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Shawn Mayer

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Bio

Inked delicately inside each wrist, Shawn Mayer’s angel wings lift her above any doubts or deterrents, helping her soar towards her boldest musical ambitions. And though the wind may now be at her back, this raven-haired, blue-eyed beauty is deeply rooted in a down-to-earth hard work ethic. Growing up in the small town of May City, Iowa (population: 42), Shawn was not afraid to get her guitar-picking hands dirty; she worked as a mechanic, a volunteer firefighter, and tending pigs on a hog farm.

Starting at the age of 15, Shawn was booked to perform the National Anthem for that evening’s headliners, Southern Rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd. From that night on, she played shows everywhere from small town bars, to opening on big stages for Martina McBride, Chris Cagle, Brad Paisley, ZZ Top, Jason Aldean, Trick Pony, Gretchen Wilson and many more.

Shawn began writing songs and recorded her first album, Wings of Time, selling thousands of copies on her own. Her senior year of high school, Shawn was approached and later signed with indie label Turner Records in Detroit, who provided her with a life-affirming trip to the Grammys before folding shortly thereafter.

Shawn refused to give up. Five years after making her first trip to Nashville, a sense of do-or-die determination led Shawn to make the move to Music City, where she lived in her car for a week before a close-knit network of musicians helped her get, slowly but surely, to her feet. Picking up shifts singing at honkytonks on Broadway, sometimes pulling doubles or triples, Shawn started to find her way. She found a mentor in country luminary Vern Gosdin, who encouraged her to embrace her smoky, soulful voice, and find her own rock-rooted modern country sound.

Ultimately, Shawn found her sound in a post-breakup 4:00AM frenzy of emotion as she poured out the song “I’m Not Looking Back”. She then, took a chance, and auditioned for NBC's reality series 'Nashville Star', becoming one of 45,000 people competing for 12 spots on the network show. Mayer not only scored a spot on the show, but wowed audiences week after week as the judges (Grammy Nominee John Rich, platinum-selling artist Jewel and award-winning songwriter Jeffery Steele) critiqued her songwriting, singing and performance abilities. On original song night, Jewel summed Mayer up the best after her heartfelt performance of her song "I'm Not Looking Back", when she said "you're a little bit dangerous and you're best on your own material." The fans agreed and voted Mayer into the Finale Show where she received a third place finish and a spot on the National Tour.

Shawn has sworn to never lose faith in herself or to stop believing in her dreams—and for good measure, got her angel wing tattoos as a constant reminder of her dedication to her fans and to “live life with arms outstretched, embracing what lies ahead with an open mind, heart, and open arms.” With plenty of good faith and the talent to back it up, Shawn Mayer knows that whatever lies ahead, the best is yet to come.

A MESSAGE FROM ME TO YOU:

I want to take some time to thank each and every one of you for all your support and believing in me and my dreams. You have been there for me through thick and thin and for that I can't thank you enough!!!! I will officially say I have some of the best fans, friends, and family in the world!!!! I am truly blessed!! Even though I can't respond to every single comment and message, I read them all!!
Luv Always,
~Shawn

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