Multi-platinum selling country superstar Jo Dee Messina performs 8 p.m. Oct. 11, State Theatre Center for the Arts, 453 Northampton St., Easton.

Messina is touring the United States in support of her album, "Me," a collection of songs she calls her "most personal to date."

Messina grew up just outside of Boston, Mass., not the typical place one thinks of when one thinks of country music. But Boston, and its diverse music scene were a big influence on Messina.

Messina, the child of a working mother, was a "latch-key kid."

"I was by myself a lot," she says in a phone interview. "Music was my friend. It kept me out of trouble."

She counts groups ranging from Rush to Tammy Wynette as her influences. "I loved both rock and country. I liked the relate-ability of country music, the personal nature of the stories."

With the album, "Me," she explores personal themes like insecurity, growing older and proving the naysayers wrong.

Messina encountered many naysayers when she decided to release "Me" on her own Dreambound Records, funded using the crowdfunding site, Kickstarter.

"I was surprised how many people hadn't heard of Kickstarter. I heard people say to me, 'What are you doing asking people for money?'

"This is the way I chose to do it. After being with a record label for a long time who sat on my records and didn't release my music, I wanted to find a new way to do things."

"It started out as an experiment and it really took off. I was posting songs on my social media site and the fans were choosing what they wanted to hear on the album. Fans even sang backup on some of the singles."

Messina is grateful every day for her fans and her family. "I try to look at life from a place of gratitude. I like to think about what an awesome job I have rather than about what I don't have."

Messina's husband and children accompany her on tour. "They are very involved. My husband works with me. He takes the front of the house down every night."

For her performance at the State Theatre, Messina will play new songs and older hits. "We have a really good time. I sing. I tell stories."

Messina dreams of putting together a Christmas show with James Taylor and to continue touring as she has been.

"I would love to be still out there, living my dream and finding my own way. I can have my own kind of success and not compare myself to anyone else's success."

Messina looks forward to her show at the State.

"I'm so excited to be there. We haven't been to the area in a long time. I'm hoping my fans will come on out and enjoy the show. It's gonna be fantastic."

Tickets: State Theatre Box Office, 453 Northampton St., Easton; statetheatre.org, 1-800-999-STATE, 610-252-3132