So who is Liz Mantel? This is a question that I am not asked on regular basis, but I'll let you know because you're special. I was born into radio and country music in the mid-eighties in Midland/Odessa, TX. I am very proud of my Texas roots (Dave will tell you). However, if you ask me where my hometown is I'll tell you Akron. I'm a Cleveland sports fan, so I know how to take disappointment and I love to watch and play all types of sports. I played soccer, softball, basketball and golf growing up and then when I got to college I decided rugby would a good choice, my knee and doctor disagreed. When I'm not "jamming" in the studio you can find me watching TV that a fourteen year old girl would watch. I've been told many times that my personality does not match my viewing choices. I think that Nickelodeon should come out with a channel that shows their programming from the 90's, but that's just me!
That's pretty much sums me up, oh, that man with me in the picture to the left is only my favorite singer in the world, PAT GREEN! Become my friend on Facebook HERE. Now I'm done, if you want to say hi or chat hit me up HERE.
Artists of the Decade!
From seasoned legends to tween newcomers, the country music pool has diversified in the last decade -- not only in demographics but also in sound. The age-old debate of too country versus too pop has found even playing field, as both traditional and modern country music have thrived in the past ten years. Perhaps the more walls that fall, the more popular the genre gets. Here is the countdown of (The Boot) the Top 10 country artists of the last decade.
Five No. 1 albums, 20 Top 10 songs, more than 19 million records sold and more than 30 major awards are just a few of the accolades on this talented trio's resume. Formed in 1999, Rascal Flatts broke sound barriers that led the next decade of country music into more crossover-friendly territory.
The most successful 'American Idol' to date can take a lot of credit for the success of country music as a whole, as Carrie has brought a whole new crop of fans -- and respect -- to the genre. Her seven-times platinum debut album, 'Some Hearts,' was the fastest selling debut country album in history, and she's had more Top 10 songs on the country charts than any female solo act this decade.
One of the greatest guitar players in the world just happens to be a prolific songwriter with a soothing voice and movie star good looks -- all qualities that have made Keith a tenacious force in country music for the past decade. A consistent hit-maker, he has 15 No. 1 singles to his name, with every single song he's released in the past ten years reaching the Top 20.
7. Alison Krauss
The most recognizable voice in bluegrass today, Alison has more Grammy Awards than any female artist of any genre (26!) -- including five at the 2008 Grammy Awards for her duets album with Robert Plant, 'Raising Sand.' Other collaborations with her band, Union Station, and mainstream acts ranging from Brad Paisley to Sting have raised her star power with fans and critics alike to an incomparable level.
Tim started the decade with a bang, as his 2000 'Greatest Hits' compilation topped the charts for nine straight weeks and sold 6 million copies. He followed that with his record-breaking Soul 2 Soul tour with wife Faith Hill, plus five more albums that spawned hit after chart-topping hit, making the Louisiana native a consistent voice on country radio for a second straight decade.
She's only been a household name for about three years now, but Taylor has made a stamp on country music that will last a lifetime. The biggest-selling artist of any genre in these last two years of the decade, the teen idol has brought a whole new crop of fans to country music. She's the reigning (and youngest ever!) CMA Entertainer of the Year and among her other countless accolades is also the longest-charting album of the 21st century.
Watching his record sales top 30 million and his concert ticket sales break records this decade, along with opening his own record label and chain of restaurants, Toby is the highest-grossing country star of the past ten years, not to mention one of the biggest hit-makers. All eight albums he's released this decade have seen each and every single crack the Top 20.
The first CMA Horizon Award winner of the decade has certainly done the title proud, following the next nine years with a string of accolades, including three Grammys and three years in a row as CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. He's the only artist this decade to have eleven consecutive No. 1 hits, as the six albums he's released in the past ten years have done what few artists can achieve -- make traditional country cool.
There's a very good reason Kenny was named ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year every year from 2005 - 2008. The touring troubadour also claims the title of the biggest North American concert ticket seller of the decade, selling more than a million tickets in each of the past eight years. He started off the 2000s with a Greatest Hits compilation and followed it with ten more albums that have churned out hit after radio-friendly hit, making him one of the biggest stars not only of the decade but in country music history. 1. George Strait
If anyone knows the secret to longevity in country music, it's King George. The Texas crooner, who has had consistent country hits since 1981, has ruled the genre for yet another decade, as he recently scored his 57th chart-topper, giving him more No. 1 songs than any artist of any genre in history. All seven albums he's released this decade have seen gold or platinum sales and have received industry award nominations, as the living legend continues to produce what countless country fans deem the soundtrack to their lives.
I headed to Northeast Ohio for the big Taylor Swift show and boy was it a night! Here are just a few pictures from the night Taylor took over Cleveland!
I met up with my parents for the show and we all were back with Taylor together, so we decided to take a family picture. Taylor has replace my sister...sorry Kristen.
This is Taylor's lead guitar player, Paul Sidoti. He's from Cleveland and my mom went to school with his cousin. He had over 100 friends and family at the show!
Taylor rockin' out with Paul in her Lebron jersey. She knows how to please a crowd!
Kevin from UltraSound thinks she looks like Cat Woman here. What do you think?
These are just a few of the many pictures I took that night. If you want to go behind the scenes and behind the stage check out the rest of the photos HERE!
P.S. Taylor's mom is the coolest!
Living in Fast Forward
I recently traveled down to the Bristish Virgin Islands, or what I like to call a K-Ches video shoot. A lot of Kenny's videos and album artwork has been shot down in the Virgin Islands. I thought I would share some of my trip with you.
Marcy and Gary getting ready to board the plane! She didn't know it would be this small!
This is the runway in Tortola. If you over shoot the runway you land in the ocean. Good thing our plane was small.
This is Kenny photoshoot number one! This the place where the "Be As You Are" album and "Old Blue Chair" artowork was taken. It's called Sandy Cay.
This is our beautiful catermaran we stayed on for the week. It's about forty feet long and it's engines have a tendency to die, but that's another story.
Remember that engine problem? This is tow number one of the four breakdowns. It was a very long interesting day.
After engine failure number two they had us spend a day in the marina to work on the boat. My mom and Marcy decided they would take a stab at fixing the boat. That might explain breakdown number three and four.
Kenny reference number two. On his "Be As You Are Album" in the song "Somewhere in the Sun" his sings "Sippin' on some Foxy's firewater rum". Well this is a place that Foxy just opened up, it's called Foxy's Taboo. The bartender was awesome! He made a great Bushwaker and we talked Cricket, Rugby, and Soccer.
We are on our way to "The Bubbly Pool" near Foxy's Taboo. It's a place where the water comes in and bubbles up. We never made it because we didn't go far enough. We were then informed i wasn't even worth it to go because it wasn't the right season. Didn't top my mom and I from creating a photo op!
Another Kenny video shoot! This is where he filmed part of the "Living in Fast Forward" video. This place is called Sidney's Peace and Love. It's a honor bar where you get and make your own drinks and leave the money. To he left (not in the picture) is a place called Harris's Place. We try and stop there every time, not only do they have the best lobster and BBQ (for the non seafood eaters) but she makes it a great time and it's different kind of restaraunt. You have to call in your order ahead of time so they can go out and catch you food!
So in the BVI there are goats, chickens, and roosters everywhere. This was a chicken that was at the Tortola Airport. She became my friend. I gave her a Cheez-It and all of the sudden I have three chickens, two seagulls and a cat...whoops.
The best seafood in the world(and I don't like seafood)! Their called "Conch Fritters" and they are delicious! If you're ever near warm water order the "conch fritters".
So the only reason Dave is ok with me skipping out a week for vacay is because of this place. It's Callwood's Distillery and they've been making pure sugar cane rum since the 1800's. Around here we call it Liz Rum because I'm the only one who can get it. They only distribute within the BVI. If you want a more in-depth look click here. They give a nice little discription of the distillery and have some cool pics. They're still making it the same way they made it 200 years ago. So if you ever decide to travel to the BVI make sure to head to Cane Garden Bay on Jost Van Dyke and check out Callwood's!
Well I hope you enjoyed my boring vacation photos. At the very least you got to see some Kenny Chesney stuff, right?
If you want to learn more about the British Virgin Islands click HERE. You can check out the Bristish Virgin Islands website!
