Gisele Michelle

Gisele's pod came from Houma, Louisiana. Raised as a good Catholic girl she soon gave the nuns of Maria Immaculata practice for patience and restraint; even convincing others in her class to rename a certain sister to "Sister Yardstick!" Even though she spent most of her time with her nose in a chalk circle, her parochial school was where she was first introduced to the beautiful world of music. It's where she first picked up the guitar and learned that channeling her humorous ways through playing for an audience kept her less out of trouble. Gisele played her first gig at the VFW when she was only nine years old. She had to get a special permit from the Parish Judge in order to play and at least one of her parents had to be there. Gisele has racked up hundreds of weddings, honky-tonks, hosted many an open mic nite, and is the family funeral singer. She credits learning how to play guitar for keeping her from being forced to learn the song "Chain Gang," although it is one of her favorites. Gisele Hawkins is a fan of the sad, sad, song, especially if it has something to do with jumping off of a bridge or being run over by a train.

Michelle's pod came from Crestview, Florida. Her father was an Army Ranger who met her German mother while stationed in Frankfurt. They settled there in her father's hometown after he retired from the military; Michelle was 3 years old. Crestview was a very small town with one high school, one middle school and three elementary schools. Her father was one of the high school teachers and that certainly left no room for stepping out of line. Michelle learned to sing in the car, catching harmonies with her older sister Cynthia, and at 12 her father bought her first guitar and chord book from the PX at Eglin A.F.B. Playing and singing was something she and her father could appreciate together, and her biggest fan was her Mom (who had been an accomplished young singer in Germany). At 18, Michelle and her sister won a spot in the Wrangler Country Showdown for the state of Alabama. They were heard by Erv Woolsey, George Straits manager, and received an invitation to meet. Unfortunately, on the night they returned home from the competition their mother passed away after battling cancer for only three months; she was the one who asked they continue with the competition. The competition was the last time Michelle and her sister sang together professionally. Michelle also won the "Atlanta Female Vocalist," award from the Atlanta Society of Entertainer's.