Chatham-Kent’s own Michelle Wright is returning to the area in early June and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer has plenty to celebrate.
Chatham-Kent’s own Michelle Wright is returning to Southwestern Ontario in early June, and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer has plenty to celebrate.
The Merlin native is slated to perform twice during the CMAOntario Festival & Awards weekend in London from June 2 to June 5 to celebrate the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry.
Wright will be performing at the June 2 Legacy Revival concert at the Purple Hill Country Hall, featuring some of Ontario’s treasured country music pioneers in a celebration of music that paved the way for younger artists. Then on June 5, she will be part of the lineup for a tribute performance to honor Impact Award recipient Carroll Baker, known as Canada’s First Lady of Country Music.
This is also a big year for Wright’s career.
“We’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of Take It Like a Man,” Wright said during an interview from her Nashville, Tenn., home. “It’s just hard to believe that and yet … these last 30 years have been an incredible adventure and journey I’ve been on.”
Wright said Take It Like a Man – the smash top-10 hit that launched her into country music stardom – has been re-recorded for her soon-to-be-released new album, Milestone.
“It just sounds fantastic,” she said.
Four of the six original musicians who played on the Tony Haselden-penned track performed on the new version. Wright said drummer Lonnie Wilson even used the same snare he played on the song 30 years ago.
Wright remembered when they were originally recording Take It Like a Man: “Lonnie came out of the drummer booth and he said, ‘If that song is not a hit, I’m going to sell shoes for a living.’”
She said that album, Now and Then, was her second – and she needed a hit song.
“It happened and that song has changed my life,” Wright said.
There are nine other tracks on Milestone, including four Wright has written.
“I’m just thrilled to almost have this record finished,” she said. “It really encompasses my Motown R&B influences from across the border and my country music influences.”
One song she’s particularly excited about is Small Town, which she helped write.
She said she believes the chorus – “I’m a little bit of small town, edge of the border; I’m a little big city when I got older; But when the carpet rolls up and the lights go down, I’m still small town” – will resonate with country music fans because most of Canada’s population lives along the border with the United States.
“We’re all just edge of the border so to speak. … I can’t wait for it to be heard.”
When she began writing the song a few years ago, Wright admitted she never realized it would become a cornerstone of her new record.
She said she sat down with her co-writers and the conversation turned to questions about her career.
When Wright began sharing a few stories, someone suggested those experiences needed to be in a song, but she was initially reluctant.
“Nah, I don’t want to write about myself,” she said.
When the decision was made to record an album to celebrate Take It Like A Man’s release, Wright “dug that song out.”
“I was like, ‘Oh my Gosh, this song is so important for this record,’” she said.
While acknowledging songwriting can pose a challenge, even for veteran musicians, “you just got to keep showing up.”
“I’m so glad I showed up that day because I love this song and I’m really excited it’s going to be a part of this record,” she said.
Wright is also looking forward to performing at the CMAOntario Festival & Awards weekend.
Although living in the country music capital of Nashville, Wright said she follows her Ontario and Canadian friends in the industry and cheers them on.
“Canada and Ontario have been very good to me and very, very supportive throughout the years. I’m very thankful,” she said.
She’s also happy to be part of the celebration to honor Baker, who has been among the women who have influenced her career.
Wright said she’ll be performing the song I’m an Old Rock’n’ Roller that Baker wrote for international singing star Tom Jones to perform.
“Her light shines very bright,” said Wright, who has performed with Baker in the past. “I’m very proud to be a part of the celebration.”