We, at New England Country Music, want to bring on the new year with a fun series spotlighting women in country music. While the acronym WCW, standing for Women Crush Wednesday, is often used for physical attraction, that is not the case here. This series will feature talented women who are crushing it in the country music scene.
This week we’re featuring Rachal Wammack, a twenty-five-year-old singer, songwriter, and musician from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Which of course gets you singing the Lynyrd Skynyrd song: ‘Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers… And they’ve been known to pick a song or two… Yes they do.’ The ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ girl dabbled in the art of songwriting and finished her first write before she reached her teenage years. In middle school, she joined the marching band where she played marimba in the percussion section. When Wammack got a bit older, she played the piano and sang at bars in and around Muscle Shoals. It was at one of these gigs, when she was seventeen, that she was approached by Jim Catino of Sony Music Nashville. In an interview with The Boot, Wammack said: “Catino was at the restaurant I was playing at in my hometown, and he was staying at the hotel that was connected to the restaurant. So it was like fate, because I’m just doing my regular thing, playing covers, throwing in a couple of originals, and then he’s like, ‘Hey, what are these originals that you played tonight? They’re really amazing.” Catino and Wammack stayed in touch and she mentioned: “He ended up being a mentor to me all throughout college.” After finishing high school, staying true to her roots, she attended the University of North Alabama to pursue a degree in English. While at UNA, Wammack she participated in pageants and won the Miss University of North Alabama. Shortly after graduating from UNA, she moved to Nashville and worked as a bartender. In early 2018 she signed with Sony Music Nashville/RCA. Her years spent participating in the drumline of a marching band, combined with the poise and speaking skills learned during pageantry, helped to prepare her for the discipline needed for a successful career in Nashville.
In April of 2018, Rachel Wammack released her first EP. The self-titled album was produced by the award-winning Dan Huff. Her debut single, ‘Damage,’ was written during one of those typical Nashville songwriting sessions with the legendary writers Tom Douglas and David Hodges. It’s a real-life story from Wammack’s time spent as a bartender. Another track from her EP, ‘My Boyfriend Doesn’t Speak For Me Anymore,’ was described by Rolling Stone as “mixing the power pop pipes of Adele with the women-first attitude of Loretta Lynn.” Each of her songs is as unique as that revolving restaurant where she first met Jim Catino.
Though fairly new to the country music scene, Rachel Wammack already has a few big accomplishments under her belt. She has been recognized by
Rachel Wammack rocked her very first tour with Brett Young. The CMT on Tour: Here Tonight 2018 made its way to our neck of the woods and stopped at The House of Blues in early December. She put on one amazing performance that night. It was hard to believe that the gorgeous woman in the rainbow sequin skirt and knee-high boots was the opening act! Wammack commanded the stage and the crowd loved every moment of her performance.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this WCW.
Rachel will be performing at the Country 102.5 Street Party on May 25th! Along with Justin Moore, Chase Rice, Devin Dawson, and Jimmie Allen.
Be sure to download ‘Damage’ from her album ‘Rachel Wammack’ on iTunes here.
You can stay connected with Rachel Wammack by following her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Say tuned for our next WCW spotlight which is set to hit our page on Wednesday, February 27th.