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Suggest pagesKrista Branch
- "I Am America" redirects here. For the book by comedian Stephen Colbert, see I Am America (And So Can You!).
Krista Branch is a singer from East Texas. Branch was a contestant on American Idol, but was eliminated early in the process. She is known for her 2010 single "I Am America" that has been called the anthem of the Tea Party movement. The song became the official song of Herman Cain's erstwhile presidential campaign. Krista married her husband Michael Branch in 2000. Michael is a pastor and wrote "I Am America" for Krista. He also worked for Cain's campaign. Krista and her husband currently live in Nashville, Tennessee with their three children.
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[edit] Personal life
Krista was born in Mount Pleasant in East Texas, but moved out-of-state with her family at the age of 14.[1] Krista also lived in Oklahoma for part of her childhood.[2] Krista married her husband Michael Branch in the year 2000, and they have since had three children together.[3] When Krista Branch and her husband were living in Colorado Springs, their youngest child, Kenna, nearly drowned in their bathtub. Kenna was resuscitated by EMTs after being without oxygen for an estimated eight to ten minutes. Despite being without oxygen for such a duration of time, a CT scan showed the child's brain activity to be normal. Michael and Krista attributed their child's survival and health to the power of prayer. This event would later be the subject of a story on the 700 Club.[4]
In order to focus on her music career, Krista and her family moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2010.[2]
[edit] Music career
Branch began singing in her youth at church in Texas. While living in Bixby, Oklahoma, she auditioned for the seventh season of American Idol and was chosen by the judges to move on to the preliminary round in Hollywood, though footage of her performance was not included on the show.[5] A week later she was eliminated from the competition.[2]
Two years later, Krista would release her first successful single "I Am America" on YouTube. Her husband Michael wrote the song in response to criticism of the Tea Party protests from Democrats.[2] In an interview for Billy Kelly of the Washington Times' Tea Party Report, Krista told how soon after her husband wrote the song he had her quickly learn the lyrics and then recorded her performing the song.[6] In the music video, footage of Tea Party rallies is interspersed with scenes of Krista singing on a sound stage and kids holding signs containing political messages and scripture.
The single was played on the July 7, 2010 broadcast of Glenn Beck's radio show and a week later Fox News host Bill O'Reilly devoted a portion of his “Pinheads and Patriots” segment to the song, saying that "for honoring legitimate protest" Branch was a patriot.[3][7] Glenn Beck played another Krista Branch song titled "Remember Who We Are" on his radio program early in August of that year.[8] This song was featured in a video from Branch promoting Beck's Restoring Honor rally on August 28, 2010.[9]
"I Am America" was later adopted by 2012 Republican presidential primary candidate Herman Cain as his campaign's official theme. Cain said when interviewed about the song, "The first time I heard that song, the message was so right-on I felt goose bumps just listening to it."[2] A campaign ad featuring the song was shown on The Colbert Report with comedian Stephen Colbert satirically claiming Cain got the line "I Am America" from his book I Am America (And So Can You!). Several parodies of the ad were then shown on the program using the song.[10]
Krista released a new single on August 22, 2011 called "Lead Me On", a cover of the Amy Grant song.[11] The song was described as "pro-Israel" with a corresponding music video containing imagery related to the history of the Jewish people, including a prominent emphasis on the Holocaust.[12]
Outside the United States Krista has performed for audiences in Guatemala and Slovakia. In Slovakia she performed at concerts, rallies, and school assemblies for 20,000 teens.[6]
[edit] Singles
- "I Am America" (2010)
- "Lead Me On" (2011)
[edit] Political activism
Krista has said that the only unifying principle of her music is "that we live in the greatest country on earth" and described the Tea Party as "not so much a rebellion as a love for this nation and a love for freedom." The artist has performed at political rallies led by Glenn Beck and at campaign rallies for Herman Cain. Her husband Michael worked for Cain's presidential campaign as state director for Tennessee.[2] Krista is reported to have received $10,000 for entertainment services from several political action committees associated with Cain's campaign.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ "Texas native’s song becomes Herman Cain anthem". The Dallas Morning News. 11-03-2011. http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/perry-watch/headlines/20111103-texas-natives-song-becomes-herman-cain-anthem.ece. Retrieved 11-07-2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Wyatt, Edward (10-16-2011). "Song Adopted by Cain’s Campaign Also Aims to Be a Tea Party Anthem". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/us/politics/krista-branchs-i-am-america-aims-to-be-tea-party-anthem.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved 10-28-2011.
- ^ a b "Bixby singer Krista Branch sings Tea Party praises -- and creates a YouTube hit". Tulsa World. 07-20-2010. http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectID=454&articleID=20100720_371_0_hrbrFo974328. Retrieved 10-28-2011.
- ^ "The Branchs' Miracle Baby". The 700 Club. http://www.cbn.com/700club/Guests/Bios/Branches040105.aspx. Retrieved 10-28-2011.
- ^ "Four Oklahomans get to next round on 'American Idol'". Tulsa World. 01-17-2008. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080117_1__hrimg71037. Retrieved 10-28-2011.
- ^ a b "Singer Krista Branch gives the tea party movement its anthem". The Washington Times. 07-22-2010. http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tea-party-report/2010/jul/22/singer-krista-branch-gives-tea-party-anthem/. Retrieved 11-18-2011.
- ^ Ortenzi, Tj (07-07-2010). "Krista Branch 'I Am America' Song Supports Tea Party". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/07/krista-branch-i-am-americ_n_638596.html. Retrieved 10-28-2011.
- ^ Krista Branch on Glenn Beck's Insider Extreme. pastormikebranch. 08-06-2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg6Ter91T8I. Retrieved 11-07-2011.
- ^ "Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin to Hold "Restoring Honor Rally"". CBS News. 07-26-2010. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20011688-503544.html. Retrieved 11-18-2011.
- ^ Linkins, Jason (10-26-2011). "Stephen Colbert Offers Herman Cain Suggestions For Further Commercials, Issues Challenge". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/stephen-colbert-herman-cain_n_1032707.html. Retrieved 10-28-2011.
- ^ "Krista Branch's pro-Israel song is Amy Grant’s song about the Holocaust (and slavery)". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 10-30-2011. http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2011/10/30/3090030/krista-branchs-pro-israel-song-is-amy-grants-song-about-the-holocaust-and-slavery. Retrieved 11-07-2011.
- ^ "Krista Branch, the Tea Party's siren, releases a pro-Israel song". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 10-28-2011. http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2011/10/28/3090016/krista-branch-the-tea-partys-siren-releases-a-pro-israel-song. Retrieved 10-28-2011.
- ^ "Cain Ad Stars Paid Well, Senator Wants a Super PAC and More in Capital Eye Opener: Oct. 26". Open Secrets. 10-26-2011. http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/10/herman-cain-ad-stars-paid-well.html. Retrieved 11-07-2011.
