This is a real profile for the artist Crystal Hoyt, member of "Trailer Choir". Although Crystal makes every attempt to be actively involved in this page, be aware that she cannot always personally respond to your emails and comments. Thank you for being a part of this page and for supporting Crystal Hoyt and Show Dog Recording Artists, Trailer Choir.
I have always been strongly influenced by many genres of music. I grew up singing in choir and all over Louisiana in a very eclectic blend of churches. Gospel music has always been a primary influence.
As a child I was a student of classical music and a classically trained vocalist. As matured, I found myself being drawn back to the music that I had always loved.
My influences come from artists like Ronnie Milsap, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and Aretha Franklin. I always followed the lead of classic country artists like Tammy Wynette, and Patsy Cline.
In my teens I began to really find my own voice when with influences from The Judds, Reba McEntire, and Linda Ronstadt.
I also began writing songs when the "trials and tribulations" of the high school years took over. I found myself following artists who were songwriters as well. In those years I discovered Jewel, Ray Charles, Sheryl Crow, and Carole King.
As I have matured I am truly finding my own style, especially when it comes to writing... It's amazing how life can inspire a song. (By: Crystal Hoyt)
Natural Talent + Opportunity + Hard Work = Success
- Michael Johnson
The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.
- Helen Keller
Crystal Hoyt sits crossed-legged on a beat up dressing room couch across from me; her shiny blond hair is pulled neatly away from her face and her make-up is stunningly perfect.
She laughs and her animated laughter fills the dreary room. “Every time I say that, I get the same look. I forget that not everyone knows.”
She is right, not everyone knows which makes me think about all of the things we don’t know about one another. So, I ask Crystal to tell me more, to take me back and introduce me to the girl I don’t know.
“Back then (my teenage years) I didn’t realize that some people were trying to bring me down only to make themselves feel better about their own insecurities.” As she says this, her piercing blue eyes show the strength of her response. She continues, “I would tell my 18 year old self, ‘It’s ok.’ You’re about to lose all that weight and you'll be a much stronger person for everything you're going through now." And, this comment, this honest expression about her weight and her battle with it, this is the that that not everyone knows.
It is this declaration that allows me to realize that the spark in Crystal’s brilliant blue eyes, and the zeal in her hearty laugh come from her understanding of life. Crystal lived on the other side of acceptance and this duality has made Crystal Hoyt a driven woman. It also made her realize that giving up her dream was just not an option.
“Five years ago I had quit singing, given up on music career and decided to settle down be a working woman. I enjoyed the work I did, but it never fulfilled me the way that music always had. I felt like I had lost my identity, and I had never felt so empty,” Crystal states. “After about 3 years,” she continues, “I decided to get back into music. It was time to pursue it full time. I basically didn’t sleep for two years so that I could work a “regular job” and still write and perform almost full time.” It is apparent that her work ethic is deeply sewn into Crystal’s being and although her teen years strengthened her drive, I can sense that there is a deeper source.
“I was born in Cheneyville, La. We lived on a large farm that had been in our family for several generations. My dad and his brother ran the farm,” I can see the admiration in her eyes. She softens when she speaks of her parents, and of the hard working lifestyle they led. I can also hear the gratefulness in her voice, “My parents are amazing. They have supported me from day one. My mom drove me to every acting lesson, dance lesson, piano recital, drama audition, modeling job, musical performance, beauty pageant, and then at the ripe old age of 19, she trusted my judgment enough to help pack my bags to move me to Nashville.”
Crystal doesn’t have to say anything about her Dad’s support because she knows that I just met him. From the minute that he walked into the dressing room I could see the pride in his eyes. It is well-deserved pride, after all, his daughter is on Toby Keith’s Big Dog Daddy tour where she is part of the opening entertainment. But that isn’t where his pride in his daughter comes from. He was just as proud of his 3 year old Crystal.
“I first remember singing and one of my older cousins taught me Ronnie Milsap’s “What a Difference You Made in My Life”. I learned it word for word and performed an a cappella version at the annual local Farm Bureau conference. As I was leaving the stage my mom motioned to me to go back and take a bow. So I just bent right over and bowed to the audience, showing everyone my white ruffled panties,” Crystal says with a laugh. Her father’s pride comes from this, from seeing his daughter be exactly who she is, the little girl in ruffles who is not afraid of “exposing” her true self.
It takes people awhile to figure out what Crystal Hoyt has come to understand. Her talents have taken her to Cuba (to perform for the troupes), to Nashville (where she is a well-respected singer), to travels across the country as the lone female in Keith’s attention-grabbing trio, TRAILER CHOIR and her beauty has brought her accolades.
While all of these blessings are important to Crystal, more important are the lessons learned, “…to stop trying to please other people, and remember that people should love me for who I am.”
I think we can all thank Crystal for reminding us the most precious lesson of all, that of unconditional love and that who we are is exactly who we need to be.
Crystal Hoyt has certainly gained more than she has lost; and for the first time, in a long time, I don’t think she minds.
Trailer Choir has recently been featured in Toby Keith's new "Beer For My Horses" , this month they released their current single "Rockin' The Beer Gut" which debuted on Country Charts in the top 40. Trailer Choir also released their Debut Album "Off The Hillbilly Hook" (with Toby Keith producing). To learn more about Trailer Choir and Crystal's upcoming schedule please visit www.trailerchoir.com.
YAHOO! WE MADE IT.........IT'S THE WEEKEND..WISH YOU A AWESOME WEEKEND. HOPE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE SOME FUN AND RELAX.....WHATEVER LIGHTS YOUR CANDLE....I HAVE TO HEAD TO THE BIG APPLE THIS SUNDAY BUT TOMORROW ITS OFF TO THE YARD SALES...LOL...WHO KNOWS I MIGHT WIND UP AT YOURS SOMEDAY...LOL. WHATEVER YOU DO , TAKE IT TO THE MAX. BE WELL, STAY SAFE AND PUT ON YOUR SEXY YOU WILL GET NOTICED...LOL LOVE AND HUGSS LARRY
YAHOO! I CAN SMELL THE BURNT POWDER FROM THE FIREWORKS NOW. A GREAT TIME TO REFLECT ON OUR INDEPENDENCE AS A COUNTRY UNDER GOD, INDIVISABLE WITH JUSTICE FOR ALL. .........AND HOW IT CAME TO BE....THOSE THAT FOUGHT AND THOSE THAT GAVE ALL SO WE MIGHT CELEBRATE THIS FANTASTIC DAY AND DISPLAY THE FLAG THAT REPRESENTS THIS GREAT COUNTRY. I SO LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND I KNOW YOU DO TOO. HOPE YOUR WEEKEND IS ALL IT COULD BE. HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE. I'LL BE BACK HERE SUNDAY.. LUV YA LOVE AND HUGSS LARRY
The Rockers are offering Land of the Free as a free download during the Independence Day weekend as a gesture of support for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families. We are releasing the song ahead of schedule to support our American heroes. God bless the USA!
Hey, Please support my music and go to http://lnk.ms/0kLDM And follow the instructions to post my demo for the Myspace Records "Rock The Space" contest. And PLEASE have ALL of your friends do it too! THANK YOU!!!! -Anthony
hey .. what a great show it was pretty sweet to hang out with you big vin and butter at frogfest hope all is well and your trip back to nashville is a good one ..
