She’s put 45,000 miles on a hand-me-down PT Cruiser in the last year and she ain’t slowin’ down anytime soon. In fact, Charla Corn is on the ride of her life touring her native state of Texas with some of the region’s biggest musical acts: Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Roger Creager, the Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Aaron Watson, and the Josh Abbott Band, to name a few. Armed only with her guitar and arresting voice, she’s building solid career momentum one mile at a time.
The ambitious soprano hails from the sleepy Texas town of Farwell, with a population just over 1,300. This genuine farmer’s daughter was raised in a raucous, musical household. “I remember playing Dad’s Buddy Holly records over and over every Saturday when Mom did laundry, and my big brother Clay banging on the piano keys to old Jerry Lee Lewis tunes. I just started to sing along and from then on, I just knew that music was it for me.”
Charla pursued her passion and attended South Plains College whose alumni include Natalie Maines of the super group, The Dixie Chicks, Heath Wright of Ricochet, Lee Ann Womack, Curb Records’ Christyana Perez and Matt Jenkins. While there, she studied music performance and took her first steps toward becoming a songwriter. After college, she toured on her own throughout the region opening for headliners such as Jason Aldean, Jack Ingram, Asleep at the Wheel, and Joe Nichols; building a loyal fan base while honing her craft both on and off the stage.
As a performer her talents have taken her in numerous directions. Aside from touring, and perhaps because she’s such a dynamic personality, she made it to Hollywood in Season 2 of Fox’s American Idol and was a finalist in Season 6 of NBC’s Nashville Star. She has worked as an on-air personality for CMT, hosting CMT Insider, Wide Open Country and Karaoke Dokie. She was also a regular correspondent for CMT during radio broadcasts and red carpet premieres. She’s a frequent MC for various charities, including, among others, Minnie Pearl’s Cancer Foundation. She currently hosts a bi-weekly radio show called ‘Charla Chat,’ personally reporting national and regional entertainment industry news to local radio stations throughout Texas.
As a songwriter she has penned works with some of the industry’s most notable talents such as Jim Lauderdale, Clay Mills and Blair Daly. Her latest works can be heard on her first full-length album, More Than I Should, released in June of 2009.
Lewis Bogach, CMT’s VP of Production puts it best. “Don’t let her good looks fool you. She’s hip, with brains, boots and bring-it-on. Her crack the whip attitude and infectious energy will take her very far in this industry.”…and that’s her plan.
“There is simply nothing better for me than being onstage, performing for people and watching them have a great time. I am committed to that feeling, to that sense of purpose. It’s why I’m here.”
Hey Girl, was that you we saw Thursday at the Glass Cactus, watching Granger Smith and Roger Creager? WE thought that might have been you, but were not sure...
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