Today's Country

Belmont professor Sarita Stewart wanted her Record Company Operations class to incorporate real-life experience into the theoretical world of the classroom, thus a project was created.  Working closely with Wynonna’s manager Kerry Hansen, Stewart and her class were able to tap the legendary Wynonna to make an appearance on “The Insider’s View” seminar series, as well as perform a live concert to celebrate the release of her brand new album “Sing.” The true uniqueness of this event is that it wasn’t an PR rep or record exec that made sure it went off without a hitch, but rather Stewart’s class that had earned the opportunity to oversee, promote and execute the concert and CD release party and they more than pulled it off on this night just as if they had been old pros at it. 

There is only one name necessary and everyone knows exactly whom people are talking about when that name is Wynonna. Her career really speaks for itself, first as part of The Judds with her mom Naomi, followed by a solo career that put her in the top ten on numerous occasions with songs like “No One Else On Earth.” To celebrate the release of her seventh studio album “Sing,” Wynonna came to Nashville’s Belmont University and took part in an interview session as part of “The Insider’s View” and performed an hour long set for students of the university as well as a who’s who of country music that included the likes of her mother Naomi, Joey + Rory, and more. 

THE INSIDER’S VIEW - With the anticipation level at an all time high, no time was wasted once the lights went dim. Wynonna was introduced to a huge ovation from the crowd. She joked around a bit as she took the stage and camera flashes went off, posing and hamming it up with the crowd before taking a seat for the 45 minute interview portion of the evening. Throughout the interview Wynonna talked candidly to the student body on hand addressing them in more of a teaching type mode but wasn’t so much dictating advice so much as addressing them as her peers. She openly talked about her life, her past, the troubles she faced and ultimately has worked to overcome, her faith, as well as the making of her new album. She stated, “It is more difficult to make an album like this one than an album of originals because you are paying homage to those that came before you.” The interview was smoothly done with the perfect segways from question to question, but in the end the message that Wynonna brought to Belmont was simple, “be the best you can at what you do and never give up on your dreams.”

PERFORMANCE – After a fifteen-minute intermission, the part of the evening that everyone was waiting for had arrived. Wynonna took to the stage, starting off her hour long set by saying, “Talk is one thing, but let’s see what she’s got,” and she rolled into her set with “No One Else On Earth,” which half way through she stepped back from the microphone to let the crowd sing with Wynonna proclaiming, “I’m lookin’ for some respect here people.” She rolled through her set showcasing her influences by playing cuts from her new album including “That’s How Rhythm Was Born,” “Are The Good Times Really Over,” “The House is A Rockin’,” “I Hear You Knockin’,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and the 1930’s tune “Women Be Wise.” She also had the crowd singing along with her as she belted out “I Wanna Know What Love Is.” Throughout her set she joked with the crowd, but more importantly anyone who was there noticed how little effort Wynonna has to put into her voice and yet she still has the ability to hit every note on key and in perfect time seemingly without even trying. After leaving the stage the roar of the crowd was plenty and it didn’t take long for Wynonna to re-emerge from the backstage area and close with two faith driven songs in an effort to proclaim her faith and end on a positive note, with the prayer like songs, “I Can Only Imagine” and “Sing.”

An event like this allowed for a few different things to happen. Wynonna, a worldwide, legendary performer came to a small, intimate type setting, which made the overall atmosphere as much a part of the show as Wy herself was. The other thing it did through her stories, her words, and her music, was offered a glimpse of hope. Her life has had a series of ups and downs, heartache and heartbreak, and as talked openly about her life throughout the interview and performance you started to realize that you can make it the way she did even if your path is bumpy. Wynonna stayed after her performance to sign copies of her new album, get to know the people who came out to see her, and offer a hug or encouraging word to those that are trying to find their way into the music business. 

She clearly proved on this night why she has a legendary status attached to her in every argument about country music and its legends. The voice, the attitude, the stage presence, simply put, it is Wynonna!