Melissa Lawson
Encyclopedia
Melissa Ann Lawson is an American country music singer. On August 4, 2008, she was declared the winner of the television program Nashville Star
, a country music singing competition which airs on NBC
. Signed to Warner Bros. Records
Nashville, she released her debut single "What If It All Goes Right" that year, and charted on Hot Country Songs
with it. Although Lawson's label released her before she debuted her first album, she is currently performing and just released her new Praise and Worship CD: "CONSTANT".
, she grew up in Arlington, TX where she continues to make her home. Lawson is a working mother with 5 sons. She is married to Rick Lawson who is also a musician and singer. He owns a successful roofing company he started in 2001. in November 2009 he became the General Manager for the state of Texas for a large commercial roofing company. In 2004, she tried out for the fourth season
of American Idol
, and made it to Hollywood week, eventually being cut in the top 75.
Lawson was to appear on an episode of the NBC
2010 summer series Breakthrough with Tony Robbins
dealing with personal issues with her husband in the wake of her fame. However the program was canceled from airing on television before Lawson's episode could air due to low ratings, and it instead premiered in mid-August 2010 for video-on-demand streaming via NBC.com for a limited one month period.
chart as well as #79 on the Billboard Hot 100
, due to legal music download
s. It was then re-released in November 2008, where it re-entered the country charts at #55, and eventually reached #43. It was the number one Country music download on iTunes and Top 10 for all genres within 24 hours of release.
Warner Brothers, as a major label, was experiencing challenges in the industry which led them to the decision to not promote new artists. In a mutually acceptable agreement, Melissa Lawson was released by Warner to pursue other opportunities. John Rich successfully produced a number of tracks for an upcoming release. Melissa was able to secure the rights to the recordings for future release.
She is the sixth "Nashville Star", following previous winners Buddy Jewell
, Brad Cotter
, Erika Jo
, Chris Young and Angela Hacker
. The sixth season marked the first time Nashville Star was featured on NBC
, after five seasons on USA Network
.
Nashville Star
Nashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
, a country music singing competition which airs on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. Signed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
Nashville, she released her debut single "What If It All Goes Right" that year, and charted on Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
with it. Although Lawson's label released her before she debuted her first album, she is currently performing and just released her new Praise and Worship CD: "CONSTANT".
Biography
Born in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, she grew up in Arlington, TX where she continues to make her home. Lawson is a working mother with 5 sons. She is married to Rick Lawson who is also a musician and singer. He owns a successful roofing company he started in 2001. in November 2009 he became the General Manager for the state of Texas for a large commercial roofing company. In 2004, she tried out for the fourth season
American Idol (Season 4)
The fourth season of American Idol premiered on January 18, 2005 and continued until May 25, 2005. It was hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell also returned to judge. It was won by Carrie Underwood, who has gone on to become a five-time Grammy-winning country megastar...
of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, and made it to Hollywood week, eventually being cut in the top 75.
Lawson was to appear on an episode of the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
2010 summer series Breakthrough with Tony Robbins
Tony Robbins
Anthony "Tony" Robbins is an American self-help author and motivational speaker. He became well known through his infomercials and self-help books, Unlimited Power: The New Science Of Personal Achievement and Awaken The Giant Within...
dealing with personal issues with her husband in the wake of her fame. However the program was canceled from airing on television before Lawson's episode could air due to low ratings, and it instead premiered in mid-August 2010 for video-on-demand streaming via NBC.com for a limited one month period.
2008-present: "What If It All Goes Right" and label release
Following her win on Nashville Star, Lawsons' debut single, "What If It All Goes Right", was released on August 5, 2008 to radio. It debuted and peaked at #49 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country SongsHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart as well as #79 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, due to legal music download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
s. It was then re-released in November 2008, where it re-entered the country charts at #55, and eventually reached #43. It was the number one Country music download on iTunes and Top 10 for all genres within 24 hours of release.
Warner Brothers, as a major label, was experiencing challenges in the industry which led them to the decision to not promote new artists. In a mutually acceptable agreement, Melissa Lawson was released by Warner to pursue other opportunities. John Rich successfully produced a number of tracks for an upcoming release. Melissa was able to secure the rights to the recordings for future release.
Nashville Star
Melissa Lawson was the oldest contestant among the ten finalists. She has lost almost 100 pounds since first auditioning for the show.She is the sixth "Nashville Star", following previous winners Buddy Jewell
Buddy Jewell
Buddy Jewell Jr. is an American country music artist who was the first winner on the USA Network talent show Nashville Star. Signed to Columbia Records in 2003, Jewell made his debut on the American country music scene with the release of his self-titled album, which produced the singles "Help...
, Brad Cotter
Brad Cotter
Brad Cotter is an American country music singer who won the 2004 season of Nashville Star a talent competition on the USA Network. Signed to Epic Records that year, he released his debut album Patient Man, which produced three singles on the Billboard country charts, including the #35 "I Meant To"...
, Erika Jo
Erika Jo
Erika Jo Heriges , known simply by the stage name Erika Jo, is an American country music recording artist who was declared winner of the 2005 season of the Nashville Star television program. Eighteen years old at the time, Erika Jo is both the youngest person to win the competition and the first...
, Chris Young and Angela Hacker
Angela Hacker
Angela Hacker is an American country music singer. In 2007, she was the winner of the USA Network talent show Nashville Star. Her brother Zac finished second the same year. She released an album via Warner Bros. Records in 2007, although it did not chart and produced no singles.-Biography:Angela...
. The sixth season marked the first time Nashville Star was featured on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, after five seasons on USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
.
Songs performed on Nashville Star
- "Something to Talk About" by Bonnie RaittBonnie RaittBonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman(You Make Me Feel like) a Natural Woman" A Natural Woman" is a 1967 single released by American soul singer Aretha Franklin on the Atlantic label. The record was a big hit for Franklin, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a standard song for her...
" by Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
(Bottom Two) - "True ColorsTrue Colors (song)"True Colors" is a song written by songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, additional lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. It was both the title track and the first single released from Cyndi Lauper's second album. It was the only original song on the album that Lauper did not help write...
" by Cyndi LauperCyndi LauperCynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album... - "LandslideLandslide (song)The country group Dixie Chicks then covered "Landslide" on their 2002 Home album. This rendition, featuring the group's trademark two- and three-part harmonies reached the Top 10 of both the pop and country charts as well as several other charts. It became the Dixie Chicks' only number 1 single ...
" by Fleetwood MacFleetwood MacFleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
(Highest Number of Votes) - "This One's for the GirlsThis One's for the Girls"This One's for the Girls" is the title of a song written by Chris Lindsey, Hillary Lindsey and Aimee Mayo, and recorded by American country music singer Martina McBride. It is the first single from her 2003 album Martina, and it was released in June 2003...
" by Martina McBrideMartina McBrideMartina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
(Bottom Two) - "Danny's Song" by Loggins and MessinaLoggins and MessinaLoggins and Messina are an American rock-pop duo consisting of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina who achieved their success in the early to mid 1970s...
- "My Baby Loves MeMy Baby Loves Me (Just the Way That I Am)Martina McBride covered the song in 1993 under the title of "My Baby Loves Me". Her rendition was released in July 1993 as the first single from her 1993 album The Way That I Am and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and reached number-one on the Canadian RPM Country...
" by Martina McBride - "Ready to Stand" by Melissa Lawson & Margi Howard
- "Hit Me with Your Best ShotHit Me with Your Best Shot"Hit Me with Your Best Shot" is a song written by Canadian singer/songwriter Eddie Schwartz and recorded by American singer Pat Benatar in 1979. It was released as the second single from her second album Crimes of Passion, and reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first top 10 hit...
" by Pat BenatarPat BenatarPat Benatar is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States... - "Jesus, Take the WheelJesus, Take the Wheel"Jesus, Take the Wheel" is a song written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. It is the second single from Carrie Underwood's debut album, Some Hearts....
" by Carrie UnderwoodCarrie UnderwoodCarrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005... - "Something MoreSomething More (Sugarland song)"Something More" is the title of a song written and recorded by the American country music group Sugarland. It was released in April 2005 as the second single from their debut album Twice the Speed of Life. Like its predecessor "Baby Girl", "Something More" was a #2 hit on the Hot Country Songs...
" by Sugarland - "My WishMy Wish"My Wish" is a song written by Jeffrey Steele and Steve Robson, and recorded by American country music group Rascal Flatts. It was released in August 2006 as the third single from their album, Me and My Gang. It reached number one on the U.S. country charts in December 2006 and also peaked at #28...
" by Rascal FlattsRascal FlattsRascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney... - "What If It All Goes Right"
Extended plays
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Constant |
|
| United We Stand |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
|||
| 2008 | "What If It All Goes Right" | 43 | 79 | Non-album song |