A lot has been said and written about the youthful zest and powerhouse vocals of Shelly Bush. She's already been called one of the hottest female country vocalists and entertainers to ever come out of Missouri. She has been described as the "real deal" and that was before music enthusiasts, country radio DJ's and industry insiders even had an opportunity to listen to her music. Her commanding stage presence and apparent love of performing continues to win her an ever-growing and loyal fan base. It reflects in the thousands of CD sales that Shelly has sold off the stage over the last several years.
Shelly recalls the enthusiasm she felt when fans first started singing along to her music at her shows. "I would actually find them and thank each and every one of them for grasping on to my music". Shelly goes on to say, "You can't imagine the feeling when people really believe and feel every word you sing". That's what happens when the world falls in love with your music.
Growing up an only child in a small rural town in central Missouri, Shelly knew when she was only five years old that she wanted to sing. She would stand in the middle of her bed with a hairbrush as a microphone and sing songs by Reba and Alabama as she put on concerts for her family. Raised on country, gospel and rock music, Shelly taught herself how to play piano by the time she was six. While growing up singing in Church and school music competitions, her love of performing grew. Shelly credits her love of music to her parents who spent many years driving her around the country to sing. "My parents put of 400,000 miles on their car so I could sing at any place we could find. In fact, one time we drove 500 miles to Nashville so I could sing at the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree and then we turned around and drove right back home". By the time Shelly was a teenager, she was cutting her teeth on Missouri's fertile music scene playing the club and Opry show circuit.
While in high school, Shelly won a guitar in a drawing from a local music store and she started writing her own songs. After graduating from college with a criminal justices degree, she immediately moved to Nashville. Fortunate enough to have a day job with the U.S. Postal Service when she arrived in Nashville, she spent almost every night playing with different bands at the local bars for several years. Shortly after that, her talent and perseverance paid off as she left her day job and spent the next year and a half touring with country singer Michael Peterson as his opening act.
She quickly made a name for herself which led to opening shows for acts such as Blake Shelton, Sara Evans, Dwight Yokham, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban, Brooks and Dunn and Lonestar. She has had many opportunities for the coveted spot of singing the national anthem for the NASCAR races. "It's the most incredible feeling with a huge rush of energy singing in front of thousands of people at the races". Twice Shelly has garnered the high profile slot of a live television appearance in front of millions of viewers at home during her performance of the national anthem before the Winston Cup races at the Michigan Motor Speedway.
Since 2000, Shelly has recorded 5 independent albums. In 2002, she had the pleasure of working with legendary producer, Barry Beckett. In 2004, she teamed up with well know producer Clyde Brooks. "Keep Messin' With Me", garnered radio airplay on almost every radio station in Missouri, KUXX in Bakersfield, California and Nashville's legendary WSM 650. It even received a rave review by Bob Oermann in Music Row Magazine. He said, "She's a strong singer and the fiddle propelled track cooks with gas. A winner!"
Almost 2 years ago, Shelly formed an all-girl band called, "Broadband". The chemistry was instant and they have already made a name for themselves across America. Playing over 200 shows a year, vast audiences have fallen in love with them. Not only have they been playing to standing room only crowds on the local club scene in Nashville, and to an abundant amount of growing fans in the casino clubs, they have landed the opportunity to open for major acts like Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bently and Billy Currington. In early 2007 they made their first Las Vegas appearance playing for NASCAR week.
In 2005 Shelly teamed up with Ireland's leading independent label, L&M Records to get her music out to a global audience. Her first single will be, "Don't Fall In Love", and it will be shipped to radio soon in Ireland. A full album will soon follow.
In the last 2 years for the first time, Shelly has had the opportunity to co -write with some of the industries most seasoned and well known songwriters. "My songs talk about real things and they tell a story that people can relate to. They are also fun, light stories that an audience can have fun with. I have to feel and live every word I write. If I feel it, I can write it". Between the touring and public appearances, Shelly has found the time to write with these great established writers giving her fans and the industry insiders something they have all been waiting for, an album where she wrote or co-wrote every song.
At present, for the first time she has a chart-topping single called, "The Note", written by Buck Moore, that has climbed to the #10 spot on the Roots Music Report, True Country chart.
Lately Shelly has been test driving some of the new material to vast audiences out on the road. The response has been overwhelming. "Music is a gift that I am thankful for everyday. It's a fun and exciting road. I am grateful for all the friendships and personal collaborations I have had along the way".
With Shelly's own dreams taking root, she credits her strength and inspiration to her parents. They always told me, "As long as you keep your focus and work hard, you can do anything you want. No dream is too big. It's just a matter of believing".
