Lee Ann Womack wows Sisters

In between the Grammy awards and a gig at the White House, award-winning country performer Lee Ann Womack brightened the Starry Nights Concert Series on Saturday evening, February 24.

Casually dressed in a red sweater and black skirt, the petite Womack related to her audience as if they were guests in her own house, inviting them into her heart and her music. At one point in the show, Womack's two-year-old daughter toddled on to the stage and was swept up into her mother's arms as she finished her rendition of Willie Nelson's "Crazy."

Womack, who homeschools her 10 year old daughter, expressed her approval of the Sisters Starry Nights Concert Series goal to raise money for Sisters schools.

"I'm so impressed with this whole thing -- so glad to be a part of it," said Womack, "I'll be mentioning this to the First Lady tomorrow; education is her pet project. This is so inspirational -- I really want other communities to know what you are doing here."

She also expressed her appreciation for the school's music teachers who worked with the students who sang with her on the Grammy-award winning song, "I Hope You Dance."

"I wouldn't be standing here today without my music teachers," said Womack.

Her appreciation for teachers comes honestly -- Womack's parents were both teachers in Jacksonville, Texas where she grew up.

Her father also worked part-time as a disc jockey for a local country station, and she grew up listening to the country tunes he'd play.

From early childhood it was her dream to "make those records, like the ones he's playing."

In recent years, Womack's dream has come true.

After moving to Nashville and establishing herself in the songwriting industry, she released her first album in 1997.

Top ten hits like "You've Got to Talk To Me" helped her win the ACM award as Top New Female Artist and the American Music Awards' Favorite New Country Artist in 1997.

Her second album, "Some Things I Know" was released in '98 and earned gold status. Her recent album, "I Hope You Dance" debuted at number one on Billboard's Country Album chart and the title song topped the country charts for six straight weeks.

Lee Ann flew to Sisters from the Grammy Awards where she'd been nominated in several categories.

How did Lee Ann Womack find time in her exploding career to do a benefit concert in Sisters?

"Well, I don't know what you people here are doing right," she told The Nugget, "but somehow I ended up here. Usually requests like this wouldn't make it past my manager's desk. I think there's a higher power at work."

As always, the event organizers and volunteers made sure the artists enjoyed themselves -- and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.

"I've had a great time here," Womack said. "We've been able to go skiing. And it's very beautiful."

When asked about her connection to President Bush, she replied, "Texas. I won't say who I voted for, but I will say I'm very much behind their interest in education."

Womack left immediately after the concert to fly to Washington to perform at President Bush's first State dinner.

The fifth annual Starry Nights Concert actually kicked off with a greeting from Sisters School District Superintendent, Steve Swisher, in his first official public appearance since his serious traffic accident last year.

Walking up on the stage with a cane he'll only be needing for a few more weeks, Swisher was greeted with heartfelt applause.

"I watched the Grammys the other night, hoping she'd win," commented Swisher earlier in the evening. "I'm so moved that these artists donate their time to us. They are so positive and gracious."

Comedian John Caponera was the opening act, eliciting laughter and raising a few eyebrows with his racy humor.

He was followed by John Jarvis, who is considered the top keyboard player in Nashville. Jarvis opened with a beautiful instrumental piece along with several other songs he'd written, including one recorded by Ricky Skaggs called "Life's Too Short."

To end his set, Jarvis played while sophomore Kristen Lamoreaux sang a song he'd co-written with the Judds, entitled "Love Can Build A Bridge."

Lamoreaux's demure stage presence and her soulful voice thrilled the audience and caused Lee Ann to quip, "I expected her to be good, but didn't expect her to be that great. Good thing she didn't sing any of my songs and show me up!"

For her finale, Womack brought several SHS students on stage to perform "I Hope You Dance" with her.

Concert goers felt they got their money's worth.

"It was an excellent performance," said Bev Piper, a Sisters resident and quilting instructor at the Stitchin' Post. "My husband's the real Lee Ann Womack fan, but I really enjoyed her."

SHS senior Wes Johnson was ecstatic.

"That was the first concert I've ever been to -- it was great," he said. "I'm really into Lee Ann's music."

The Sisters Starry Nights Concert series is the flagship fund-raiser for the Sisters Schools Foundation, formed to help the schools weather budget cuts that threatened programs.

After five years, the organization has raised almost $250,000 for schools.

"All artists donate their fees, and in exchange we give them a wonderful weekend holiday," said Susan Arends, co-chairperson of Starry Nights.

Upcoming concerts include performances by Kim Carnes and Christopher Cross.