The Road to Oprah's Country Music Episode
When Oprah Winfrey called, Shelby White dropped everything. That's because Shelby White is a country fan and that is just how we country fans roll. White, 33, lives in Dubuque, Iowa, which is almost 200 miles from Oprah's studio in Chicago. She has a husband, two kids and a job as a 401k consultant. Like so many other country fans, she got the Chesneyworld update that heralded the fact that The Oprah Winfrey Show was looking for country music fans. So on March 21, White poured her heart into the little text box on the last-minute reservation form on oprah.com. Her story was all about how she loves music, but country music is like no other. And how she's gone to shows at county fairs and giant stadiums, and how each one gets everyday people to leave everything behind and gives them all something in common. How could Oprah not call?
Two days later, the show did call. They left a message on White's home phone and her husband called her at work to play it for her. And just like that, three days later, White and a friend were in line at Oprah's studio along with Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Darius Rucker and a few hundred studio audience members (one of which was me, by the way). Maybe because of fate or maybe because of White's strong country vibe, she was seated in the front row and when Chesney made his entrance, White got a hug from the big star.
Being that close to the country artists showed White that "These stars are human, too." And tomorrow (April 14), the rest of the world will get to see that side of the stars -- the side only Oprah can coax out.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Kay says:
Can’t wait to see Kenny!
amy says:
Just cause RF were on last year with vince gill and kenny rogers dosent mean they shouldnt of been included on this show. I wont be watching
jmekay says:
Amy, If you are a fan of country music you should give them all the respect they deserve and watch irregardless who your favorites are. Vince and Kenny have had their time and now it is only fitting for a new generation to have their time. By the way I am a fan of both Vince and Kenny. They are both great, but I am a big fan of Carrie’s and think Darius and Sugarland are awesome too as is Kenny.
lauren says:
I think that it is a great story and she was really lucky. The show is gonna be awesome!!!
KAREN K says:
Heard about this and by the time I got the information to sign up up the show was already taped!! As it works out tho–I have a doctors appointment so I told my husband he had to get the DVD recording set tonight because this is one show I dont want to miss!! Anytime country music is put on national television my butt is planted firmly in front of the screen–Because Country Music is the greatest!! I love Carrie, Sugarland, Little Big Town, Keith Urban, Jimmy Wayne, Caitlin & Will (who really need some tv time to get them started)and Gloriana also Lady A!!
plus quite a few more!! Country music is the only music I know that can make you cry, laugh,mend your broken heart,say it like you mean it all in just two or three songs on the radio!!
Brian says:
This show will be great! Can’t hardly wait to see it!
Jill says:
Carrie looks absolutely gorgeous in the yellow dress. She posesses such beauty, talent,and class. She represents Country well. Darius is the best crossover artist this past year and his CD is really solid. Sugarland works hard and shows the love to their fans. Kenny showed and incredible amount of class to tell Carrie ” I love you and I’m proud of you” when she won EOTY. He also hugged and congratulated her mom Carole.
Nikki says:
I know many will not like what I am going to say but hey I am allowed my opo right?! I never watch Oprah, or at least its super seldom, i.e. when Tim & Faith were on I watched gosh that was alongtime ago……….. anyhow was super unhappy to see they aren’t on this time. I won’t be home when it is on, however if I am, we have more than one tv, I would’ve enjoyed Darius and Carrie, I am not at all a fan of Sugarland,infact there is just something about her singing I mute the tv anytime she is on or change it long enough she is done I know, I trully did like her at first the last song I can think of they did I liked was Down in Mississippi and up to no good, after that nottta. I love the fact that she got a hug from Kenny that is so kool, I am sure she’ll never forget that moment, well done KC. Anyhow to hush up and let someonelse talk I am going to make certain that one tv is tuned to it because it is airing a country artist show and God knows we need some help. I don’t know about you all, but wow the only nite show that I saw any country artists on were Craig Fergusson the rest notta even Jay noone, last night I read he was having Billy Ray, but gosh looking at him is difficult sure don’t need to make things worse. I was gonna suggest perhaps if we all start sending letters or something, anyhow this is waaay toooo long, my appologies hope everyone enjoys and I was gonna suggest anyone who doesn’t want to see Oprah’s show, if you have 2 put the other on it so they see many tuned in for the country artists we need help and lots of it, thanks, if I hurt anyone’s feelings sorry it wasn’t my intent just my opo.
Debbjr says:
Ugh I was so going to watch this til I heard Scarrie Underwood will there be too. When are we gonna get a break from her?? Sorry Oprah you goofed up. You should have kept it COUNTRY.
Lioness says:
I don’t understand why Kenny is being praised like a god for giving Carrie a hug. He just happened to be close to her at the time….big deal!! I’m sure when the show was over she got lots of hugs and congratulations! I don’t get this obsession with Chesney. I’ve seen him in concert because of all the praise he gets, but I was so disappointed! I’ve seen other acts that run rings around him (some were opening for him)and better singers too! I guess we all have to have someone to idolize, but it sure isn’t Chesney for me!
Marty Davis says:
I am really looking forward to watching this show. I am not really a fan of Sugarland’s, although I liked them when they first started. Sorry that Oprah had to bring politics into the interview with Sugarland. Not everybody voted for Barak. I wish they would stick to entertainment, which is what they are known for. Carrie, Darius and Kenny are all great in my book. Oprah is no fool, and knows these acts will bring in great ratings.
Always Right says:
Lioness,
Don’t you know? You can only understand the Chesney “phenomenon” if you are “12 beers in” before the show actually starts. If you go to his concerts sober, you are going to be sorely disappointed!
star says:
love sugarland and kenny but when i heard carrie was on iam taping it so i can fast forward threw her part she is crossover country pop anyway, darus is country but everyone no’s wear he came from, carrie needs to go pop or go totally country.
Kay says:
I just watched Kenny on Oprah he was great loved it!
Faye Hilbert says:
I’ll be watching mainly since I am a country fan. Although I am a little disappointed that Keith Urban and Martina McBride were not invited to this show. No other country artist entertains you like Keith Urban and I still say Martina McBride is the BEST female country singer today! Keith may have not sold as many albums as Carrie or sold out stadiums like Kenny but he did play to over 1 million people on his Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy World Tour not to mention he now holds the #1 album both on the country and all genre charts! I love Sugarland and am really glad to see them get more attention on these shows as for Darius Rucker, he is a good singer but is he really committing himself fully to country or is this just a stop over until Hootie & The Blowfish returns to form? I guess we will see. Anyway, hope next year Oprah invites in my opinion the best Country Entertainer out there today and that is KEITH URBAN and the BEST female singer, MARTINA MCBRIDE (of course since neither one of them won a reality contest I guess they both will be over looked again!)
Hum…. says:
Oprah and country music. Kind of a strange combo don’t you think?
CountryFan4Life says:
star I’m by NO means a screeching carrie fan but when you call her crossover country pop and not sugarland I have to wonder where you’ve been lately? Do you not know that Sugarland has been touring overseas and has remixed songs to pop? Same as carrie has remixed, and before anybody yells no she hasn’t, I will say just three words and you can check it out for yourselves, “Before He Cheats”. As a matter of fact all four that will be on the show is on pop country radio, and I have no problem with that.
The problem I do have and the one reason I won’t be tuning in to Oprah is one name, that is Carrie Underwood. Sorry fans of other country artist I wont be giving carrie any ratings along with a lot of other country fans, there is right and there is wrong, there is fair and there is cheating. I do believe carrie will end up paying a high price for her fans behavior and her allowing it to continue.
Sherry says:
WOW - some of you are really sour grapes. Carrie is wonderful and talented and everyone from the Opry to Oprah agree. I watched the show and it was great. All the acts were super. Just remember when you give respect you get respect. No one can stay at the top forever and this new generation is bringing a lot of people to country appreciating the the newer artists and the ones that have been around for a while. It is obvious that all the artists have respect for one another and that is an admirable quality. I’m sure Carrie, Kenny, Sugarland and Darius are going to be around for a long time and they will get the last laugh.
solongsowrong says:
Oprah and country music. Kind of a strange combo don’t you think?
———————————————————-
What kind of a question is that? I don’t even watch the show, and I know she has had a wide variety of music on the show over the years, including a Bluegrass band. Isn’t she allowed to like, listen, or acknowledge certain types of music?
observer… says:
Carrie is a sweetheart no matter how you look at it…. and what a voice. Chesney is getting a little old…funny about the 12 pack before you can get into his songs… I think Oprah did good with Carrie for sure. There’s many other’s she could have gone with thou that the others she chose, but maybe then didn’t want to BE on Ophra. Not everyone in the world bows down to her you know. Ophra this Ophra that…gets a little tiresome. Although I have to admit, if she has an informing show on with the doctor guy or something < i do tune, it… If it’s something that will help me learn… But I sure can’t deal with her whole God-like of the celebrating Women as God’s…that show was scary, I had to shut it off. But, LOve Carrie Underwood. Good Choice…but it’s a lot of politics I imagine my opinion doesn’t count for much if anything.
Jackie Weiss says:
Well it was a good idea for the show if only they used real country artists. I agree Keith and Martina would have made it more worthwhile. Darius and Carrie do NOT belong there. But with all the politics in today’s world I am sure O couldn’t have the show without having the fake country acts on it to boost ratings. Once again force feeding the public
CJ says:
I think the show was great. Carrie looked beautiful as usual. They all sounded fantastic. Great Show. Some of you are so negative.
vp says:
@CountryFan4Life
I hate to be the barrer of bad news but before you tell others to check there facts you should. Carrie has neverr comprimised any of her songs to fit other formats, and that is a known fact. She was approached by pop radio to re-record it without the country (like TS does)and she said absolutely not, you take it the way it is, and it is the biggest natural country crossover to date. I commend her for standing her ground and staying true to her music and not comprimising just for ratings and sales, and look it still worked out for her.
Rita says:
I recorded the show so I could catch all of the singer and they were great. I never watch Opra since I work so I am not at home during the day. I have to say I liked Carrie the best and she nailed it. People really need to learn to be nice on these posts. Just saying….
JP says:
What a great show…and Oprah picked the right artist to represent country music. I loved the interviews and all their performances. Great show, I don’t usually watch Oprah, but was excited to watch this one.
Kelli says:
OK, I was in the 2nd row at the Oprah taping and all of you Carrie-haters (and lovers) would be BLOWN away by that girl. She looks like an angel on earth and her voice is better than ANYONE I’ve ever heard. I was 10 feet away from the girl, and she never missed a note. Also, she’s from Oklahoma, so I’m pretty sure American Idol wanted her to be pop, but she’s been country the whole time.
RedMaZ says:
Kelli. Pop is not an individual genre of music. It’s an industry consisting of many genres of music. Including Country. Underwood is and has always been a Pop Culture celebrity. The only country music genre she is recognized in is Pop Country.
Brenda says:
I watched the show and must say I was very happy with all four country artist-yes Darius is a crossover, but he has a fantastic voice and does it proud, Kenny is a wonderful person and has a lot of songs I love, Sugarland has a lot of songs I love too, don’t like the way it feels , she is changing stlyes, but will wait on that, Carrie Underwood has remained the same-fantastic, wonderful person and her style fits any where-She is a great entertainer, and her voice is perfect-right on everything she sings-call her what you like-but she is country-has enough talent to sing any type of song, and that my friends is her gift of talent that few artist have. All the other stars mentioned here are great country artist that gives us many hours of great songs, have nothing bad to say about any of them-just call me a loving country girl!!!
barb b says:
monkey see monkey do
that is taylor is
taylor will never be no.I
carrie is the queen of
country college education
smart and beautiful
Niki says:
hi. there was an amazing country singer that was on the oprah show a few years ago. he had cancer. he sang the most amazing song. who was he?
thanks
Kierra says:
Wow, this is in every repsect what I needed to know.