We, at New England Country Music, are continuing our 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 the country music scene.
With a song titled ‘Independence Day,’ it seems most fitting to feature Martina McBride as this week’s WCW. The soon to be 53-year-old singer/songwriter grew up on a dairy farm in rural Kansas. As a little girl, Martina would listen to legends such as Reba McEntire, Patsy Kline, and Linda Ronstadt. When she was nine, she began singing and playing the keyboard with a small band, The Schiffters, that her father started. Appropriately titled after the family’s last name, The Schiffters performed in and around her hometown. When she was older, McBride joined The Penetrators, a rock band based in Wichita followed by the band Lotus. Lotus rented some rehearsal space from John McBride. It was here that the two met, fell in love, got married, and moved to Nashville.
After moving to Nashville, John McBride landed a spot as Garth Brooks’ concert production manager. Martina enjoyed traveling with her hubby, and often worked the table selling Garth’s souvenirs. It was during this time that Garth Brooks really got to know Martina McBride and offered her the opening act spot on his tour. In 1991 she landed a recording contract with RCA Nashville Records. She released her debut album, ‘The Time Has Come,’ in 1992. One year later she dropped her second studio album, ‘The Way That I Am.’ ‘Independence Day’ was the third single to be released from this album. Although it never hit Top 10, it went on to win the 1994 CMA Award for Video of the Year and the 1995 CMA Award for Song of the Year. McBride’s third album, ‘Wild Angels,’ was released in 1995. The title track became her first number one single. Her next album, ‘Evolution,‘ came out two years later. The fourteen-track record went double platinum and produced five top-ten hits: ‘A Broken Wing,’ ‘Valentine,’ ‘Happy Girl,’ ‘Wrong Again,’ and ‘Whatever You Say.’ Adding to her accomplishments, in 1999, Martina McBride took home the CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her sixth album, ‘Emotion,’ came out in 1999 and the lead single ‘I Love You’ was number one on the Billboard Country chart that same year. Her ‘Greatest Hits’ album dropped in 2001. It was her highest selling album, and it received an RIAA Quadruple-platinum Certification. She went on to release seven more albums, ‘Martina,’ ‘Timeless,’ ‘Waking Up Laughing,’ ‘Shine,’ ‘Eleven,’ ‘Everlasting,’ and ‘Reckless.’ Over the past twenty years, Martina McBride has headlined seven tours. She is a loving mother to three beautiful daughters, and has since stopped touring to care of her girls.
We can’t wait to see what Martina McBride has for us in the coming years.
Happy ‘Independence Day’ from all of us here at New England Country Music!
Be sure to download ‘Independence Day’ on iTunes here.
You can stay connected with Martina McBride by following her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Stay tuned for our next installment of WCW in country music. It is set to hit our page on Wednesday, July 17th.