By April MacIntyre Aug 7, 2008, 16:08 GMT
Nashville Star winner Melissa Lawson, a married mother o five boys under the age of ten, is the newest country music star from the NBC talent search show.
The pride of Arlington, Texas, Melissa took some time out the day after her win to talk to Monsters and Critics, along with a few other journalists in a conference call.
What country music did you listen to growing up that you heard - really made an impression on you and you thought this is what I want to do?
Melissa Lawson: Now when I was much younger my mom used to listen to the Oakridge Boys and Statler Brothers, and Barry Manilow. That was my mix of music. And at some point - I probably was around 12 or 13 and I started listening to country music on my own, by my own choice.
And start - Lorrie Morgan was a huge impact on me. Patty Lovelace, you know, obviously Trisha Yearwood came then years later after that. But those probably were the two foundation artists that really set me off to a good start.
It was also Pam Tillis. I mean, gosh there’s so many. They are all starting to come to mind - Mary Chapin Carpenter. But I had the opportunity at 13 to start singing the opry circuit in my hometown.
There’s lots of little Opries and a lot of them of have closed down now but at the time there were seven or eight of them that you could sing at on a weekly basis. And I always would choose their songs.
I remember - the memory just came to mind. I remember performing at a mall and I was doing Blue Side of Town, Patty Lovelace. I love that song. And I hadn’t even thought about that moment until just now in probably 15 years.
But it gave me the opportunity to take country music and it just really is in my heart and soul. I’ve always loved country music and I love the foundation of where it comes from, as well as the new country music as well.
I talked to John Rich a few days before the finale, and I said, ‘so you’re going to be in the Melissa Lawson business no matter what happens’, and he totally admitted it. When did you know that you had a connection with John Rich?
Melissa Lawson: I would say probably on about Week Four. You know, at that point we’d had, you know, three mentoring sessions - going into the fourth mentoring session. And of course, John had always been very gracious to me.
But there was something that changed in my mind to where I was like you know what, this is about me getting better as an artist and this is about John who is an artist mentoring me and telling me how I can be a better person in this industry.
And it’s kind of a no holds barred, you know, territory and I wanted to be able to take everything out of it and so I was like - and I told John, I was like, you know thank you for complimenting me but I also need - I need you to tell me what it is that I need to work on.
And he did. I mean, he really came out and he was like hey, let’s do this. Let’s do this. You know, just go out there and sing. He’s like quit taking so many comments and trying to turn stuff around.
He’s like just go out there and sing because you already have what’s necessary, you know, to go to the next level.
So I really took that to heart. I think that that kind of changed the dynamic. And of course, then we ended up in the studio and I had a - already had a huge level of respect for John to start with but to be able to sit in that studio and record the single with him, it gave me such an idea of his work ethic in the studio.
And as a producer, you want to have someone who is very particular - especially me. I’m very particular. I’m very critical of myself. I like to redo stuff and make sure it’s perfect.
Especially when you’re recording an album, you want it to be - it’s going to be there forever so I want to make sure it’s right.
He is particular as well so it’s helpful because we do make a good match there and I’m really looking forward to recording the upcoming album.
What were you thinking when the results were revealed last night?
Melissa Lawson: Wow, right up in the second still we’re standing there and of course, it’s that horrible music they’re playing - that duh, duh, duh. So we’re all listening there and standing next to Gabe.
And I was just telling myself gosh, I’ve made it to the Top 3. This is unbelievable. And I was really sure they were going to call Gabe’s name so that’s what I was anticipating in my mind.
When they called my name, it was so shocking. I was just - I was so excited and I - there was so many things going through my mind, just all at the same moment.
I’m thinking to myself okay, oh my gosh now I have to go sing the single and I need to make - and I’m trying not to cry. And I want to make sure I’m not crying so I can actually sing the single.
I was laughing because it was so awesome and a lot of disbelief - just an incredible feeling at that moment.
And right after they announced it I was walking up and I made it to the center of the stage and there was a moment that I caught my husband’s eye and he was just beaming from ear to ear, and the boys were smiling and they were sending me - you know, we do some sign language with them so they were
What changes are being made to manage the family?
Melissa Lawson: There’s going to have to be a lot of changes. There’s no question in my mind about that. You know, we do have our house on the market. We have had for a few months now and we will make a move here to Nashville because I think that it’s going to be imperative that that takes place.
In order for me to try to focus on the music side and still give the kids the time that they need from me as a mom, I’m going to have to have them here with me.
When I am on the road, I’m going to be making sure that at every opportunity that I have, that they can be a part of what I’m doing. I’m going to make that happen as well.
How were you able to stay so composed last night when they announced your name?
Melissa Lawson: I have to tell you that I almost couldn’t believe myself at my reaction to myself because I’m a crier. You know, usually things get emotional for me - if something - I was even thinking up to that point if they call my name I’m going to be bawling.
There’s no way I’m going to get through this song and I was actually concerned about it a little bit. And I kept playing it through my mind in advance going, what am I going to do?
I’m only going to have - because Shawn and Gabe, and I were all talking about it. We were saying whoever’s name they call we’re going to literally have approximately 30 seconds to prepare ourselves to go sing the single and be ready to introduce that song to the world.
So it was really a moment and I was surprised at myself. I feel like God really helped me keep my composure. I was so joyous. It was just - I was laughing, just repeatedly over and over, even throughout the song because I just couldn’t even believe it.
And still right now, I’m still in a little bit of shock over all of it.
How do you think you’ll feel when you hear your song on the radio for the first time?
Melissa Lawson: That’s going to be a pretty surreal moment for me. I’ve had a lot of those in the last couple of months. But, you know, at one time in my life my husband said to me, you know, what would it take for you to feel like you have finally made it?
And at that time I said well I think it would be cool to be driving down the road and hear my song on the radio. So to be sitting here talking to you guys today and knowing that it is literally playing on hundreds of stations across the country is a very overwhelming feeling.
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