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Chely Wright

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Not to be confused with Michelle Wright.
Chely Wright

Richell Rene "Chely" Wright (born October 25, 1970) is an American country music artist who released her debut album in 1994. Although she received an ACM award for Top New Female Vocalist that same year, none of her initial songs made a significant impact on the charts. In 1997, Wright had her first Top 40 country hit, "Shut Up and Drive". Two years later, she scored her first #1 single with "Single White Female". Overall, Wright has released seven studio albums on various labels, and has charted more than fifteen singles on the country charts. She has also written songs for Brad Paisley, Richard Marx, Mindy Smith and a top 10 hit for Clay Walker, "I Can't Sleep". Wright released her memoir, Like Me, and a new album, Lifted Off the Ground, on May 4, 2010. Wright's nine albums have sold 975,000 copies in the United States over the course of her career (as of May 2010).[1]

Early years

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Wright grew up in a musical family. At age 11, Wright began to sing with local bands and eventually started her own called "County Line." Before graduating high school, she took a job with the Ozark Jubilee, a long running country show in Branson, Missouri. Taking the advice of her grandfather, she auditioned and landed a position in a musical production at Opryland USA. While staying in Nashville, Chely interned and attended writers' nights, while honing her singing and songwriting. In 1992, she was signed by Harold Shedd to Mercury/Polygram, and her first album was released in 1994 on the corporation's Polydor label.[2] Wright attended Middle Tennessee State University.[citation needed]

Personal life

Wright was romantically linked with Brad Paisley at one time.[3][4] In her autobiography she expresses remorse for how she treated Brad Paisley. She claims she should never have been in a relationship with him.

On May 3, 2010, People magazine reported that Wright had stated that she is a lesbian.[5][6] This makes Wright the first major[3][4][7][8][9] country music artist to come out as gay according to the New York Daily News and the Boston Herald.

Recording career

As a commercial artist

After releasing two unsuccessful albums through Mercury/Polygram, Wright asked to be released from her contract and later signed with MCA Nashville. Here, she had her first top twenty country hit in 1997 with the song "Shut Up and Drive," off her third album, Let Me In, which was released by MCA Nashville. In 1999, her fourth album, Single White Female, brought her several hit songs and her first gold album certification.[10] While working on her next album, Wright collaborated with fellow country artist Brad Paisley on a duet entitled "Hard to Be a Husband, Hard to Be a Wife," which was written for the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry. Paisley and Wright performed the song during a CBS television special and it was released as part of a collection of songs from that special. The duet was later nominated for Vocal Event Of The Year as part of the 35th Annual CMA Awards. Additionally, Wright joined with Diamond Rio for a song on their One More Day album, as well as Paisley's Part II album. Both were released in 2001. Wright was also featured in People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2001.[11]

She was recognized by MENC in 2001 with its "Stand Up For Music Award".[11] Later that year, Wright released the first single from her fifth studio album, Never Love You Enough. The album was originally scheduled to be released on September 11, 2001 but due to current events, the album date was pushed back to September 25. Although Never Love You Enough debuted at #4 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, it was unable to match the success of Single White Female.

In 2002 Wright was presented with the MEMC's "Fame Award" for her Reading, Writing and Rhythm Foundation. Later that year, she was ranked #93 on the FHM "100 Sexiest Women of 2002".[12] and later that year was ranked #18 of "The 20 Hottest Women in Music 2002"[13] In 2003, she was named "Woman of the Year" by the American Legion Auxiliary and "Kansan of the Year" for her career achievements, her charity work and her support of the U.S. armed forces. She also co-wrote Clay Walker's 2003 top 10 single "I Can't Sleep".[14]

As an independent artist

In 2003, Wright parted ways with MCA Nashville after "Never Love You Enough" failed to meet sales expectations. In January 2004, she signed with a new independent label, Vivaton, and began preparation for a new album.[15] Although a music video was released for a song entitled "The Back of the Bottom Drawer," the album never materialized. Wright announced she was splitting with Vivaton in June 2004.[16] Again without a label, she nevertheless released a single in late 2004, mostly through the Internet and various radio stations. The song, entitled "Bumper of My S.U.V.," was written by Wright in response to an altercation with an irate woman who noticed the United States Marine Corps bumper sticker on the back of Wright's car.

The success of "Bumper of My SUV", released on Wright's own Painted Red Music Group, was followed by the release of an EP, Everything. The record contained "Back of the Bottom Drawer" and "Bumper of My SUV" along with four demos. The album was made exclusively available through Wright's website (where she states she put out the album for her fans) and was later made available in many retail outlets such as Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy. The success of the EP led Wright to be signed with Dualtone Records.[17]

Wright's sixth album, The Metropolitan Hotel, was released in February 2005 on Dualtone Records. The CD included both "The Bumper of My S.U.V." and "Back of the Bottom Drawer," along with ten additional songs, most of which were written or co-written by Wright. The album itself was produced in conjunction with her own company. Although not a break-out commercial hit, debuting at #18 on Billboard's Top Country chart (it was #7 on the Top Independent Albums chart). The fourth single released from The Metropolitan Hotel was "C'est La Vie (You Never Can Tell)", a re-titled cover of Chuck Berry's song "You Never Can Tell".

Lifted Off the Ground

Wright signed to Vanguard Records in 2008. She released her seventh studio album, Lifted Off the Ground, on May 4, 2010. The album is produced by Grammy Award winner Rodney Crowell. All tracks on the album were written by Wright except for one co-write with Rodney Crowell on "Heavenly Days." It has been announced that the first single off the album is "Broken". It was released to radio in April 2010.

Author

Wright released her autobiography Like Me on May 4, 2010 by Random House. She worked on the book for nearly three years.[citation needed]

Philanthropy

Wright is the founder of Reading, Writing, and Rhythm Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to the importance of musical education in America's schools and helps supply musical instruments and equipment. A large fund raiser is held each year in June at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon, (just before CMA Music Festival).

Discography

Main article: Chely Wright discography
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Extended plays

Filmography

Wright made her acting debut in the Disney film, Max Keeble's Big Move. She plays Mrs. Styles, Max's homeroom teacher.[18]

Awards

Honors

  • 2003 American Legion Auxiliary Woman of the Year
  • 2002 Kansan Of the Year

Academy of Country Music Awards

  • 1999 Best Female Vocalist (nominee)
  • 1999 Best Music Video (for Single White Female) (nominee)
  • 1995 Best New Female Vocalist

Country Music Association Awards

  • 2001 Vocal Event of the Year (with Brad Paisley) (nominee)
  • 2000 Horizon Award (nominee)
  • 1999 Horizon Award (nominee)

Country Music Television

  • 1999 Female Video Artist (nominee)

CMT's Flameworthy Awards

  • 2002 Video Fashion Plate (for Jezebel)

MENC: The National Association for Music Education

  • 2002 FAME Award
  • 2001 Stand Up For Music Award

International Bluegrass Music Awards

  • 2002 Recorded Event of the Year-Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Sweethearts

TNN/Music City News Awards

  • 1996 Star of Tomorrow Female (nominee)

Country Weekly Awards

  • 1999 Fast Track Artist (nominee)
  • 2001 Vocal Collaboration (with Brad Paisley) (nominee)
  • 2005 Star With Biggest Heart (nominee)
  • 2005 Best Patriotic Song (for The Bumper Of My SUV) (nominee)
  • 2006 Star With Biggest Heart (nominee)

Jukebox Awards

  • 1996 Best New Artist (nominee)

People Magazine

  • 2001 50 Most Beautiful People
  • 2005 Critic's Choice (for The Metropolitan Hotel)

FHM Magazine

  • 2002 20 Hottest Women In Music
  • 2002 100 Sexiest Women of 2002

BMI Award

  • I Can't Sleep (songwriter-2005)

Source:[11]

References

  1. ^ Walsh, Chris M. (May 4, 2010). "Chely Wright Comes Out As Country Music's First Openly Gay Singer". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Chely Wright : Biography". CMT.com. 2005. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  3. ^ a b "Chely Wright to announce she's a lesbian". Boston Herald. May 3, 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, Soraya (May 2, 2010). "Country singer Chely Wright set to announce she is lesbian in next People Magazine: report". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Country Music Artist Chely Wright Comes Out". People.com. People Magazine. May 3, 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Country singer Chely Wright says she's gay". USA Today. USA Today. May 4, 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  7. ^ "John Rich Responds to Chely Wright Memoir". CBS. 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  8. ^ "Time out: Kansan Chely Wright becomes first openly gay country star". Lawrence Journal World. 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  9. ^ "Chely Wright Acknowledges Her Homosexuality". Country Music Television. 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  10. ^ "Chely Wright Strikes Gold". BMI. 2000-08-23. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  11. ^ a b c "Chely Wright Biography". GAC. 2003. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  12. ^ Needham, Ed (July 2002), "The FHM Reporter Girl:Chely Wright", FHM, no. 23, pp. 24–26 {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  13. ^ Needham, Ed (November 2002), "The 20 Hottest Women In Music 2002: #18", FHM, no. 27, p. 92 {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  14. ^ Shelburne, Craig (2005-10-25). "BMI Honors "Live Like You Were Dying" and Charlie Daniels". CMT. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  15. ^ "New label Vivaton signs distribution deal with RED". Nashville Business Journal. 2004. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  16. ^ "Chely Wright Exits Vivaton Records". CMT. 2004-06-24. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  17. ^ "Chely Wright's Candid and Reflective New Album". CMT. 2005-03-01. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  18. ^ "Full cast and crew for Max Keeble's Big Move". IMDB. 20011. Retrieved 2008-06-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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