the little dancer with the tambourine, to practicing in her dad’s designed home dance studio, to across the equator on the other side of the world, Heather’s love of performance has given her a very “entertaining” life in Nashville. Where to next? For Heather and Ryan, the sky is the limit!

Thanks so so much Heather for filling us in on your TTC experience. Thanks also to Director of Cheerleading for the Titans, Stacie Kinder, plus Robbie Bohren and Lauren Spencer of the Titans!

More photos of Heather are at this link.