The wheated, rolling plains of Middle America have given us many great things. One of her contributions to the country music world is the voice and heart of Chely Wright. Born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 25, 1970 she grew up in the fertile fields of rural Kansas. Just like the rest of Middle America she listened to the rock and roll influences of the time. But what really fascinated her were the records of old country icons in her family's collection. Artists like Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith, Conway Twitty and Buck Owens encouraged Chely at an early age to start singing country. She began to sing at the age of 11 in different country bands. She formed her first band a few years later and called it "County Line". The summer before she graduated high school Chely landed a job at one of country's best places for exposure. Branson, MO. It was with the Ozark Jubilee she earned a job with her obvious talent. After this, Chely moved to Nashville and earned a spot in a musical production at the Opryland theme park (remember that place?). Just like every other country entertainer who began at Opryland she knew she had to keep looking for other opportunities to get that elusive record deal. Attending writers' nights at different Nashville venues as most budding artists still do gave Chely several contacts in the industry. One of the contacts she made was Harold Shedd who signed her to a deal with Mercury/Polygram. Her first album came out in 1994 on the Polydor section of the label. Even though her music failed to get into the charts' Top 40, she was named the Academy of Country Music named her the Top New Female Artist. Her next album didn't fare that much better. Assessing where her career was and where she wanted it to be going Chely decided to try a different career path. She asked to be released from her contract at Mercury. Her next label, MCA Nashville, signed her and sent her to the studio with legendary Tony Brown to produce her next CD. 'Shut Up and Drive' went number one and the title cut from her fourth album 'Single White Female' charted number one in 1999. Even with this success MCA and Chely went separate ways. Chely does have a new label, Dualtone Records-Nashville, and a new CD slated for release ‚'The Metropolitan Hotel'.
The song attracting so much attention toward Chely's talent today is 'Bumper of My SUV'. For anyone who has heard this tune it would be a lie to say it doesn't pull at the heart strings of anyone with a connection to someone fighting in the current conflict. If you haven't heard the song, Chely tells of her experience driving her vehicle along West End Avenue in Nashville with a U.S. Marine emblem on the bumper. While driving she is accosted verbally by a reactionary woman driving a large vehicle with a private school sticker on its back. Chely has family in the Marine Corps, her brother Chris. The focus this song has received has been anything but ordinary for a country music tune. The controversy began when, in an effort to get more country radio stations to play 'Bumper', certain members of her fan club began a campaign to call country radio stations and ask the song be played. Chely's Fan Club President then was Chuck Walter, who recruited 17 of her fan club members to contact radio stations to up this song's airplay. While the emotion might be genuine behind this effort the move is unethical because it asks fans to portray themselves as something they aren't, relatives of active duty military personnel. Realizing her fan base was not serving the function for which it was created Chely let Chuck Walter go with no ill will being left. In an effort to make a quick and forceful change a new webmaster was hired. Maintaining a good connection with the country audience has always been important to each artist who has stepped onto the country stage and Chely is no different. She put it this way, "I have worked diligently in my 10-year music career to align myself with causes and organizations that are of the highest integrity. I, in no way, condone or endorse the actions of my fan club President. Mr. Walter was an unpaid volunteer who acted without my knowledge or direction. The Bumper Of My S.U.V. is a true song inspired by actual circumstances and events. The song has hit a nerve not only in the United States but overseas with the troops where I originally performed it. I hope that Country music listeners will continue to support this song based on its own merit and the genuine outpouring of emotional response."
It looks like Chely and her support staff have made a positive step in fostering the support of her fan base. Chely is also donating part of the proceeds from the sale of 'SUV' to 'Stars for Stripes'. Let's hope the passion and emotion of events don't take away from the wonderful talent artists like Chely have to give the rest of us and the important job of our armed forces overseas.
Check out Chely's tour schedule and latest information here:
