Martina McBride is happy with the choices she's made
Martina McBride says there's nothing too different about recording her new album and when she started in the early 1990s.
Martina McBride is happy with the choices she's made Martina McBride says there's nothing too different about recording her new album and when she started in the early 1990s. Check out this story on knoxnews.com: http://knoxne.ws/2qaIbjV
Wayne Bledsoe, USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee Published 12:03 p.m. ET April 27, 2017
Martina McBride says she has followed her heart in both her career and life.(Photo: Kristin Barlowe)
"I just did what I always do," says McBride in a call from her Nashville home. "I just try to find songs that people can relate to, songs about real life."
McBride, who was seen as a new traditionalist when she first hit country music airwaves, says she'd been wanting to record some of the songs on her new disc for years.
"It's kind of pre-'bro-country' writing style," she says. "It sounds a little more like mid-2000s. It's fun and it's comforting to have a sound that's familiar. It was a really fun record to make."
Born Martina Schiff in Sharon, Kansas, McBride began listening to classic country music as a child and singing in a band with her father. She later shifted to singing in a rock act called the Penetrators. It was while recording with that group that she met sound engineer John McBride, whom she married in 1988. The two later moved to Nashville, where McBride landed a recording contract with RCA Records in 1991.
It was McBride's second album, "The Way That I Am," that landed her in the country Top 10. Her singles "My Baby Loves Me" and "Life No. 9" were popular on radio, but it was the song "Independence Day" that got her the most attention. Over the next decade McBride regularly topped the country charts and became a full-on star.
When she and her husband began having children, McBride made sure she put her family first.
"It wasn't a real popular decision with my record label or my management," she says. "But I don't remember taking any time off! For me, we've always worked pretty much year-round. I made some choices because of my family, like not going overseas and not going out for six or seven weeks at a time. We do tour on the weekends and pretty much all year long. We go out for longer runs in the summer, but I've made a record pretty much every year since 1992."
She says she did have to strike a balance. She has three daughters, now aged 22, 19 and 11.
"I've gotten offers to do TV shows and stuff, but I can't move to L.A. I can't be gone doing Broadway and stuff. I feel the need to be home and be with my kids while they're growing up. … I don't want to play the women card, but I do think there's a difference. It's a whole different way we look at it. I'm sure there are guys who don't want to do it either."
McBride says she never takes for granted her luck at being able to make her own schedule.
She says another important decision was sticking to the kind of music she wanted to make.
"The choice to always be true to myself and my music and not trying to chase a trend or whatever," McBride says. "I've always made music that felt right for me, and because of that we've had some unique songs and songs that have stood the test of time, so that's good."
McBride says she doesn't think things have really changed that much in having a career now as opposed to when she started:
"I feel like you've always had to put the work in to reap the benefits. I just do it because I love it. I don't feel like I have to do anything. I just love to sing. I can have the freedom to make all kinds of records and put my creativity into it. And, of course, just going out and seeing all the fans is fun. I'm still doing it because I love it."
Stars on Stage: Martina McBride
What: Annual fundraiser for the Tennessee Theatre
When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Where: Tennessee Theatre
Tickets: $84.50, $59.50, $250 VIP, includes reception, www.tennesseetheatre.com
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