Former Miss America Betty Cantrell talks career, wedding plans and “Say Yes to the Dress”

Betty Cantrell, Miss America 2016, is busy building her career as a country music artist. Cantrell, who is a former Miss Warner Robins and Miss Georgia, now lives in Nashville with her fiance. She talked about how things are going with her career, her wedding plans and more.

Q: It’s been nearly a year since you held the title of Miss America. What has changed?

A: So much has changed. I moved to Nashville with my fiancee (Spencer Maxwell), and we started Maxwell Team Productions. We have booked tons of appearances and have been traveling all over the country doing speaking and singing engagements. We have also started Max Team Security, but this will get more off the ground once we start touring with my band doing concerts, which will start this fall.

Q: Tell me about the band.

A: The band doesn’t really have a name. I’m a solo artist and go by my name, Betty Cantrell. We’re getting close to signing a contract … very close to a record deal. I have two big concerts coming up. One is Sept. 22 in Macon at the Cox Capital Theater. It’s a debut for my album titled “Nicotine.” It will be available Sept. 22 on iTunes. I want to say it has seven or eight songs on it. It’s still up in the air…it’s still being put together. The other date is July 30 at the Ritz Carlton at Lake Oconee.

Q: Do you have a favorite song on the album?

A: Yes…I do…but I can’t say the name of the song yet. It is actually one I wrote. I have two originals I wrote on the album. One is the title of the album…and the other I can’t say yet … and it’s the one that’s my favorite.

Q: I have heard that you are going to be on “Say Yes to the Dress.” How did that opportunity present itself?

A: TLC reached out a while back when I first announced that I was engaged. They interviewed me and my mom and asked if I wanted to be on the show. They got in contact with me via email and we chatted back and forth a while about it. Then, about two months ago, they reached back out and wanted me to come in August. So I am going Aug. 8 to film the episode in Atlanta.

Q: Who will be going with you?

A: My mom and dad, my future mother-in-law, my little sister, Sophia, and my future sister-in-law. I’m not taking Spencer. I’m very big on the groom not seeing the dress before the wedding. I’m big on traditions. I am very traditional … I would prefer a Greek Orthodox wedding.

Q: Do you think you will find something there in Atlanta?

A: I do. I’ve been looking. I found a lot of beautiful things I like. I hope I can “Say Yes To The Dress!”

Q: With having an iconic dress for Miss Georgia/Miss America, are you looking for something similar in a wedding dress or something much simpler?

A: Not really. This is not a pageant by any means. I don’t want it to look anything like a pageant dress. This is a new chapter in my life. I’m definitely going for something different from that aspect. I’m looking for something classic and beautiful. I have no set ideas … whatever I try on and love, I love.

Q: Have you been looking already for a dress?

A: I am a definitely a typical 20-something year old girl. I have a Pinterest page for dresses. I am taking it a lot more seriously. I’ve been looking very hard and taking everything very seriously this time. I’ve been working on this page since I was like 16 … looking through things and saving things I like. I’m taking it much more seriously.

Q: When is the show supposed to air?

A: No date is set yet.

Q: Have you set a date for the wedding?

A: We’ve not set a date yet. We’ve actually been crazy busy in Nashville and traveling constantly and getting booked for next year already. We’re really trying to grow our business, my name and brand. It’s hard to find time free where we can plan a wedding. It could happen next month … we just want to be married. We’re very spontaneous as a couple. Who knows when it could happen.

Q: Have you thought about eloping?

A: We haven’t counted it out. We haven’t discussed in detail anything. We’re just trying to find a time when we can get married.

Q: I have heard some rumors about a museum display in Macon. Can you tell me about this?

A: The Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon reached out and asked for memorabilia of my year as Miss America. They asked for my gowns, jewelry, shoes and my swimsuit from Miss America and any gowns I wore throughout the year as Miss America. I think it is just a temporary display. I am not firm on any details yet, but I just sent them pictures of all my stuff I will be sending them. I think the opening of it will be close to around the time of my album coming out in September.

I have one other big huge thing in the works yet. I can tell you it’s something huge that we are working on. We should be able to talk about it in the next two to three months. It is something to do with me and Spencer, but it’s business related.

This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Former Miss America Betty Cantrell talks career, wedding plans and “Say Yes to the Dress”."