1. Solitary Thinkin'Lee Ann Womack |
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Lee Ann Womack stays true to her roots
Jim Abbott SOUNDBOARD
10:25 a.m. EST, February 25, 2010
Country-pop crossovers don't come any more successful than Lee Ann Womack's signature "I Hope You Dance," a big, sentimental ballad tailor-made for spotlight dances at wedding receptions and other milestones.
Dig deeper into her music and it's apparent that there's an appreciation for the country roots exposed on her current tour with headliners Reba McEntire and George Strait, a trek that stops tonight at Amway Arena.
"When people ask me where the traditional country music is, I tell them, ‘That's the $1 million question,'" Womack says by phone during a studio break from recording tracks for her next album. "On Feb. 26, it will be in Orlando, I can tell you that."
I'd have to agree. In a universe of acts channeling the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bon Jovi, Strait is about as good as it gets. He's not much for talking — doesn't do interviews, isn't chatty on stage — but that band still makes a statement. Fiddles, steel guitars and an air-tight rhythm section make the most of the numerous classics ("Ocean Front Property," "Amarillo by Morning") as well as new songs off 2009's Twang.
Like Strait, Reba (worthy of that first-name recognition, along with Dolly Parton and only a few others) has managed to transcend fads with a combination of talent and material. For opening-act Womack, who joins McEntire on stage to assist with "Does He Love You," the opening slot turns her into a wide-eyed fan again.
"It's real country," she says. "George and Reba are professionals who have been doing this for a while. I can't believe that I'm getting to watch them every night. It's a great night of music."
With country's crossover inclinations as strong as ever, it's worth wondering whether traditional sound will be able to hold its own against the Lady Antebellums of the world.
For her part, the Texas-bred Womack has blended the necessity of mainstream appeal with an allegiance to the bluegrass styles that influenced her early career.
A demo singer and songwriter in the early 1990s in Nashville, Tenn., she had material recorded by Bill Anderson and Ricky Skaggs. In her solo career, she has put a spotlight on the considerable songwriting talents of husband-and-wife duo Buddy and Julie Miller through songs such as "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger?" and "Orphan Train."
"I just went over to Buddy's house last weekend and sang on a few things for him," Womack says. "I'm a huge fan. He has so much talent and he can pull off any style of music. I think he's one of the greatest artists that we've had in this town."
While the Millers' alt-country approach would never be confused with radio-friendly country, Womack has always aimed for the masses. Walking the line between her roots and her career is challenging, she says.
"There's a lot of good stuff that doesn't seem to quite fit into radio formats," she says. "The most difficult part of what I do is trying to have that balance between the commercial side and something I think will last forever."
Her latest single, "There is a God," is slated for her next studio album, tentatively due for summer release. The inspirational lyrics recall the uplifting message of "I Hope You Dance." If the sound is poppy, the sentiments put her in country territory, she says.
"These songs are really about the kind of things that people like me think about, so when I'm doing it, I'm doing it for the fans. There's a connection there in the way we think."
Womack is confident that the important things in her music aren't open to compromise.
"You give up a lot of things and gain some things," she says. "But in the end, you have to make music that you're proud of."
See for yourself
George Strait, Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack
When:
7 tonight
Where:
Amway Arena, 600 W. Amelia St., Orlando
Cost:
$69.50-$89.50
Call:
407-839-3900
Online:
Ticketmaster.com
Lee Ann Womack stays true to her roots
Jim Abbott SOUNDBOARD
10:25 a.m. EST, February 25, 2010
Country-pop crossovers don't come any more successful than Lee Ann Womack's signature "I Hope You Dance," a big, sentimental ballad tailor-made for spotlight dances at wedding receptions and other milestones.
Dig deeper into her music and it's apparent that there's an appreciation for the country roots exposed on her current tour with headliners Reba McEntire and George Strait, a trek that stops tonight at Amway Arena.
"When people ask me where the traditional country music is, I tell them, ‘That's the $1 million question,'" Womack says by phone during a studio break from recording tracks for her next album. "On Feb. 26, it will be in Orlando, I can tell you that."
I'd have to agree. In a universe of acts channeling the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bon Jovi, Strait is about as good as it gets. He's not much for talking — doesn't do interviews, isn't chatty on stage — but that band still makes a statement. Fiddles, steel guitars and an air-tight rhythm section make the most of the numerous classics ("Ocean Front Property," "Amarillo by Morning") as well as new songs off 2009's Twang.
Like Strait, Reba (worthy of that first-name recognition, along with Dolly Parton and only a few others) has managed to transcend fads with a combination of talent and material. For opening-act Womack, who joins McEntire on stage to assist with "Does He Love You," the opening slot turns her into a wide-eyed fan again.
"It's real country," she says. "George and Reba are professionals who have been doing this for a while. I can't believe that I'm getting to watch them every night. It's a great night of music."
With country's crossover inclinations as strong as ever, it's worth wondering whether traditional sound will be able to hold its own against the Lady Antebellums of the world.
For her part, the Texas-bred Womack has blended the necessity of mainstream appeal with an allegiance to the bluegrass styles that influenced her early career.
A demo singer and songwriter in the early 1990s in Nashville, Tenn., she had material recorded by Bill Anderson and Ricky Skaggs. In her solo career, she has put a spotlight on the considerable songwriting talents of husband-and-wife duo Buddy and Julie Miller through songs such as "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger?" and "Orphan Train."
"I just went over to Buddy's house last weekend and sang on a few things for him," Womack says. "I'm a huge fan. He has so much talent and he can pull off any style of music. I think he's one of the greatest artists that we've had in this town."
While the Millers' alt-country approach would never be confused with radio-friendly country, Womack has always aimed for the masses. Walking the line between her roots and her career is challenging, she says.
"There's a lot of good stuff that doesn't seem to quite fit into radio formats," she says. "The most difficult part of what I do is trying to have that balance between the commercial side and something I think will last forever."
Her latest single, "There is a God," is slated for her next studio album, tentatively due for summer release. The inspirational lyrics recall the uplifting message of "I Hope You Dance." If the sound is poppy, the sentiments put her in country territory, she says.
"These songs are really about the kind of things that people like me think about, so when I'm doing it, I'm doing it for the fans. There's a connection there in the way we think."
Womack is confident that the important things in her music aren't open to compromise.
"You give up a lot of things and gain some things," she says. "But in the end, you have to make music that you're proud of."
See for yourself
George Strait, Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack
When:
7 tonight
Where:
Amway Arena, 600 W. Amelia St., Orlando
Cost:
$69.50-$89.50
Call:
407-839-3900
Online:
Ticketmaster.com
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