Amber asked since I featured Lonestar last week as they are going to be at the Wayne County Fair, could I also feature Sara Evans since she will be there too. Yes! Sara Evans is a very interesting story that proves that dreams do come true in many different ways.
Early On - Amazing Song From An Amazing Debut Album
Sara Evans is from Boonville, Missouri, which is 56 miles from Jefferson City, Missouri. It is the epitome of Mid-Missouri. A very, very rural area not really near any major city at all. Where she lived is truly middle America, in fact she grew up on a 400 acre ranch, not unusual there. I worked in Jefferson City from 1988-1992 doing mornings at KLIK The Big 950. Sara Evans was 17 or so then singing with her family band, The Evans Family Band, that traveled that area. Sara is one of those exceptionally lucky humans that was born to sing. Her natural singing voice is extraordinary. Much like the amazing Suzy Bogguss, it is just born into them.
Her First Big Hit #1
Sara moved to Nashville in 1991 with one of her brothers to give it a go. She then got married, moved to the Pacific Northwest for a time, but ended up back in Nashville a few years later, where she became a demo singer, much like Trisha Yearwood, Sylvia too, Faith Hill and others. She got a break and the right people heard her powerful voice and she got a seven album deal the same day she sang a live 3 song audition with RCA Records. That kind of deal was unheard of then for an unknown. And now.
Another #1
She was and is a fantastic traditional country singer, and her first album, Three Chords And The Truth is simply incredible when it dropped in 1997. To me, that album is a work of art. It was very critically acclaimed and reviewed exceedingly well, but did not produce a big chart hit, but if you love traditional country, download it - TODAY. She's terrific on it. For me, it is my favorite Evans album as it is pure and straight forward. But things would change rapidly, as her next five albums were all very successful and produced a bunch of big hits including six number one songs.
Big Song - #2
It was the late 1990's and she was being slowly and steadily guided in a more mainstream or slightly pop-country direction and it worked out perfectly. But the genius part was, she ever really lost that wonderful traditional part of her voice and style. That was the fine line that Evans walked very well. The songs in written form were not quite as traditional, or were the arrangements, but she still sounded like Sara Evans and that was a great move. She competed with many great acts of the late 1990's and early 2000's and did very well. She never achieved what would be called superstar status, but sold about eight million albums and had a real nice fan base.
"I Just Love That Sudszy Bucket Song" - Alan Jackson
I did a huge interview with her as I was doing mornings on WPCV in Lakeland, Florida when she first came out. She was a a very interesting person to talk with, and she sounded as good in person singing - as on her first album. At WPCV, we were an early supporter of her, I was a believer in her first album and her. I felt she was the best pure vocalist since Suzy Bogguss, and we were lucky to have her. Her music was great and the camera loved her as her videos were very popular as well.
Perfect - Underrated Song From Her #2
Evans as you may know has had many challenges in her personal life, being honest too many to really mention. She survived a terrible car accident as a child. She has had some very contentious divorces, and legal issues within, and much of it for us to see through the media. She survived a small plane crash, and has personal battles with panic attacks and anxiety for many years that is not only well known and documented, but self-documented. She has been activist for causes close to her over the years. But through it all she has been a star in music, on TV, and as a record producer.
Fans Loved This Song
The one thing that has never changed about Sara Evans is that voice. That remarkable, God-given beautiful voice that sounds so effortless. Over the past 40 plus consecutive years I have played country music on the radio, she is one of the best pure singers we have ever had. She's in the conversation with Suzy Bogguss, Faith Hill, Ronnie Milsap, Trisha Yearwood and select others with voices that are just incredible, and sound good singing about anything that can be sung.
Her Biggest Hit #1 - Look At The Views - Read Comments - Powerful
Sara Evans - A pure singing talent.
