Taylor Swift's career launch took the country music industry by the horns, and has ever since. From a songwriter perspective it‘s pretty cool to see someone put their thoughts and feelings into a melody of words and watch the world unintentionally memorize them. While I am certainly no Taylor Swift, I did enjoy watching exciting things happen over the year while launching my music career. As this year comes to an end, I reflect on how gratifying it was to perform concerts in unfamiliar towns and see a few singing along to every song. It’s those moments that I feel I might be able to rid myself of my rodeo addiction.
I haven’t ridden bareback bronc’s for a few years now, but it “still hits me every spring.” There are so many similarities between the music and rodeo businesses. I hope my rodeo experience will help me move quicker through the music business learning curve. I am definitely getting a lot more comfortable with everything. I remember being so comfortable with rodeo that the adrenaline wouldn’t hit until I nodded my head, and then was gone as soon as the buzzer rang. I felt comfortable nodding my head even when everything wasn’t perfect, as I had learned sometimes things just can't be perfect… you have to adapt to the situation your are in.
I remember the last time I rode at the Utah State Fair in SLC. I drew a Bar T bucking horse named, “Betty Sue.” Things weren’t that great in the chutes, but we got out quick and things were great in the arena. I went 79pts, which was the high mark of the night and ended up 3rd overall. I hadn’t been back until this year when I sang the National Anthem for my first time publically at the Saturday night performance of that sold-out PRCA rodeo… an incredible experience with just as much adrenaline as before.
It is so invigorating to combine my love of rodeo and music where I can. My band and I performed a concert to kick off the College National Finals Rodeo in June. Again, a rodeo I hadn’t attended since I was riding in it. Just after our performance I received a compliment that I can say with certainty is the highlight of my music career, thus far. A little girl, who was probably 4 or 5 years old and accompanied by her mother, came up to me in her little cowgirl outfit to get a poster signed. Before bashfully running away, she announced, “You’re better than Taylor Swift!”
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
