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Hmm, what can I say about me? I guess I will start with the highlights (I will skip over the low lights...)
I grew up in Kingsport Tennessee. As far back as I can remember, I sang. When I was really young, I would put on shows for the fam. My mom would make herself comfortable on my waterbed (oh come on, it was the 80s...everybody had one!) and I would sing every song I knew. She would give me pointers and pretend that she was the judge...long before American Idol. I imagined that I was on a big stage with spotlights and fog and millions of screaming fans. when the song was over I would open my eyes and there would be just my mom, sitting on the waterbed, sipping coffee, smiling.
I sang in talent shows, weddings, contest...whatever I could do to satisfy the dream whenever it fit into my packed schedule of cheerleading, soccer, swim team, friends...you name it, I did it.
I went to East Tennessee State University. At the time I felt like a total failure because I hated it. I loved being on my own. I just was not interested in school. So, when I heard about an open audition at Dollywood, I went. There were days of callbacks and dance auditions, group auditions, solo auditions. Eventually I landed a part. I quit school, semi reluctantly. Okay, I’ll be honest... I over joyously crammed my Volkswagen Bug with everything I owned and moved the day I found out I had a part! I remember rehearsing for Dollywood’s opening ceremony that year, standing with my new musical friends and thinking, “I can’t believe they are gonna pay me to do this.” That was a life changing moment for me. I will never forget that feeling. I knew then why I was so uninterested in school. I wasn’t called to be a teacher (or whatever) I was meant to be a performer. I loved it. That feeling has grown and fed on itself ever since.
In 1994 I moved to Nashville. I knew no one, except my brother who played basketball for Belmont University. I lived with him and four of his basketball-playing roommates for the first year. They were all very protective of me, When I would go sing at open mic nights or talent shows, one (or more) of them would go with me...to cheer me on, to watch out for me...and probably to pick up girls...Either way, I was glad they were in the audience.
I grew frustrated with only singing a few nights a week though. After all, I had moved to Nashville to be a star, but basically I was a waitress, a singing waitress, but a waitress nonetheless. So, I put a band together and hit the road. That sounds so easy when I write it, but believe me, it was not. There were auditions held for the band which looking back is hysterical. We were in a warehouse doing cover tunes, but I didn't even have a gig booked yet. I took the auditions SO seriously too. I even videotaped them, so I could review the guys I liked the best...ok, and laugh at the dorky ones. Eventually I found a band and lots of gigs. We did hit the road. We played everywhere as the “Hillbilly Gypsies”.
It was a strange struggle of an experience. I loved it and at the same time it was SO frustrating for me. I mean, I wanted to be in Nashville, but I was on the road most of the time. The band was changing nearly every week. The gigs were varied...some were amazing and some are too scary to think about now.
Standing outside of the gig one afternoon in the middle of South Dakota I decided that the Hillbilly Gypsies should be done…and we were.
Shortly thereafter I had my daughter, Madeleine. At that time I thought I was probably gonna have to put my dream of being a star, singing for a living, to rest. Then, like a miracle, one day I got a phone call form Jeff Carlton who at the time was the head of a publishing company called Hamstein Publishing. He offered me a writing deal. He said he thought I had something to say. That phone call changed my life. From that moment on, I felt like the songs I had always written were worth something. Hamstein was a very nurturing place for me. I loved everything about it. It was encouraging and supportive. I grew in my songwriting in leaps and bounds. I am thankful for that kind of springboard.
Still the elusive dream was the record deal. I had begun writing with a guy named Lee Miller who was also a writer at Hamstein. We clicked. I learned so much about song writing from him. I mean, I had always written songs. Since I was a little girl. But I didn't know a lot about the commercialism of songwriting. It is an art all its own. Lee and I wrote every Wednesday for about 7 years! We also worked on my Curb project together. If you ever heard a song of mine on the radio, before 2008, then Lee is the one who produced it. I love the music that we made. From some of the craziest demos to some amazing sounding records, I loved all of them.
My record deal came and went. I was on Curb records form 2002-2007. During that time I was able to do some amazing things. I was on a big tour. (Toby Keith/ Rascal Flatts 2003) I was able to see a lot of the country through the multiple radio tours I was on. I was able to have many dreams come true, like 3 videos, 6 singles on the radio. Four of those singles making it into the top 30 countdown. That is pretty cool to think about. I am proud of the work that I did there. On some days I am a little disappointed that I was never able to have my album in stores, but bygones will drive you crazy.
In 2008 I had a beautiful little boy, Jackson. I began writing songs for a fantastic publishing company, Bro n’ sis Music/ Carlin America. I created my own record label, Madjack Records. My husband and I produced and created and slaved over my debut cd called It’s Time.
It’s Time is a collection of the songs I have always believed in (re-thought, re-recorded and re-vamped) and new songs that I absolutely love! It was hard choosing which songs would go on the album. I write ALOT of songs...and everyone has their favorites, so it was tough. But when I hear it all together, I think we chose really well and at the end of the day, all you want is an album that you are proud to give to people. I am very proud of It’s Time.
I must admit that it is very strange to write the story of my life or at least the story of my musical life so far, but I do think it is better this way, hearing it straight from me. Much better than some guy I don’t know writing a story about what he thinks of me, don’t’cha think?
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