Real Inspiration
Charee White of Worthington, who turns 19 today, won 2013 New Artist of the Year at the 19th annual Inspirational Country Music Awards ceremony recently in Nashville, Tenn.
The awards show was held by the Inspirational Country Music Association, a branch of the Country Music Association.
“The New Artist of the Year award from the Inspirational Country Music Association is one of the bigger recognitions I could receive,” said White.
“It depends on all the activities and touring. I toured around Florida and North Carolina ... I counted 52 stops last year over the three months of winter, and I’m pretty sure we beat that number of 52 dates in the summer.”
White said she travels a lot with Tommy Brandt, her mentor whom she met in 2012. He heard her sing and invited her to Nashville on the spot. At the Inspirational Country Music Awards show, she got to present him with his fifth male vocalist award.
And at the awards ceremony she got to meet major country music stars, including Martina McBride.
“It definitely kick-started my career,” White said.
Her new album “Stronger” has 11 tracks, including 10 original songs and one tribute to “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” White wrote seven of the songs.
The single “Dirt Road Prayer” has been released to radio stations and came in at 17th on Powersource charts and first on Christian music weekly charts.
White, who grew up in Worthington and graduated from cyber school in the spring, said she remembers going to the Butler Farm Show and the Big Butler Fair when she was younger. She said her first arena concert was a Carrie Underwood show.
Look for her at the Worthington West Franklin Fireman’s Carnival in June. Her album is available at www.chareewhite.com.
