In 2003, I was competing in Florida to advance to the television show, Nashville Star. The reality show featured the top twelve contestants from around the United States vying for the opportunity of a country music recording contract.
I almost made it. I was in the finals in Tampa, Florida, and, had I won, I would have had a spot in Nashville to audition for the top 12. I nearly had the chance to know Miranda Lambert before the world would get to know her.
I watched every episode that first season. I voted for Miranda Lambert each week. I was devastated when she didn't win. Even though she didn't take home the big prize, I KNEW she was going to do something. Something big. You know when they say that a person has "it"? I KNEW she had "it".
Standing in the crowd in Portland, Maine in 2007, I was just one of thousands watching the person I knew was going to be the next big artist in country music. I couldn't wait for her to come out to the stage. After the Randy Rogers Band had performed I could barely contain my excitement knowing Miranda was next.
She didn't disappoint me. I'll always remember the one moment she was playing her pink guitar. She finished the song and immediately threw it across the stage into the waiting arms of a roadie. As I watched that guitar sail from one side to another I thought to myself "I want to be her."
She was everything I was trying to be: talented, a rebel, beautiful, a show-woman. She was amazing. She commanded the stage and the audience went crazy...including me. I lost my voice I screamed so loud.
I have every album. I know every song. I sing six of her songs in my band. Each time we do, the crowd asks for more. I have seen every performance on the ACMs, the CMAs and the Grammys. I bought the US Magazine that had her wedding pictures in it.
I'm not obsessed. I'm just a huge fan.
I have been performing in bands for 25 years. Those years included shows in bars and restaurants before the smoking ban was in place. Weddings, funerals and birthday parties, sometimes for free. Radio, television and newspaper interviews informing the public of my dreams and where I was playing. Attending concerts and hoping for a chance to meet the performer. Singing on stage with country band, Alabama, when I held up a sign asking to sing with them.
In the last few years I have been trying to open for acts here in the state of Maine but have been unsuccessful. I have paid plenty of dues but nothing has panned out and I was getting pretty discouraged.
Then, two years ago I put my hat in the ring to open for a concert stadium at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook. When I got the email I thought "This is the break I have been waiting for!" They told me we would be opening for the reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan. The BIGGEST opportunity I had ever had. We played the Ultimate Tailgate Stage and were part of Meadowbrook history. That weekend, the concerts featuring Luke Bryan, Randy Houser and Dustin Lynch set the record for the largest attendance at the Pavilion in its 20 year history.
Last year, we got the call asking us to open on the Magic Hat Stage for Florida Georgia Line but I had to decline due to playing a wedding that had already made their deposit. I could NEVER disappoint a bride and groom. I had just said no to a bigger stage and, potentially, even bigger concert. Thankfully, we were then offered the Keith Urban show in July. It was electric! We were even able to bring one of our biggest fans along who had never been to a concert in life. To be 10 feet from Keith Urban and his guitar was simply amazing.
In June of this year, a dream I have had for the past 10 years is finally coming true.
I saw that Miranda was coming and I emailed my contact at Meadowbrook immediately and told them how much of a fan I was of her and that we didn't have that weekend booked. I said how much it would mean to me to open for the woman that, for me, changed country music in my eyes.
She inspired me to write my own music, to share my music with others, put myself out there. She inspired me to be a better artist.
And they said yes.
I literally cried.
I get to see her in concert again. I get to be on the Magic Hat Stage singing my heart out in hopes she'll be in her bus listening to what we do. I get to watch and learn from the woman I have come to admire.
I've worked so hard to be where I am today. 100 shows a year for the past 3 years keeps me not only busy but away from my family. I'm lucky to have a family that loves and understands that music is my passion. I'm fortunate enough to have 4 band members that work their magic at each and every show that I can also call my friends. I am blessed to have fans that come to our shows, follow us from place to place and buy our music, our tshirts and support us.
Miranda has inspired me to write music and record my songs in hopes that someday she might be one of the artists that records one. At my age, it's unlikely I'll ever make the big time singing but I still have the hopes of hearing one of my songs on the radio. She's inspired me to take chances. She has inspired me to put my heart in my songs and wear it on my sleeve.
And that's exactly what I'm doing.
If you'd like to take a listen to my songs you can find them on Reverbnation or at our Facebook page.
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