Chely Wright is a country music singer-songwriter originally from Kansas, who started singing when she was 11-years-old.
Her two first albums with Mercury Records were unsuccessful. Her third album, Let Me In, gave Wright her first top 20 hit with the song "Shut Up and Drive." Her fourth album went gold and produced several more hit songs. Chely Wright's fifth album wasn't a huge hit, but it did debut on the Billboard charts in the number 18 spot. Wright's seventh album is slated to be released on May 4, 2010. http://chely.com/biography At the same time, Chely will release her memoir titled "Like Me".
Chely founded the philanthropic organization Reading, Writing, and Rhythm Foundation, to promote and support musical education and helps schools by supplying musical instruments and equipment. http://www.rwandr.org/
In May 2010, Chely Wright came out to People Magazine, admitting that she was a lesbian.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20365936,00.html Chely was hesitant to come out for two reasons: because she grew up in the South, where homosexuality was generally not accepted, and because there were no homosexuals in country music.
Studio Albums
Chely Wright - Back of the Bottom Drawer
Country Star Chely Wright's song Back of the Bottom Drawer was originally released on Wright's own Painted Red Music Group, then again on an EP, Everything. Finally, the song was included on her sixth album, The Metropolitan Hotel.
Background
Chely Wright grew up in Kansas as part of a family full of musical talent. Chely began singing when she was 11, and started singing with local bands before starting her own band called Country Line. After high school, Chely won a part in a musical production at Opryland USA. This position exposed her to all sorts of Nashville talents, and she joined writer workshops to help develop her songwriting skills.
Chely won her first record contract from Mercury/Polygram in 1992, and released her first album Woman in the Moon in 1994 on the corporation's Polydor label. During her time in Nashville, Chely enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chely_Wright
Chely Wright's Awards
- 1994 ACM award for Top New Female Vocalist
- MENC's "Stand Up For Music Award" in 2001
- Received MEMC's "Fame Award" in 2002 for her Reading, Writing and Rhythm Foundation
- In 2003, she was named "Woman of the Year" by the American Legion Auxiliary
- Duet with Brad Paisley entitled "Hard to Be a Husband, Hard to Be a Wife was nominated for Vocal Event Of The Year as part of the 35th Annual CMA Awards
