Read Online Diva NashVegas by Rachel Hauck - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rachel Hauck
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of all, we were an all-new, all-female band and had our share of Music Row skeptics. Second, weâd forged a huge deal with FRESH!, a young company trying to build an image. I believed we should be beyond excellent. For ourselves, our sponsor, the music industry, and really for women in our industry.
Scott: [smiling] Pretty big burden for one female band to carry.
AJ: [laughing] Are you kidding me? Between my bassist, Vickie, and Melanie I had two of the best musicians in town. Besides, I didnât ask anything of them I didnât ask of myself. I worked hard knowing what we could achieve. And we did it.
Scott: You wore yourself out.
AJ: True, but looking back, it was worth it.
Scott: Besides keeping a blog of the FRESH! tour, Melanie sold her story about you to Star and to a British tabloid. Tell me about your response to this and why you think she took such a drastic step?
AJ: My response? Hum . . . Hurt. Blindsided. Very surprised. Since the beginning of my career, I made it a point to stay out of the public eye as much as possible, which made me a huge curiosity for the media, especially the tabloids. She knew how much my privacy meant to me.
Scott: Whyâd you work so hard to stay out of the public eye?
AJ: [shrugging] Mainly to keep some perspective on my life. Not mix up the private Aubrey James with the public one. She can be a demanding diva. Aubrey James the private person canât.
But in my innocence-of-youth, I became involved with characters like Jack Mills and Derek Crammer, and found myself the target of tabloids. Embarrassed, I hid. But the more I hid, the more they printed. Most of it lies and speculation with just enough truth to make it annoying. But to answer your questions as to why Melanie took such a drastic step? Fifty thousand dollars.
Scott: You think she did it for the money? Fifty thousand isnât a lot, really.
AJ: To me it is. The price of my privacy. But money matters a lot to Mel, and to her boyfriend, Bo. She grew up really poor and worked hard to get through college. Looking back, a lot of our arguments were over money and how she felt it all came so easily for me. In reality, sheâs a way better musician and singer. Sheâs trained and educated. But I was the one with my name in lights. Scott: Have you talked to her since the Star interview?
AJ: No, but Iâd like to eventually. She was a friend and Iâm angry about what she did, but Iâd like to hear her side. I know all stories have two sides. All relationships have two points of view.
Scott: This was what? Your tenth tour?
AJ: Eleventh.
Scott: With your first album you toured with Garth Brooks. What was that like?
AJ: [smiling] Amazing. I mean, Garth Brooks. [laughing] Holy cow.
Heâs an incredible entertainer, a generous heart, and he taught me so much about performing. Heâs a natural. I, on the other hand, preferred to just get up onstage, stand like a statue in the spotlight, and belt out a song. I had to learn how to engage the crowd, move around, perform, entertain. No matter how talented an artist is vocally or musically, being a performer is what separates the men from the boys, women from the girls.
Scott: Howâd you get hooked up with Garth Brooks?
AJ: Luck. God. The brilliant mind of Connie Godwin, my adopted mom, who managed me when I first started with Mountain Music in â95. She decided I should tour with Garth and sent him my first CD, asking him to consider me for a touring partner. He did.
Scott: You opened for him?
AJ: No, actually, he opened for me. [laughing] Of course I opened for him. But, toward the end of the show, he always invited me back out to sing a few cover numbers with him.
Scott: Glad to see your sense of humor surface.
AJ: Contrary to popular belief.
Scott: All righty, then, moving on. Your parents were cutting-edge gospel singers for their day. What did you learn from them about music and performing?
AJ: [drawing a deep breath]
Scott: [smiling] Pretty big burden for one female band to carry.
AJ: [laughing] Are you kidding me? Between my bassist, Vickie, and Melanie I had two of the best musicians in town. Besides, I didnât ask anything of them I didnât ask of myself. I worked hard knowing what we could achieve. And we did it.
Scott: You wore yourself out.
AJ: True, but looking back, it was worth it.
Scott: Besides keeping a blog of the FRESH! tour, Melanie sold her story about you to Star and to a British tabloid. Tell me about your response to this and why you think she took such a drastic step?
AJ: My response? Hum . . . Hurt. Blindsided. Very surprised. Since the beginning of my career, I made it a point to stay out of the public eye as much as possible, which made me a huge curiosity for the media, especially the tabloids. She knew how much my privacy meant to me.
Scott: Whyâd you work so hard to stay out of the public eye?
AJ: [shrugging] Mainly to keep some perspective on my life. Not mix up the private Aubrey James with the public one. She can be a demanding diva. Aubrey James the private person canât.
But in my innocence-of-youth, I became involved with characters like Jack Mills and Derek Crammer, and found myself the target of tabloids. Embarrassed, I hid. But the more I hid, the more they printed. Most of it lies and speculation with just enough truth to make it annoying. But to answer your questions as to why Melanie took such a drastic step? Fifty thousand dollars.
Scott: You think she did it for the money? Fifty thousand isnât a lot, really.
AJ: To me it is. The price of my privacy. But money matters a lot to Mel, and to her boyfriend, Bo. She grew up really poor and worked hard to get through college. Looking back, a lot of our arguments were over money and how she felt it all came so easily for me. In reality, sheâs a way better musician and singer. Sheâs trained and educated. But I was the one with my name in lights. Scott: Have you talked to her since the Star interview?
AJ: No, but Iâd like to eventually. She was a friend and Iâm angry about what she did, but Iâd like to hear her side. I know all stories have two sides. All relationships have two points of view.
Scott: This was what? Your tenth tour?
AJ: Eleventh.
Scott: With your first album you toured with Garth Brooks. What was that like?
AJ: [smiling] Amazing. I mean, Garth Brooks. [laughing] Holy cow.
Heâs an incredible entertainer, a generous heart, and he taught me so much about performing. Heâs a natural. I, on the other hand, preferred to just get up onstage, stand like a statue in the spotlight, and belt out a song. I had to learn how to engage the crowd, move around, perform, entertain. No matter how talented an artist is vocally or musically, being a performer is what separates the men from the boys, women from the girls.
Scott: Howâd you get hooked up with Garth Brooks?
AJ: Luck. God. The brilliant mind of Connie Godwin, my adopted mom, who managed me when I first started with Mountain Music in â95. She decided I should tour with Garth and sent him my first CD, asking him to consider me for a touring partner. He did.
Scott: You opened for him?
AJ: No, actually, he opened for me. [laughing] Of course I opened for him. But, toward the end of the show, he always invited me back out to sing a few cover numbers with him.
Scott: Glad to see your sense of humor surface.
AJ: Contrary to popular belief.
Scott: All righty, then, moving on. Your parents were cutting-edge gospel singers for their day. What did you learn from them about music and performing?
AJ: [drawing a deep breath]
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