Music
Press
Tifton's very own Power house, Kirsten Underwood to perform a country music concert for this year's Love Affiar. - Love Affair Brochure
http://www.albanyherald.com/southvarchive/2006/1106/southv110706.html
A passion for performance
Teenage singer Kirsten Underwood is currently recording two original songs on a demo CD she hopes to release soon.
Elsbeth Russell
LISTEN LIVE
Here's a listing of some of Kirsten Underwood's upcoming concerts:
7 p.m. Thursday — Soil Conservationist of the Year Banquet, Tifton
2 p.m. Saturday — Alapaha Station Celebration concert, Alapaha
8 p.m. Monday — Clovers Show, Savannah
8 p.m. Nov. 16 — Mingle & Jingle, John Berry Concert, The John Hunt Auditorium, Tifton
8 p.m. Dec. 9 — 4-H Fall Forum at The Rock, Eatonton
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ALL ABOUT KIRSTEN
Kirsten Underwood hasn't always been focused on singing. A dancer from the age of 18 months, her mom, Natalie Underwood, said she expected her daughter to go into dancing not singing.
The Herald took the chance find out some other fun facts about Kirsten:
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: 'Breakfast at Tiffany's.'
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Anything by Mary Higgins Clark.
Q: What is the ringtone on your cell phone?
A: My phone got stolen on a chorus trip, but it (the ringtone) was 'Everybody Dance Now.'
Q: Are you a morning person or a night owl?
A: A night owl.
Q: If you could have a super power what would you choose?
A: I guess just being really strong.
Compiled by Elsbeth Russell
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ON THE WEB
www.kirstenunderwood.com
www.myspace.com/ kirstenunderwoodmusic
TIFTON — Most 15-going-on-16-year-olds make birthday gift requests with a car at the top of their wish list.
When 15-year-old Kirsten Underwood blows out the candles on her 16th birthday cake in March, she'll be wishing for something on a larger scale.
"Instead of a car, I'd like a tour bus," she says with a smile and a sip of her pink Starbucks frozen coffee drink.
Nearby her mom, Natalie Underwood, has a smile of her own — most likely considering the cost of a fancy bus that would take her daughter around the country.
While Kirsten knows the tour bus idea is a big dream to have come true right now, she's also wishing for something a little more likely to happen by the time she turns 16.
"My life's ambition is to hear myself on the radio," says Kirsten, who is recording two original songs on a demo she plans to release to local radio stations in the coming months.
However the demo — being recorded at Harvest Studio in Sylvester — is not Kirsten's first time recording her music.
Her debut album, "The Beginning" features a mix of songs Kirsten chose to show of the range of her singing ability. The songs include the classic "Fever" to Sting's "Fields of Gold," to the country favorite "Suds in the Bucket" and "Think of Me" from "Phantom of the Opera."
Although that album — recorded last year — has an eclectic style, Kirsten says she'd like to focus on one music genre in particular.
"I've always pretty much liked country music," Kirsten said. "That's pretty much what I want to do."
While she'd eventually like to make it to Nashville and her dream tour bus, Kirsten is busy these days performing, writing and recording.
After homework is done, the Tift County High School sophomore spends about two hours a day practicing the piano, writing new music and lyrics and generally honing her craft.
In addition to those private moments, Kirsten sings with her church choir at Ty Ty First Baptist Church and participates in 4-H and its performing group "Clovers & Co."
It seems, though, that there's nothing else she'd rather be doing.
"I pretty much know that's what I want to do with my life, is performing," she said.
In fact, Kirsten says the performance is what she likes best about singing — preferring to sing in front of large groups rather than smaller, more intimate gatherings.
Because of that passion to perform, Kirsten and her parents, Carry and Natalie Underwood, and her 12-year-old brother Gannon, are often on the go — traveling to performances as far away as Key West, Fla.
With a grimace Kirsten says the national anthem is the song she has had to sing most often.
"The hardest song ever," she says of the tune she's sung before Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue four times.
"He said, 'Aren't you the little national anthem girl?,' " Natalie Underwood recalled with a laugh.
Soon Kirsten hopes she'll be known for a different song, one she's written herself, called "72 Chevy."
The words, "I thought I'd find what I was looking for in that '72 Chevy," tell the story of the ubiquitous teen summer romance gone with the arrival of the fall.
Kirsten said she writes what she knows.
"It just comes to me," she says. "If I try to sit down and write it, usually isn't as good."
So far, Kirsten has penned about 15 original songs about "life experiences."
However, they haven't all come to mind at the most convenient moments for the teenage dreamer.
"They come up at strange times like algebra (class)," Kirsten said admitting with a sly smile, "that's probably not a good thing."
This is Elsbeth Russell's last story for The Albany Herald, as she recently accepted a public relations position in Gainesville, Fla.
- Albany Herald
Discography
2009 Redemption Demo:
Redemtion
'72 Chevy
Just Show Me
Back Home in Georgia
2006 The Beginning CD:
Cover songs like Out Here On My Own, Think of Me, Suds in the Bucket, and one original Looking Back
Photos
Bio
Kirsten is an 18-year-old southern girl who is just as comfortable in her high heel shoes as her cowboy boots. She can drive a tractor, tell you about peanuts, or dress up like a beauty queen. She loves her southern heritage and agriculture and all that it brings. A song that describes Kirsten well is the chorus of She's Country, but more importantly she is a country performer.
Music has always been a part of her life and daily walk. She began singing for events when she was 2 years old in church and really found her voice in the 6th grade. Kirsten was selected to perform the last five years as a member of nationally known 4H Performing Arts group Clovers and Company. She began performing regularly in 2006, releasing her debut CD,The Beginning, and she has yet to slow down. Kirsten realized a lifelong dream in 2008 when she put together her own band, Little Creek. They play her original music and all the covers that mean so much to her and to country music.
2009 has already brought much success to Kirsten. She won a talent competition in Columbus, Georgia and won the right to open for her "idol" Gary Allan and Randy Houser. Kirsten also has recently finished her demo CD, titled "Redemption" , which can be listened to here. Her song "Back Home in Georgia", written by Jeff Parson, has already begun a lift off not only being played in South Georgia, but Charleston, SC and Columbus, Ga. The song was debuted at the Georgia Capital in February. And then she was asked to come sing it again for Governor Perdue's AG Awareness Day in March of 2009. She has since opened up for Roy Clark and John Anderson.
Kirsten has been nominated for Georgia Teen Entertainer, Vocalist and Songwriter of the year (2009) for Georgia Country and Gospel Music Association 2009. Kirsten and her band are super-excited to get to play together and just have FUN! They are a country/southern rock band with a new sound and a vibrant attitude!
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