For the past several years, Faith Hill has played a vital role in the country music genre. Along with fellow country singers, Shania Twain and Martina McBride, Hill has helped transform the genre and mold it into what modern country music is today.
Growing up in a small town in Mississippi, Faith Hill was fully aware at a young age that “music was going to take her some place.” She received her big break when Martha Sharp, an executive from the Warner Brothers label, heard her signing back-up for an established artist, Gary Burr, at a café in Nashville, who was impressed with Hill’s vocal ability, and secured her a recording contract with the Warner Brothers label.
The couple recorded a distinct selection of duets together such as “It’s Your Love,” “Just to Hear You Say that You Love Me,” and “Let’s Make Love,” all of which were well-received by country music fans and industry members alike. The McGraw-Hill couple has won the Best Country Collaboration Vocals Grammy Award twice, once for their duet “Let’s Make Love” in 2000, and “Like We Never Loved At All,” more recently, in 2006.
Similar to Shania Twain, Faith Hill helped convert non-country music fans into fans of the genre after hearing her interpretation of this stunning love ballad. Along with her hit "This Kiss," her song "Breathe," helped expand Hill's fan-base, especially since the album is her most successful to date, selling over a staggering eight million records.
As an album, "Breathe," debuted at the top of both the Billboard country album charts, as well as the overall Billboard 200 charts. The album won the Grammy for "Best Country Album," besting out yet another well-crafted album, Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance."
As a single, “Breathe” peaked for six weeks at the top of the country charts, and holds the record as the runner-up song, after Connie Smith’s “Once A Day,” for the longest running song by a female country artist in the top position of the Billboard country charts. For her vocal performance in this song, Faith Hill was awarded the 2001 Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal performance. Many fans and peers alike perceive “Breathe” as Faith Hill’s signature tune.
For her exceptional work ethic and for the high performance of her singles and album sales, Faith Hill was recognized by the Country Music Association (CMA) with its prestigious Female Vocalist of the Year award, a milestone that has previously been achieved by other equally respected women in country such as Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride.
Her songs “Cry” and “When the Lights Go Down,” showcased the Mississippi songstress’ powerful vocal range, and in her song “Mississippi Girl,” which peaked at the top of the country charts for two weeks, the singer pays homage to her Mississippi roots, since deep down, despite the fame and spotlight, Faith Hill is and always shall remain the same “Mississippi Girl” that has swept America’s hearts since 1993. Hill’s closest friends range from Martina McBride to Reba McEntire.
Growing up in a small town in Mississippi, Faith Hill was fully aware at a young age that “music was going to take her some place.” She received her big break when Martha Sharp, an executive from the Warner Brothers label, heard her signing back-up for an established artist, Gary Burr, at a café in Nashville, who was impressed with Hill’s vocal ability, and secured her a recording contract with the Warner Brothers label.
Faith Hill's Early Music Career
When Faith Hill released her debut album, “Take Me As I Am,” its lead-off single, “Wild One” reached the top position of the Billboard Charts, and most remarkably, it held that top position for four consecutive weeks, making Hill the female country artist in thirty years to accomplish such milestone with a debut single. Thanks to the success of her debut album, Faith Hill was honored as the Top New Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) in 1993.Faith Hill Finds Her Soulmate in Life
In addition to her success as an established artist on country radio, 1996 was a significant year in Faith Hill’s life, since she went on tour with country singer, Tim McGraw, whom would later become her fiancé and future husband. They married in October of 1996, and together, the couple has three beautiful daughters: Gracie, Maggie and Audrey.The couple recorded a distinct selection of duets together such as “It’s Your Love,” “Just to Hear You Say that You Love Me,” and “Let’s Make Love,” all of which were well-received by country music fans and industry members alike. The McGraw-Hill couple has won the Best Country Collaboration Vocals Grammy Award twice, once for their duet “Let’s Make Love” in 2000, and “Like We Never Loved At All,” more recently, in 2006.
Faith’s Initial Crossover to Pop
From her self-titled album in 1998, Faith Hill’s uptempo single “This Kiss,” written by Beth Nielsen Chapman, became an instant country hit. The song peaked at the top position of the country charts for two weeks, the #3 position in Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Charts, as well as the #7 position of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, making Faith Hill a country-pop crossover artist. Thanks to the success of the single’s video, the song became a hit outside the United States, predominantly in Germany and the United Kingdom.Faith Hill's Breathe Leaves Fans Breathless
In 1999, "Breathe," the title track song off her fourth studio album was released as a single. Thanks to the song's video, which was shot in a desert setting featuring Faith Hill in satin sheets and wearing several elegant dresses, fans were left in awe of Faith Hill's talent.Similar to Shania Twain, Faith Hill helped convert non-country music fans into fans of the genre after hearing her interpretation of this stunning love ballad. Along with her hit "This Kiss," her song "Breathe," helped expand Hill's fan-base, especially since the album is her most successful to date, selling over a staggering eight million records.
As an album, "Breathe," debuted at the top of both the Billboard country album charts, as well as the overall Billboard 200 charts. The album won the Grammy for "Best Country Album," besting out yet another well-crafted album, Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance."
As a single, “Breathe” peaked for six weeks at the top of the country charts, and holds the record as the runner-up song, after Connie Smith’s “Once A Day,” for the longest running song by a female country artist in the top position of the Billboard country charts. For her vocal performance in this song, Faith Hill was awarded the 2001 Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal performance. Many fans and peers alike perceive “Breathe” as Faith Hill’s signature tune.
For her exceptional work ethic and for the high performance of her singles and album sales, Faith Hill was recognized by the Country Music Association (CMA) with its prestigious Female Vocalist of the Year award, a milestone that has previously been achieved by other equally respected women in country such as Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride.
Faith Hill- The Post-Breathe Period
Following her success with her critically acclaimed "Breathe," Faith Hill recorded two studio albums entitled “Cry” and “Fireflies” respectively. Although neither album was commercially successful as “Breathe,” several songs made yet another big impact in the country music scene.Her songs “Cry” and “When the Lights Go Down,” showcased the Mississippi songstress’ powerful vocal range, and in her song “Mississippi Girl,” which peaked at the top of the country charts for two weeks, the singer pays homage to her Mississippi roots, since deep down, despite the fame and spotlight, Faith Hill is and always shall remain the same “Mississippi Girl” that has swept America’s hearts since 1993. Hill’s closest friends range from Martina McBride to Reba McEntire.
Comments