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Well-being isn’t limited to what we eat or how we move, it’s also reflected in how we show up for ourselves, for the people around us and for the work that matters to us. That’s why we are sharing stories to inspire healthy and happy lives.

Through our “Inspiring Stories” series, we share individuals whose lives reflect different expressions of wellness. This week, singer-songwriter Robin Barnes – often called New Orleans’ Songbird – is one of the most talented, gracious and generous people I know.

Meet Robin

Robin Barnes is one of those rare people whose presence feels the same, whether she’s on stage or off. Her voice is silky and velvety, carrying the same ease as her energy. She’s kind, humble, open and one of the hardest-working people I’ve met. On stage, she’s unmistakable with feathered headdresses and flowing, sparkled dresses. She is a presence that fills the room before she even sings.

Offstage, she’s just as fully herself: workout clothes, hair pulled up, no makeup – and fully present. Both versions are real, and both are wholly Robin.

Her husband and her two daughters are her center. And her mom, “Mama Barnes,” has long been one of her biggest influences. There was a time, though, when she came close to stepping away from all of it.

“I almost stopped singing,” she told me, in an interview for my FUELED Wellness +Nutrition podcast.

At that point in her life, she was in a relationship that, from the outside, looked stable. But the reality felt different. Her schedule consisting of nights, weekends and travel didn’t fit neatly into someone else’s expectations. Over time, the pressure built.

Robin said she would be asked, “When are you going to stop this? When are you going to give up this hobby?” She said she started to believe it. “I thought, when we get married, I’ll stop,” said Robin.

It wasn’t a dramatic moment. It was gradual – adjusting, trying to make it work, slowly moving away from something that had always been part of her. The relationship ended before she had to make that decision. Looking back, she sees that moment clearly now.

“I promised myself that would be the last time I ever let anyone have control of what I wanted to do.”

Barnes grew up in Gentilly with a family where music was part of everyday life. She started performing young, playing tambourine with her dad’s band. She was also a competitive golfer with real potential (and still, quietly, a bit of a ringer if you’re ever paired with her at a tournament). There were other options, other pulls on her time and her focus, but music is where she kept coming back.

Years later, her health forced another shift. After returning from tour, she developed a severe kidney infection that left lasting damage. At one point, even walking was difficult. She remembers talking to her mom about how hard it felt just to get moving again. But her mother urged her to get up and “move that brass.” So she did.

Robin put out a call on social media, saying she’d be at City Park for a walk and could use the accountability. Ten people showed up. That was more than a decade ago, and it was the start of what is now Move Ya Brass – a nonprofit Robin founded that offers free, community-based workouts across the city including run clubs and dance-based classes like Zumba and Bounce Ya Brass. Different formats, different instructors – all centered around movement, access and simply showing up.

Now, Robin is in a different season. A mother of two young daughters, her schedule is still full with performances, travel, filming and recording. She’s often up by 5 a.m., though some days start even earlier. And many nights don’t end until well past midnight after performances.

It requires structure, clear boundaries and being selective in ways she didn’t always have to be before. She still says yes to a lot. But not everything.

Robin recently released her first full length album, Louisiana Love – a project rooted in her family’s history and Louisiana heritage. For generations, her family’s stories were passed down verbally through conversation and storytelling. Now they’re captured in a way that lasts.

Her daughters, ages 5 and 3, are part of this story – they’re featured on a track called “Dey Say Run.” Their voices – so pure, almost crystalline – layered alongside her own rich, soulful sound. It’s the kind of song that catches you off guard, stirring up emotion when we’re least expecting it.

What stands out about Robin isn’t just what she’s created. It’s how clear she is about who she is, what matters to her, what story she wants to tell – and how she wants to tell it.

Thank goodness she didn’t stop singing. And everything that exists now – the music, the movement, the life she’s building with her family – reflects that decision.

To hear the full interview with Robin Barnes, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness +Nutrition.

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of Ochsner’s Eat Fit nonprofit initiative. For more wellness content, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness +Nutrition, and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media. Email nutrition@ochsner.org to connect with Molly or schedule a consult with her team.