Pickler coming to Crawford Co. Fair
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Growing up in Albemarle, N.C., as Kellie Pickler rolled back and forth to customers at the Sonic Drive-In, her mind was on bigger things.
"Ever since I was little, I've dreamed of some day being part of country music," she said. "I've always wanted to go after what I want.
"I've never believed in settling. I think you should go after those dreams."
Not settling has worked very well for this small town girl. Pickler's down-home southern charm, along with her big voice and honest and open demeanor, has made her one of country music's rising stars.
She will appear at the Crawford County Fair at 9 p.m. July 14.
The straightforward Pickler captivated audiences for the first time on the fifth season of the television show "American Idol" in 2006. At just 19 years of age, she reached the final six before facing elimination.
But she was far from done.
Kellie has achieved a stardom far beyond what most people could comprehend, and, at just 22 years of age, Kellie said that she has changed along with her lifestyle.
"I'm still Kellie. But anyone, regardless of what they do, experience change. Everyone changes every day because you experience more of life every day. I've learned a lot," she said.
"In the two years since American Idol my life has changed dramatically. My job is certainly different. Everything has worked out for the best."
Her past is well-documented. Her mother left her when she was two years old and her father, Clyde "Bo" Pickler was a drinker and a drug user who has been in and out of prison.
Kellie went to live with her grandparents, Faye and Clyde Pickler Sr. Her grandparents not only raised her, they taught her to dream big.
"I've loved the town where I grew up," Kellie said. "I love the people there. But I can't imagine spending my whole life there anymore."
When the fifth season of "American Idol" held auditions in Greensboro, 45 minutes away. Pickler and her grandfather packed up and went.
She not only won the hearts of the judges, but she finished in the top six of the show, which opened up numerous opportunities.
"So many different things have happened," Kellie said. "I've had a chance to see the world and I owe all this to "American Idol."
"Everyone is so different, with so many different beliefs and outlooks on life. I think you just have to love everyone regardless."
After signing with the BNA Records in July, 2006, Pickler recorded tracks on her time away from the American Idol tour. The result was her first CD "Small Town Girl."
The album was a runaway success, with singles "Red High Heels," and "I Wonder," which is an ode to her mother, both reaching the Billboard charts.
Her current single from her second album, which has yet to be released, is "Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind."
Kellie has co-written most of her music with Chris Lindsay and Aimee Mayo, and he received a gold record for "Small Town Girl."
"Writing has been a part of me," Kellie said. "I think that's why fans connect with me. I write about me, my life and my experiences. It's a reflection of my life."
Kellie also went on a USO tour of Iraq in December, and she said that it was an experience she will never forget. The trip also had a profound impact on her views and she wants to go back.
"I'm a small-town girl and there everyone thinks one way and that's it," Kellie said. "I've learned to be more open-minded and see people for who they are.
"This is the way things have been there for thousands and thousands of years," she added about Iraq. "This is the way they've always lived. You have to be open about learning about their cultures and their beliefs."
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