Country music star Sara Evans joined members of Change The Conversation last night, where she spoke candidly about her personal and professional journey and performed several songs from her new album, Words, on Tuesday from The Steps at WME.
In addition to performing the title track from the album set for a July 21 release, Evans also debuted new songs “All the Love You Left Me” and “Marquee Sign,” as well as an acoustic version of platinum chart-topper “A Little Bit Stronger.”
This is a landmark project for Evans as the first release on her new label, Born To Fly Records. Fourteen female songwriters, including powerhouses Ashley Monroe, Caitlyn Smith, Hillary Lindsey, Hillary Scott, Liz Hengber, Sonya Isaacs and of course Evans herself, contribute their words to the stunning, upcoming record.
“I want to talk about why we need to change the conversation,” Evans said during the event. “When I first got my record deal, women were dominating country radio. We had Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Ann Womack, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain, Patty Loveless and on and on. I was fortunate enough to join that group of amazing women.
“So we need to change the conversation and figure out why it is not that way anymore. Why are there not enough women on country radio? Women artists are amazing and they have so much great music that we want to hear and we need to hear, so let’s change the conversation.”
Change the Conversation is a coalition designed to help create an even playing field for women in country music and was formed by Tracy Gershon, Beverly Keel and Leslie Fram in 2014.
It was formed initially to create an informal salon-like atmosphere where women could get together and develop productive ways of solving the problem but has quickly grown into an organization of gaining influence. The organization funds research and hosts events where industry experts address their segments of the industry.
The event, which was sponsored by WME and One Hope Wine, began with a conversation between Evans and Tracy Gershon, a co-founder of Change the Conversation who also helped with A&R duties for this album. “Sara Evans has been one of the most influential and admired country artists of the last two decades, so when she spoke about the importance of changing the conversation, the female artists in the room were inspired and invigorated,” Gershon says.
Adds Change the Conversation co-founder Leslie Fram, “Sara’s impact is undeniable and she proved it again during her performance for Change The Conversation at WME. After the performance, so many artists said they were moved by the power of her new songs and vocals.”
About Sara Evans: Multi-platinum entertainer SARA EVANS is at the top of her game. With five No. 1 Country singles including “No Place That Far,” “Suds In The Bucket, “A Real Fine Place To Start,” “Born to Fly,” and “A Little Bit Stronger,” which spent 2 weeks in the top spot and was certified platinum by the R.I.A.A., Sara thrills audiences across the U.S. playing close to 100 shows each year. Her “stunning, country voice” (Rolling Stone) has earned her the prestigious Academy of Country Music Top Female vocalist accolade as well as numerous American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Country Music Association, CMT and Grammy Awards nominations. In addition, the CMA awarded Video of the Year honors for her hit chart-topping single, “Born to Fly” from her double-platinum album of the same name. In 2014 Evans released her critically acclaimed seventh studio album Slow Me Down, which debuted at #2 on the Country Album Chart and landed in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, winning over fans and media alike and dubbed her best album to date. Named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People,” Evans’ career also includes the platinum-selling studio albums Real Fine Place and Restless and the gold-certified No Place That Far. Sara continues to forge a bold, creative path with the launch of Born To Fly Records, distributed by Sony RED, and will release her highly anticipated eighth studio album, Words, on July 21, 2017.
In addition to a prolific country music career, Sara is an accomplished author, lifestyle blogger and Red Cross ambassador who in 2008 was presented with the national Crystal Cross award for her work with the disaster-relief organization.
For more information on Sara Evans, visit SaraEvans.com and ARealFinePlace.com and engage with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
