Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings’ Aria Brooks

Aria Brooks is all that and then some. The quadruple threat acts, writes, sings, and dances. She’s unquestionably the future of Hollywood with past credits including Family, Nocturnal, and Harriet. Currently, she can be seen in not one but two projects: Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings and All That. Pop Culturalist caught up with Aria to chat about her thriving career.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Aria: My family is filled with performers, so it was second nature to me. I went on an audition about three years ago and even though I didn’t move forward, I loved the process. I decided to keep going because I wanted to see what the future held. I knew that if one audition was that much fun, the ones to come would be even better.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Aria: My mom has definitely had the biggest influence on me. She teaches performing arts and was my teacher for a while. A lot of the things that I saw her do looked like they would be fun. Although she taught more of the musical theatre part, I fell in love with performing altogether.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Aria: I was invited to perform my original song, “Truly Me”, for an elementary school back home in Atlanta. The kids showed a lot of support during my performance. They were allowed to ask questions and even made signs and beautiful cards for me. It was an awesome experience.

PC: Is it a challenge to balance your career and life as a normal kid?
Aria: It is extremely hard, but I’m a lot better at it now. Not many kids can say they work a full-time job while going to school, doing chores, and still trying to be a kid. There are times when I have to be an adult in a kid’s body. It’s all about staying true to myself and knowing not to push myself past my limit because I’m still a kid.

PC: Tell us about Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Aria: Being that Heartstrings is an anthology series, my episode is nothing like any of the other episodes. Each episode tells the true story behind Dolly Parton’s music. In the “Crackerjack” episode, my character, Nola, plays an important part in the story of the love between a girl and her dog. Nola brings a sense of nostalgia to the main character as she looks back on her childhood.

PC: You’re also a series regular on All That. Has anything surprised you about that experience? What’s been the biggest takeaway?
Aria: The most surprising thing is how much you learn in one week. We prepare a full episode of sketches and perform for a live audience at the end of the week. I was a little nervous about performing in front of a live audience, but we rehearse every day and the entire cast and crew are very supportive. It was actually a lot easier than I expected! The biggest takeaway is to tackle the challenges that come my way by working hard to perfect my craft.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Aria: Dance Moms

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Aria: Tall Girl

PC: Favorite book?
Aria: Wonder

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Aria: The Lion King

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Aria: Melanie Martinez

PC: Hidden talent?
Aria: I can do oversplits, which is a split with one or both legs propped up.

To keep up with Aria, follow her on Instagram. Catch Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: DeAndre’ Lemans of Slingshots Atlanta Photography