Sherrie Austin

Originally from Australia, dark haired beauty Sherrié Austin is one of the new breed of talented contemporary artists who not only perform but also write a lot of their material too.
Sherrié has received several accolades for her music including 'CMT's Rising Star' - 'CMA Australia's Best New Talent' and ACM nomination in the 'Favourite New Female' category. Her first two albums Words and Love In The Real World yielded hits like "Lucky In Love", "One Solitary Tear", "Put Your Heart In It", "Never Been Kissed" and "Little Bird".
Sherrié is back with her new album Followin' A Feelin' and talked exclusively to us about her life and music.
For further information about Sherrié and her music, then visit her website

CMF:-Your new album Followin' A Feelin' contains material you have co-wrote except for one track - Dolly Parton's 'Jolene'. What made you decide to include the track?
SHERRIÉ:- Dolly Parton has been a big influence on my music from a very young age. Jolene has always been one of my favorites and there is a whole generation that has never heard this song so I felt it was a great time to bring it back, a classic never goes out of style.

CMF:- So Country Music has played a big part in your life even as a young girl growing up in Australia. Did your friends, at the time, share your love of the music or, were they following the current music vogue?
SHERRIÉ:- Australia has always been very influenced by music from other countries especially America. My friends and I listened to all kinds of different music, but my mother is such a huge country fan that she was constantly playing Dolly Parton, Skeeter Davis, Johnny Cash and lots of other artists. I was very influenced by that. I have great respect for singer/songwriters no matter what genre of music.

CMF:- Presumably as a young girl, your parents must have been very supportive of your singing to enable you to travel around to the Country Festivals in Australia. What memories have you of those early years?
SHERRIÉ:- I have many great memories of my life back in Australia. My family and I traveled a lot especially because of my career. We would pack up my Dad's work truck, throw a tent in the back and head off to the nearest country music festival. We had a lot of great times together and they still remain my biggest fans but then of course they are my family!

CMF:- Now as you've already mentioned Dolly Parton has always been one of your idols and you performed 'Jolene' as an opening act for another Country Music icon- Johnny Cash - when you were only 15 years old. Were you awe-inspired to be on the same bill as such a legend and what the experience like?
SHERRIÉ:- Johnny Cash is the coolest man in the room no matter whom else is there. Being his opening act was extremely exciting and nerve-racking. It was a wonderful experience for me and is still one of my fondest on-stage memories.

CMF:- Your parents must have really believed in your musical talents to make such a major decision to move the family from Australia to the US in 1987 in order for you to pursue your dreams. Did you find the transition to another country easy or, did the way of life and working take time to adjust to?
SHERRIÉ:- I was only seventeen when we moved to the States and I think it's much easier to make that kind of a transition when you are young. Also we grew up with so much American television and music that we already felt quite at home when we got here. Some things took getting used to like certain foods and even though both countries speak English you wouldn't believe the language barriers that can occur whilst doing something as simple as ordering a pizza!

CMF:- Although your love was Country music, after moving to the US you found work not only as a writer but also as an actress and actually became a member of a 'pop' duo too. Was this because there was not so much demand for Country in California at the time?
SHERRIÉ:- I was pretty young when I got my first record deal and I don't think I really knew exactly where I was going in my career. I had some opportunities in acting and singing that were all part of helping me figure out what I did and didn't want to do. I feel like I am finally where I really belong and doing what I really feel passionate about.

CMF:-Like many others, you couldn't resist the lure of Nashville and in 1993 decided that was the place where you had to be. How difficult was it for you to leave the family and make that move?
SHERRIÉ:- Moving to Nashville was the most natural thing for me to do. I felt like I had come home. It was a little scary because I didn't know anyone, I just had a couple of names on a piece of paper but I just had a feeling that finally I was in the right place for the music I wanted to make.

CMF:- It must have been daunting being alone in a strange town. However, it wasn't long before you gained not only a writing deal but also a recording contract. It was however, some 3 years before the release of your debut album "Words" which yielded hits with "Lucky In Love" and "One Solitary Tear". How did you mange to get the deals so soon and why was there such a delay in an album being released?
SHERRIÉ:- I did manage to secure a record deal and publishing deal in a very short amount of time, it all came together very quickly. I feel that when you are truly ready that's when the stars come together and of course what seems fast to people on the outside has actually taken the artist a lifetime to achieve. On the other hand I did have to wait very patiently for the time my album was to be released and that has a lot to do with scheduling at the record label, you are one of many artists waiting to release a record, sometimes you have no choice but to wait your turn.

CMF:- 1997 was quite a year for you, not only with the album release, but you also launched a lipstick, debuted on the Opry and supported Tracy Lawrence and Trace Adkins on tour. What are your recollections of that exciting and memorable year and, is there any one thing that will always remain in your memory?
SHERRIÉ:- The release of my first record "Words" was a very exciting time, I got to go on my first tour with Tracy Lawrence and Trace Adkins. We had a great time, they are both really sweet guys though Tracy has a wicked sense of humor, he dressed up like a kangaroo on the last night of the show, the audience love it!

CMF:- Two years later, your sophomore album "Love In The Real World" was released giving you hits with "Never Been Kissed" and "Little Bird" and also an ACM nomination. It obviously must have been a great feeling but it also meant you were losing out on your love of song-writing, which was a big part of your life. How did you feel at this time?
SHERRIÉ:- Even though I did write the majority of my second record I soon discovered that there wasn't going to be much time for writing after the release. I had to spend all my energy on promoting and touring, but that's the price you have to pay. I'm learning how to balance my schedule a little better these days.

CMF:- Eventually, you part company with the record label and pursue your love of song-writing which has resulted in your new album Followin' A Feelin'. Are the songs on the new album very different to those you CO-wrote on the first two albums and if so how and why? SHERRIÉ:- The new record Followin' A Feelin' is both more diverse and more traditional than anything I've recorded to date. The title track really sums up what I was going through the year I left Arista. It was an extremely positive experience for me, all my records are like journals in a sense.

CMF:- Where do you get the inspiration from for the songs and, do ideas for lyrics and the music come easily to you?
SHERRIÉ:- Inspiration can come from just about anywhere, sometimes movies, books or just a conversation with a friend. Some songs are written in no time at all and others can take months, it all depends on whether you're in the moment that day or not.

CMF:- As mentioned at the start of the interview, Followin' A Feelin' includes the Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' Dolly has in fact complimented you on your interpretation of the song but were you nervous about what she might say? (Can you tell us what she said?)
SHERRIÉ:- I was greatly relieved and flattered when I received a personal note from Dolly saying that she really loved our version of her song Jolene. Her approval and blessing meant the world to me.

CMF:- So what can we expect from this new album? Is it more personal? Emotional? Similar to the previous ones?
SHERRIÉ:- All my records to some degree are personal and of course there is a little bit of imagination thrown in there as well. The biggest difference between this record and my others is that it is my first independent CD and it's been really exciting being on both sides of the business, contributing not only of the music but also having a voice in decisions to do with the label itself. I'm having a really great time learning about different sides of the music business.

CMF:- Finally, if you could co-write with anyone who would it be? Who would give you the greatest compliment and satisfaction if they recorded one of your songs?
SHERRIÉ:- I would love to CO-write with Don Henly, that would be amazing. One of my biggest idols Dolly Parton has just recently cut a song of mine called The Lucky Ones. It is a duet with Hal Ketchum on his new record. Other people that I would love to have cuts by are Yearwood, Martina McBride and George Strait.

CMF:- Thank you Sherrié for taking time out from your schedule to talk to us and Good Luck with the album.