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Biography
Born to a musical family and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Shelby Lynne's childhood was pockmarked with tragedy to say the very least. While her parents introduced her to music and fulled her passion for it at an early age, her father was an abusive drunkard who shot and killer Lynne's mother and himself when she was 17 years old. For anyone to have the drive to do anything after that would be heroic, so the sheer inner strength that Lynne must have had to leave her life in Alabama behind and move to Nashville Tennessee to pursue a music career must put many to shame. It would be enough to pursue it, but Lynne thrived in Nashville, whose first demo got her invited onto the TV show Nashville Now.
As a result of her performance on the show, she signed a record deal with CBS Records, and released her debut album “Sunrise” in 1989. For the next decade, Lynne was constantly on the verge of breaking out, but never quite got the hit that she needed to get to the next level. She had a devoted fanbase and charted several singles on the country charts, but it wasn't until her 1999 album “I Am Shelby Lynne” that she finally hit the big time, winning the Grammy award for Best New Artist in early 2001. In her acceptance speech, Lynne remarked upon the absurdity of winning the Best New Artist award “thirteen years and six albums” after she debuted, but all the same, she had arrived and arrived with style.
Ever since then, she's remained a beloved figure in modern country music, with over 25 years of experience to her name and some of the best live shows in the business. For becoming such a name in the face of such adversity, Shelby Lynne comes highly recommended.
Live reviews
My son took me to see Shelby Lynne at the Birchmere in Alexandria VA in July 2018. I met her after the concert and started to choke as I talked about her music. She put her arm around me and said, "Just take your time." As an author, I explained how I used her music to help a character through bad times and handed her an excerpt. She told me she would cherish my words. Such a gracious entertainer.
Excerpt:
Rick went to the living area and picked up a couple of pillows. He returned to Elle’s room and put them on the floor near her bed. He lay down and stared at the ceiling. He had just closed his eyes when Elle spoke.
“I want to go home.”
“Elle, you are home.”
“It’s not working.”
“What’s not working?” he asked.
“Shelby knows.”
“‘I want to go back so I can run away again’,” he quoted a Lynne song.
“I’m not doing it right,” she said. She paraphrased the song, “I keep going back and running away all over again . . . and again . . . and . . ..”
“Lynne writes it’s because pain is what you know, Elle. Pain is your comfort zone. It’s the one thing that’s never deserted you.”
Elle knew Lynne had found some peace through her music. She closed her eyes and reached out to the woman who understood. Keep singing Shelby ’cos I’m not there yet.
ddavis497
I saw Shelby Lynne this vivacious singer in Portland. She was singing on a simple stage. It was just her and her guitar. Her hair was cut short, and she was wearing a gray vest and a black shirt. I knew she was a beautiful singer, but I didn't grasp her intensity or the passion of her voice until I saw her live. She has a tough outer appearance, but a sweet, tender vulnerability underneath that bravado that she communicates to the audience expertly.
She regaled us with personal stories in between her songs, and I remember being so touched by her kindness. I sat next to my best friend in a quiet, dark theater silently mouthing the lyrics to her songs. I was entranced the entire time, I swear. I felt as if she had put on spell on me! The crowd requested she sing, "Leavin'" and she obliged us all. I loved the way she looked directly at us. My personal favorite song of hers "Wall in Your Heart," which she sang in a way that I had never even heard it. I might be a little sentimental when I say this, but seeing her live really was one of the best experiences of my life.
Shelby lynne was everything I thought she would be! My mom passed when I was 18 years old and shes the one who ontroduced me to Shelby back when i was 7 years old basically at the beginning of her career. So Ive been a fan ever since. So this one was for my momma..wish she coulda been there ❤ Id love to see her again..and maybe next time do a meet and greet. Shelby lynne writes songs that touch the soul and keeps u grouded..and Idk about anyone else but I need more of that raw talent in my life.
Support live music!!
Melissa
melissa-millirons
The real deal. "Looking up until the next thing brings me down", She shares our love of George Jones and will sometimes share a story about him. Love that she was so kind to my shy daughter.
Venues ve seen her in are closed now. Glad to see concerts opening up again. "A livin',breathin',tragedy."
cindy-rowean
