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MUSIC
Mandy Barnett Shelby Lynne
Emily West
Mandy Barnett
Called “the Judy Garland of our time” (American Songwriter), Grand Ole Opry member and world-class vocalist Mandy Barnett has an unwavering devotion to country and pop standards. The original star of the jukebox musical Always…Patsy Cline, Barnett has worked with luminaries Owen Bradley and Seymour Stein and has a Tennessee Music Pathways historical marker in her hometown, Crossville, Tennessee.
Variety named Barnett’s Every Star Above (arranged by Sammy Nestico) one of 2021’s best albums. Reviewers extol her “pipes of steel” (LA Times), “natural musicality” (People), and “vocal finesse” (NY Times). USA Today calls Barnett one of Nashville’s “finest classic country and torch singers.” And Jimmy Webb states simply, “Mandy Barnett has a voice for the ages.”
Shelby Lynne
Few artists transcend music genres with a vocal presence as critically acclaimed as Shelby Lynne. "Not only can she belt out torch songs and country standards on a par with the best, Lynne can also sing in other tones: a drooping twang, a bluesy moan, conversational asides or the confiding delicacy of a jazz singer” (NY Times).
That vocal ability spans musical genres, and at the 2001 Grammy Awards, she won the Grammy for Best New Artist. Hailing from southern Alabama, Lynne has worked with legendary producers Phil Ramone and Billy Sherrill, and Willie Nelson has said of Lynne, “In my opinion, she’s as good as Billie Holiday.”
Emily West
One of this generation’s powerhouse vocalists, Emily West captured the attention of fans and judges alike in the ninth season of America’s Got Talent where she finished as runner-up in 2014. Air personality and AGT judge Howard Stern said, “Emily is the most original singer ever to have performed on America’s Got Talent. She’s unforgettable.”
A native of Waterloo, Iowa, West moved to Nashville at 18 and soon after signed with Capitol Records. She has recorded with Keith Urban (2010’s “Blue Sky”) and Cyndi Lauper (“True Colors”). She has toured with Jay Leno. Critics have said that West “probably has the greatest vocal ability Nashville will ever see. It’s unique and classic and defies all genres.” (Twin Love).