An Evening with Deana Carter

Drenched in sun-kissed natural beauty both inside and out, Nashville native Deana Carter didn’t take a seemingly easy route to stardom but instead chose to defy the conventional expectations of the typical Nashville artist blueprint and make her own mark. And she did, undeniably taking the industry and fans by storm with her wildly successful multi-platinum international debut “Did I Shave My Legs For This?” more than two decades ago. Anchored by the dreamy super hit ”Strawberry Wine,” Carter showcased her own blend of country and retro-rock sprinkled with the folksy singer/songwriter qualities that have garnered Deana Carter well-deserved respect and wild acclaim.

With eight albums under her belt, Carter explores many subjects commonly shared over a quaint dinner, afternoon coffee or a sunny day hike with a good friend. The daughter of famed studio guitarist and producer Fred Carter, Jr., Deana grew up exposed to the wide variety of musicians her father worked with, including Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings, Simon & Garfunkel, Muddy Waters, Dolly Parton, and many more. Their strong influence would eventually seep into Deana’s own country-pop style, which reflects qualities that can also be heard in similar artists now, such as Miranda Lambert and reflective of artists like Sheryl Crow.

Developing her songwriting skills by trial and error at writer’s nights throughout Nashville, Carter eventually signed a writing deal with Polygram and, soon after, a record deal with Capitol Records. One of her demo tapes happened to fall into the hands of none other than Willie Nelson, who remembered Deana as a child. Impressed with how she’d grown as a songwriter, Nelson asked Deana to perform along with John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson and Neil Young as the only female solo artist to appear at Farm Aid VII in 1994.

Her debut album, “Did I Shave My Legs For This?” boasts six songs co-written and with the album co-produced by Carter, was released to strong reviews in late summer 1996. By the end of the year, the record had climbed to the top of both the country and pop charts, quickly achieving multi-platinum status, with 3 number one singles in a row. A “first” for the genre, Deana’s celebrated debut album held this distinction and many groundbreaking achievements for more than five years. It has become one of Country Music’s most treasured classics of the 90s.

Carter now divides her time between Los Angeles, Florida, and Nashville. When not on the road touring or making movies, she writes and produces for both the pop/rock and country markets. She recently held a Governor’s seat on the Grammy Board for the Recording Academy, served on the Producer’s & Engineer’s Wing, The Membership Committee, and was an active voice for Artists & Creators with Advocacy in Washington, D.C.

Singer, songwriter, and producer Deana Carter continues to defy conventional expectations, making waves with her great music, tours, and movies.