Julie Roberts
(born February 1, 1979) is an American country music singer. Signed to Mercury Nashville in 2004, Roberts made her debut that year with the single "Break Down Here", a Top 20 hit on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts and the first track from her self-titled debut album. A second album for Mercury, Men & Mascara
, followed in 2006. This album produced two non-charting singles in its title track and a cover of Saving Jane's "Girl Next Door".
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JULIE ROBERTS TICKETS
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Biography
Early life and rise to fame
Julie Roberts was born in
Lancaster, South Carolina, in 1979. She began her life performing in
pre-school plays. She also was in school choirs and performed in a rendition of "My Fair Lady" at a singing summer camp. Roberts began performing country music as a child. When she was in junior high and high school, she toured with her family, playing at festivals in
North Carolina,
South Carolina and
Georgia. She also performed at area nursing homes (where she developed an appreciation for
blues music); and worked at
Carowinds (a theme park in
Charlotte, North Carolina) and
Dollywood. She also worked with 60 and 70 year-old men performing at nursing homes. Her influences include
Dolly Parton,
Barbara Mandrell and
Tanya Tucker.
She first attended
USC Lancaster in her hometown from 1997 to 1999 before graduating from
Belmont University in
Nashville, Tennessee, with a degree in business administration. Roberts began working for
Mercury Nashville Records, later becoming assistant to label head Luke Lewis. During her tenure there, she began perfecting her singing skills and recorded a demo tape. Producer Brent Rowan liked what he heard and invited Lewis to hear the tape.
Country music career
Lewis liked what he heard, but it was only after he asked for the singer's identity that he learned it was Roberts. Roberts was signed to Mercury Records and began work on her debut album. Her debut album
Julie Roberts
was released May 25, 2004. She released her first single "Break Down Here" that same year. "Break Down Here" was a success for Roberts, going to #18 on the Country charts, breaking the Top 20, making the song a Country hit for Roberts. The song also reached #1 on the Country Music Single Sales Chart when it was released. Her followup singles, however, both failed to make Top 40.
On June 27, 2006, Roberts released a second album,
Men & Mascara
. She released two more singles: first the title track, then a cover of
Saving Jane's hit "
Girl Next Door". Neither single charted.
At Roberts' annual fan club party in Nashville on June 13, 2009, she announced that she will be filming a movie that features her life story. She also is working on recording songs for a new album that will be released around the time of the movie's debut. Roberts is currently residing in Los Angeles where she has been taking acting classes.
Charities
Roberts made a donation of $124,250 to
St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital after she, along with contestant Peter Buccellato, won the $100,000 prize in the bonus round on the game show
Wheel of Fortune
in February 2007.
[1]
Discography
Studio albums
Year
| Album details
| Peak positions
| Certifications/Sales (sales threshold)
|
US Country
| US
|
2004
| Julie Roberts
- Released: May 25, 2004
- Label: Mercury Nashville
| 9
| 51
|
|
2006
| Men & Mascara
- Released: June 27, 2006
- Label: Mercury Nashville
| 4
| 25
|
|
Singles
Year
| Single
| Chart Positions
| Album
|
US Country
| US
| CAN Country
|
2004
| "Break Down Here"
| 18
| 81
| 25
| Julie Roberts
|
"The Chance"
| 47
| —
| —
|
2005
| "Wake Up Older"
| 46
| —
| —
|
2006
| "Men & Mascara"
| —
| —
| —
| Men & Mascara
|
"Girl Next Door"
| —
| —
| —
|
"—" denotes the release did not chart.
|
Music videos
Year
| Song title
| Director
|
2004
| "Break Down Here"
| Steven Goldmann
|
"The Chance"
| Michael McNamara
|
2005
| "Wake Up Older"
| Steven Goldmann
|
2006
| "Men & Mascara"
| Peter Zavadil
|
References
- Fortunate "Wheel" Winner
- RIAA Gold & Platinum - Julie Roberts