Written by: Jennifer Lezan as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue
She’s the All American girl. A gorgeous, sweet and funny young lady with an infectious laugh that is sure to win the hearts of many. On top of that, the girl can sing. It’s no surprise that The Country Music Association dubbed Elizabeth Lyons an artist to watch this year. Her ITunes chart topping single “Party Rules” has been on the new and noteworthy page and has been bumping in many a country girl’s jeep all summer long. As a Chicago native, she’s a country singer with a city girl heart. Halfstack had the opportunity to meet Elizabeth at The Windy City BBQ and she graciously took some time to complete an interview with us. Read on to learn more about the country music scene’s sweetheart: Elizabeth Lyons.
Q&A
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, how you started and what inspired you to chase your country star dreams?
I love to laugh, make people smile and give big hugs! I have been in 18 musical theatre productions. I have always loved singing & dancing & piano & music! My parents said your college education comes before the country star music dream & said I could go to Nashville and pursue my country star dreams but only if I attended college while pursuing the dream. I am thankful for their strong belief in education. I'm proud to say I did it: pursued music dream & graduated from Vanderbilt University a year ago...sometimes I forget I have a degree in film. Until someone asks me about movies then I won't stop talking about classic Hollywood films or Rom Coms....or I decide to make a funny video at Wal-Mart in between a radio interview or boating with my family just because its what I love to do. My sisters and I used to make music videos, a very different experience than when I made my first music video. I went from dancing in my sisters room to dancing in a field with one of the best directors (Mason Dixon) in country music. Traveling to do a tour in the Midwest the day the music video charted #8 on iTunes Country Music Video Charts & #18 on All-Genre was the best way to celebrate as I'm from the Midwest!
People question the Midwest for being country: "those fly over states" Jason Aldean sings about are some of the top corn producing agricultural states in the world- some of the best soil/ or in the words of FGL: Dirt ! Recently announced Garth Brooks will open his tour in Chicago: 5 sold out shows- so I know country is alive and well in the heartland of America. Country became a part of my heart and soul spending every childhood summer in Northern Iowa: picking strawberries in my bikini, fishing for cat fish with my Grandpa, and making strawberry jam with my Grandma.
While I love the country, I'm also a city girl who loves to meticulously read menus at restaurants and window shop... Always on the search for good shoes and anything sparkly, diamonds, cheetah, or leather. I always try and look my best but my sorority sister and I used to laugh I usually look horrible when I see my crush! I always had a position in my sorority house but never wore their shirts because I'd rather wear a cute dress. Greek life definitely helped me get my first album (co-wrote all 6 songs EP) to chart #42 on iTunes Country Album Charts and All Time Bestsellers Albums Under $8 for months & #10 on Billboard Heatseekers East North Central. To celebrate I went and got some corn bread and made my Rice Krispie treats (which are the best! I swear a full stick of butter is the key).
I made 50 batches for all the radio stations I visited driving over 9500 miles this summer I was reminded how much I love to sing to the Spice Girls Notorious BIG Dixie Chicks and Rolling Stones. All the driving was worth it because I got to meet all kinds of people and the song has charted #87 on media base and #96 on music Row.
Check Elizabeth Lyons out online:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/elizabeth-lyons-ep/id572518758
Web: www.elizabethlyonsmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElizabethLyonsMusic
For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag
She’s the All American girl. A gorgeous, sweet and funny young lady with an infectious laugh that is sure to win the hearts of many. On top of that, the girl can sing. It’s no surprise that The Country Music Association dubbed Elizabeth Lyons an artist to watch this year. Her ITunes chart topping single “Party Rules” has been on the new and noteworthy page and has been bumping in many a country girl’s jeep all summer long. As a Chicago native, she’s a country singer with a city girl heart. Halfstack had the opportunity to meet Elizabeth at The Windy City BBQ and she graciously took some time to complete an interview with us. Read on to learn more about the country music scene’s sweetheart: Elizabeth Lyons.
Q&A
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, how you started and what inspired you to chase your country star dreams?
I love to laugh, make people smile and give big hugs! I have been in 18 musical theatre productions. I have always loved singing & dancing & piano & music! My parents said your college education comes before the country star music dream & said I could go to Nashville and pursue my country star dreams but only if I attended college while pursuing the dream. I am thankful for their strong belief in education. I'm proud to say I did it: pursued music dream & graduated from Vanderbilt University a year ago...sometimes I forget I have a degree in film. Until someone asks me about movies then I won't stop talking about classic Hollywood films or Rom Coms....or I decide to make a funny video at Wal-Mart in between a radio interview or boating with my family just because its what I love to do. My sisters and I used to make music videos, a very different experience than when I made my first music video. I went from dancing in my sisters room to dancing in a field with one of the best directors (Mason Dixon) in country music. Traveling to do a tour in the Midwest the day the music video charted #8 on iTunes Country Music Video Charts & #18 on All-Genre was the best way to celebrate as I'm from the Midwest!
People question the Midwest for being country: "those fly over states" Jason Aldean sings about are some of the top corn producing agricultural states in the world- some of the best soil/ or in the words of FGL: Dirt ! Recently announced Garth Brooks will open his tour in Chicago: 5 sold out shows- so I know country is alive and well in the heartland of America. Country became a part of my heart and soul spending every childhood summer in Northern Iowa: picking strawberries in my bikini, fishing for cat fish with my Grandpa, and making strawberry jam with my Grandma.
While I love the country, I'm also a city girl who loves to meticulously read menus at restaurants and window shop... Always on the search for good shoes and anything sparkly, diamonds, cheetah, or leather. I always try and look my best but my sorority sister and I used to laugh I usually look horrible when I see my crush! I always had a position in my sorority house but never wore their shirts because I'd rather wear a cute dress. Greek life definitely helped me get my first album (co-wrote all 6 songs EP) to chart #42 on iTunes Country Album Charts and All Time Bestsellers Albums Under $8 for months & #10 on Billboard Heatseekers East North Central. To celebrate I went and got some corn bread and made my Rice Krispie treats (which are the best! I swear a full stick of butter is the key).
I made 50 batches for all the radio stations I visited driving over 9500 miles this summer I was reminded how much I love to sing to the Spice Girls Notorious BIG Dixie Chicks and Rolling Stones. All the driving was worth it because I got to meet all kinds of people and the song has charted #87 on media base and #96 on music Row.
Check Elizabeth Lyons out online:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/elizabeth-lyons-ep/id572518758
Web: www.elizabethlyonsmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElizabethLyonsMusic
For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag
