Gone Country

Hi. My name is Vicki and I'm a country music fan.

That's very hard to admit. Growing up in Northern Virginia (not to be confused with the rest of the state of Virginia) I was indoctrinated to think country was the music for our southern neighbors... NASCAR fans... dare I type it, white trash. (Bring on the Google search term hits.)

So during college when casting was being completed for the summer shows at King's Dominion theme park, my fear wasn't that I wouldn't get hired. I was terrified I'd get cast in their Country Music Live! production. I would have preferred a part in Yabba Dabba Dino - as the Dino costumed character - to clogging and yodeling madness.

After graduation, when I went into rehearsals for my first cruise ship gig, my greatest fear was thrust into the spotlight. Along with a 50's -themed show and jazz show, my repertoire included an hour-long country music show. Performed four times a week.

Costumed in a white spangled dress with beaded fringe, I belted out hits like The Tennessee Waltz, Put Yourself in My Place and God Bless the U.S.A. And something strange happened.

I discovered I was pretty good at singing country music. My southern accent, which usually only slipped off my tongue after I'd had a few too many wine coolers, came quite naturally while singing. The melodies were catchy and the lyrics inspiring - or downright hilarious.

Still, I didn't consider myself a country music fan. Just a talented singer/actor who embraced whatever genre I was getting paid to perform.

I was forced to face the truth a few weeks ago. With my iPod ear buds trying to drown out the sound of the dentist's drill as he reduced two of my molars to crown anchors, I listened to my 'Recently Purchased' iTunes playlist:

Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood - Last Name
Trace Adkins - You're Gonna Miss This
Brad Paisley - I'm Still A Guy
Martina McBride - Independence Day
Rodney Atkins - Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)
The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down to Georgia (Bittyman's current favorite tune.)

And no, I can't claim that these tunes were downloaded as research for an upcoming country music gig.

As a Christian I am called to speak the truth. So I will now publicly proclaim that I'm a country music fan. I covet these and these. One of my radio presets is "Coyote Country'. I love line dancing.

(But please, just don't tell my friends back in NoVA.)