Post Monroe’s Whitney Duncan Dedicates New Song, ‘Better Place,’ to Cousin Holly Bobo
Whitney Duncan has grappled with the pain of losing her cousin Holly Bobo six years ago & channeled her grief into the song "Better Place."
It’s been six years since a West Tennessee town was shaken after the abduction and murder of 20-year-old nursing student Holly Bobo. Bobo’s cousin, singer/songwriter Whitney Duncan, had her life forever changed after the disappearance of her family member and has continued to update friends and fans on the status of the case.
As the murder trial approaches, Duncan shared with fans that she recently wrote a song for Holly, with the help of her Post Monroe band mates Ashlee Hewitt and Shelby McLeod, as well as her cousin Jonathan Singleton. The writing session concluded with the song “Better Place.”
“When my cousin, Holly Bobo, went missing over 6 years ago, people started asking when I was going to write a song for her,” Duncan shared in a post to Facebook. “However, the timing never felt right – the wound was too fresh for me and my family. I have hardly ever been able to talk about it without my emotions taking over. As time has gone by, I have finally been able to realize what I wanted to say to her.”
She continued, “As a songwriter, I feel my purpose is to write about real life, what I know and how I feel, knowing that many others might just relate to what I am going through. I got the idea for ‘Better Place’ last year and wanted to write it with people I’m really close with so I could really say what I wanted to say. I couldn’t think of anyone better than Ashlee, Shelby, and my cousin Jonathan Singleton. I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to Holly or have a final conversation with her, so this song is my way of filling her in on everything since she’s been gone. Life has moved on in some ways, yet it also feels like time stands still sometimes, but not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. With her murder trial approaching, I wanted to release this song to honor her. No matter what happened here on Earth, I know she’s in Heaven, and her heart isn’t broken, even if ours is.”
The song came just as the band is also mourning the unexpected loss of their drummer, Christian Leonard, who passed on July 7.
Duncan is likely on a roller coaster of emotions between the loss of Leonard, the release of “Better Place,” and the announcement that Holly Bobo’s trial has been postponed yet again.
Recently, it was announced that five men involved in the case have been granted immunity deals in exchange for their testimony. The trial is set to begin on September 11, barring any further delays.
Bobo disappeared on April 13, 2011. She was reported missing by her family after she failed to return home from class that evening. Her remains were found three years later in the woods of Decatur County.
Fans and download “Better Place” for free now. Those interested in making a donation to the Holly Bobo Memorial Scholarship Fund, can send checks to 1350 Corinth Road, Darden, TN 38328.
