Singer/songwriter and actor Emily Kinney recently participated in an installment of the GRAMMY Museum's The Drop series. In an exclusive interview, Kinney opened up about how an ex-boyfriend inspired the title track from her debut album, This Is War, among other topics. She also performed a brief set, including "This Is War."

"[At] one of my very first shows in New York, I was dating a boy. He was a songwriter and he was very successful. And I invited him to my show," said Kinney. "After the show … he said, 'Well, your songs are really cute, but you should probably stop. This is going to be a lot harder than you think it is, and you should probably stick to acting.' That really stuck with me."

Wayne, Neb., native Kinney graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a bachelor's degree in theater. She got her start in entertainment as an actor, landing early roles in off-Broadway productions as well as Broadway musicals such as the GRAMMY-winning "Spring Awakening." As an actor, she is arguably best known for her turn on the TV series "The Walking Dead," in which she played Beth Greene, from 2011–2015.

Kinney released her first EP, Blue Toothbrush, in 2011, followed by 2014's Expired Love. She also contributed songs to "The Walking Dead," including a cover of Tom Waits' "Hold On."

Released in 2015, This Is War features 10 tracks, including the title track, "Molly" and "Mess."