“

Martina McBride’s talent proves to be Everlasting, no matter what she

chooses to sing. his is going to be the eyes sparkling as she turns from the business first time, in a long time, at hand to her youngest daughter. “We could I won’t be on the road on my maybe all do a big thing out here.” birthday,” says Martina McBride, Her eyes continue to glimmer as she men- story By sitting backstage at the nTelos Wire- tions her two eldest daughters, Delaney, 19, Nancy Dunham less Pavilion in Charlottesville, Va., of and Emma, 16. “They were out here with us her 48th birthday on July 29. “We’ll be last weekend. Ava’s always with us,” she says. home. I’m kind of bummed.” “If Delaney and Emma could be with us all the photos by It’s several hours before Martina and her time, there’d be no reason to go home, really.” amiee stubbs band—including backup singers and a horn section—take the stage as part of her Ever- Calculated Risks lasting Tour. Martina took a big gamble with her latest release, As Martina talks, two women bustle about Everlasting, and the supporting tour. Not only are the somewhat dimly lit, crowded backstage the album’s 12 songs—including Phil Spector’s quarters, preparing an array of silver serving “To Know Him Is to Love Him,” Van Morrison’s dishes filled with everything from rice to fish to “” and The Supremes’ Motown classic chocolate chip cookies and “Come See About Me”—of a frosting (unofficially, ev- different genre than her hits, eryone’s favorite offering). but she also released it inde- The band and crew mill pendently on her new label, about, talking and joking Vinyl Recordings. as they eye the buffet. The gamble paid off, as Although everyone is ca- Martina became the first sually dressed—well-worn female solo artist with an T-shirts, sweats, jeans and independently released and sneakers—Martina is still distributed album to hit No. 1 elegant in a flowing top in the 50-year history of the and slim-cut slacks. Billboard Top Country Albums As she stands to make chart. On the all-genre Bill- her way into a dressing room for us to discuss board 200, the album debuted at No. 7, making the tour, her 9-year-old daughter, Ava, appears, this Martina’s sixth Top 10 on that chart and her chewing gum and eating an ice cream con- highest debut since 2007. coction, to remind her mother of family and “She is a smart businesswoman,” says long- friends awaiting their return to Nashville and time tour manager Mark Hively. “Somehow, her birthday celebration. someway, Martina always has the knack” for “Yeah, but they could be out here with me delivering what fans want. maybe,” says Martina with a smile, her blue That’s not always easy, especially as country

50 COUNTRYWEEKLY.COM COUNTRYWEEKLY.COM 51 “This tour has exceeded what I dreamed (Clockwise from above left) Martina goes over about for two moves with backup sing- ers; rehearses songs; the horn section warms up; and years. I just background singers (from left in mirror) Wendy Moten, really wanted Shandra Pennix and get stage-ready. the show to be very visually en- tertaining as well as very musical.”

martina mcbride cont. Way” filter in from a nearby room, song “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” a player Vinnie Ciesielski. “The music Grammy-nominated vocalist Wendy Tour opener Ashley McMillen and radio continues to embrace the “bro- Martina talks about how Everlasting No. 1 pop hit. His lack of concern for just smacks them in the mouth and Moten, who was with Julio Iglesias her band sit about 20 rows back for country” trend. In a way that’s made producer helped her secure rigid “genres” inspired Martina as they have grins on their faces. By for 18 years, “is the go-to singer. this warm-up, watching with wide- fans like those in the near-capacity the artistry she desired. she recorded Everlasting and extend- about the third song, Martina asks She sang on the record as well, so eyed appreciation. Charlottesville crowd more eager to “He said, ‘This still needs to be a ed to her retro-styled live shows. them to take a musical journey with why not have her voice out here on “I am just very, very, very honored hear the radio-neglected artists per- Martina record. You need to sound “This tour has exceeded what I her and you see them start to settle the road?” he says. “And Vinnie, the to do this. I can’t believe it! She’s my form. And it’s allowed those artists to like Martina. You don’t need to sound dreamed about for two years,” she in. By about the fifth song, they really trumpet player, he’s on the record, idol,” says Ashley. “Even though I take more chances in their music. Mar- like anybody else,’” she recalls. “And says. “I just really wanted the show relax. That is a really cool moment so it made sense to have him out just play a tiny, tiny bit in this show, tina seems energized by that freedom. once he said that I thought to myself, to be very visually entertaining as for everyone.” here. Everything just lined up. I’m it means to much to me to perform ‘That makes sense.’ Then it all became well as very musical. I am definitely Music director Jim Medlin credits telling you, when you work with the before her. As a woman, she has Staying Martina natural. I started to think if Elton taking my audience on a ride, on a the band and singers for the ease with right people—and these are all the always showed such style and class. As Ava skips away from her mother John did a country record, we’d still journey. It is definitely asking a lot of which they join Martina as she guides right people—all you have to do is And she can sing anything, anywhere to play hangman with a production want him to sound like Elton John. the audience. In the beginning, they the audience from her Everlasting give them a little direction and it all and sound incredible.” assistant, Martina settles into an easy We wouldn’t want him to have a kind weren’t sure what was happening.” songs to her major hits like “A Broken comes together.” Though the amphitheater is chair in the vacant dressing room to of fake [Southern] accent.” Wing” and “Independence Day.” That much is clear during sound mostly empty, Martina turns her discuss her album and tour. As the She brings up Ray Charles, whose Musical Journey “Nashville is a small town and check and rehearsal when the per- voice up full volume as she leads sounds of a radio playing Fleet- 1962 album Modern Sounds in Coun- But anyone who attends an Everlast- we know who we wanted,” says formers, still casually dressed, gave an her group through a few songs wood Mac’s hit “Go Your Own try and Western Music included the ing concert “will see it,” says trumpet Jim of the newly expanded band. all-out performance of several songs. before she stops and looks

52 COUNTRYWEEKLY.COM COUNTRYWEEKLY.COM 53 Martina takes the sound of her album Everlasting on the road with a big band sound. "I am definitely tak- ing my audience on a ride, on a journey," she says.

martina mcbride cont. eating dinner with the crew, seated sing. That’s what you do.’” think she’s forsaken country. She still The Charlottesville fans certainly and walking onto the stage. The toward the sound engineers. in the center of the long table. In It’s clear from the conversation sings plenty of country songs on this indicate it works for them, too. audience roars. “Are you getting everything the interview room, he waves away that John has great respect for tour, and she hints there may soon be At the start of the show they smile As the concert ends with a four- you need, John?” she asks of her concerns that the previous night’s Martina’s career decisions, including new country songs in her catalog. but look a bit startled as the horn song encore, the crowd moves swiftly husband, John McBride, a top-level show—relocated to a gym due to taking a step away from country to “I am still going to do country. section marches through the audi- to the sidewalks outside the arena to sound engineer who brought Mar- rain—was difficult to produce. create Everlasting. I’m going to do a lot of things in the ence, and a trio of backup singers watch as Martina’s tour bus maneu- tina to the attention of his friend “This tour is the greatest sound- “I feel today she is better than next few years,” she says. “I’ve really begins harmonizing as Martina— vers out of the cramped parking area and one-time boss . ing—and not because of me; I just she’s ever been,” he says. “When started to feel a freedom about it all. I wearing a lush, embroidered suit and onto a narrow back street. Fans “Does it sound OK?” turn up the faders,” he says. “They you’ve been around a long time and love country. I’m a country artist. But and sky-high black heels—glides wave and shout. Some hold signs are all so good. You can’t make this radio gets tired of you and doesn’t at the end of the day, I love to sing all from her gray tour bus past a long praising Martina and yell to her as Feeling Freedom group sound bad. It is by far the best feel the need to play you, it puts kinds of music. And you know, frankly, line of cheering bystanders on a the bus slowly pulls away. John exudes a quiet confidence back- thing she’s ever done, in my opinion. you in a tough spot. She decided to I can’t really make a record that fits sidewalk outside the gated arena. “That was the best show ever,” stage, taking a call from his father, When you see the set list and hear make a record of music she loves, in with country radio right now. I can Martina smiles broadly, waves and says one woman as she and her two spending a few minutes casually the music, it blows your mind. When and I’m glad she did.” either not make a record or I can make turns to her tour manager for a few friends watch the departing bus. watching a video with Ava and Martina was born, God says, ‘You Martina says that fans should not a record that works for me.” words before taking a microphone “Anyone would love it.” CW

54 COUNTRYWEEKLY.COM COUNTRYWEEKLY.COM 55