CSO goes country
Did you know that “Jesus Take the Wheel” was originally pitched to Hillary Scott before she joined Charles Kelly and Dave Haywood to form Lady Antebellum? After Scott chose the trio instead of pursuing a solo career, the song was later played for Carrie Underwood and her team. Fresh off “American Idol,” Underwood loved it and made it her first single off her “Some Hearts” album. The song launched her career on an upward trajectory that hasn’t leveled off yet. That country-Christian crossover hit spent six weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Christian chart and cracked the Top 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. It was named Single of the Year at the 2005 Academy of Country Music Awards and won Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song.
Two of the three writers who penned “Jesus Take the Wheel,” Hillary Lindsey and Brett James, will take the stage at the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday night when the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera hosts “Music City Hit-Makers.” The third singer-songwriter joining them will be Rivers Rutherford, whose songs have been hits for Brad Paisley and Tim McGraw. Bob Bernhardt will conduct the country-themed pops concert. Music City Hit-Makers was launched seven years ago by Charles Dixon with the Nashville Symphony. The premise combines the artistry of some of Nashville’s best songwriters with lush symphonic accompaniment. The singer-songwriters perform their hits and give the audience a behind-the-scenes peek at their creative process and the stories behind their songs.
“It started off with just the three of us — Brett, me and Gordie Sampson. We were the guinea pigs,” laughs Hillary Lindsey in a phone interview. “Then different songwriters came in. We’ve done them with the Boston Pops, Nashville and Birmingham symphonies and just all over.”
What happens when a country song, which fans are used to hearing with guitars, is backed by woodwinds and brass? Does it lose anything in translation?
“I’m not sure what it feels like in the audience, but being onstage with the symphony behind you makes it more emotional,” says Lindsey. “I know it might sound cheesey, but it feels like you’ve been given a set of wings and you’re taking off.”
With Chattanooga’s huge country fan base, the concert is expected to draw the interest of folks who might not otherwise attend a CSO concert.
“With our Pops Series, we try to hit a variety of genres, such as Broadway, pop and film music,” says Samantha Teter, CSO executive director. “We have not presented much in the country genre recently, and we know what a big country music town this is, so it only seemed natural to present this show. With our proximity to Nashville, we’re excited to have access to these great songwriters to bring their hits to Chattanooga.”