Julienne Irwin
Encyclopedia
Julienne Irwin is an American
singer from Bel Air, Maryland. Irwin was a finalist on the second season
of America's Got Talent
.
debut, Irwin has stated she has never performed publicly or received any vocal lessons. According to her bio on the NBC
website, Irwin attended Harford Christian
School where she was a cheerleader and became the class president
. She is also said to want to sing the national anthem
at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles
.
Irwin is a very devoted country music
fan. In her own words, on her public website, she states:
She also values her education:
In September 2007, she began her freshman year at Harford Christian School in Darlington.
Irwin first auditioned in New York
, with an a cappella rendition of "How Do I Live
" (LeAnn Rimes
) by Diane Warren
. The judges unanimously praised her raw talent and invited her to the Las Vegas
callbacks.
In subsequent shows, Irwin performed individual songs and passed through to the next round as follows:
She became one of the top four finalists, and on August 14, performed "What Hurts the Most
" (Rascal Flatts
) by Jeffrey Steele
and Steve Robson, as the judges' pick for her, and "Over The Rainbow
" by Harold Arlen
and E.Y. Harburg, as her choice. After the song, judge Piers Morgan
said:
The "The Season Finale" was about entertainment, performance reviews and announcement of results. Irwin performed "Teardrops on My Guitar
" with the famous country singer-songwriter Taylor Swift
. After the song, Swift was asked, based on her experience as a teenage Country Music singer, what advice she would offer to Irwin. In reply, Swift commented:
Afterward, a prerecorded message was played from four-time CMA
and three-time ACM
Female Vocalist of the Year winner, Martina McBride
. In it she said:
It was later announced that Irwin was the first contestant eliminated of the final four.
The story goes on to say that Julienne is settling into life as a student. She began her freshman year at Harford Christian School in Darlington earlier that week.
On September 23, 2007, Julienne Irwin's singing once again brought her to the national stage. She was invited to sing the national anthem to a crowd of 140,000 spectators at the Dodge Dealers 400, at Dover International Speedway, as televised on ABC to a nationwide audience.
Irwin announced on her MySpace that she was going to tour with Kenny Rogers
in December 2007. She finished the tour on December 23, 2007 and has written on her MySpace that she is extremely grateful to Kenny Rogers for giving her that opportunity.
On May 27, 2008, Irwin announced on her MySpace blog that in March, she went into a recording studio to produce video demos:
Recently, the songs recorded in the demo session were made available for viewing on the Internet.
Julienne is now a senior at Bel Air High School in Bel Air, Maryland. Within the last year, she worked with noted Nashville producer, David Malloy and is continuing her goal of song-writing. Her new website www.julienneirwin.com has come more interactive and fan-friendly with the addition of a blog. Julienne can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer from Bel Air, Maryland. Irwin was a finalist on the second season
America's Got Talent (Season 2)
The second season of America's Got Talent, an American television reality show talent competition, premiered on the NBC network on June 5, 2007 with a two-hour episode. Tabloid talk show host Jerry Springer succeeded Regis Philbin as host. Piers Morgan and David Hasselhoff returned as judges,...
of America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
.
Biography
Prior to her America's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
debut, Irwin has stated she has never performed publicly or received any vocal lessons. According to her bio on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
website, Irwin attended Harford Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
School where she was a cheerleader and became the class president
Class President
A class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet or organization within a student council, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all students in a grade level.The practice of electing a...
. She is also said to want to sing the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
Irwin is a very devoted country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
fan. In her own words, on her public website, she states:
I live for country music. If it didn't exist, a huge piece of my life would be missing. It wakes me up in the morning and puts me to sleep at night, and it's on my mind 24 hours a day.
She also values her education:
School is such an integral part of my life. I really think it has molded me into who I am today.
In September 2007, she began her freshman year at Harford Christian School in Darlington.
2007: America's Got Talent
As in the previous year, the show consisted of a nationwide search, through thousands of applicants all competing for the top one million dollar prize.Irwin first auditioned in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, with an a cappella rendition of "How Do I Live
How Do I Live
"How Do I Live" is the title of a song written by Diane Warren. It was originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes in 1997 and shortly afterward by Trisha Yearwood...
" (LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
) by Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
. The judges unanimously praised her raw talent and invited her to the Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
callbacks.
In subsequent shows, Irwin performed individual songs and passed through to the next round as follows:
- Las Vegas Callbacks: "At LastAt Last"At Last" is a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Orchestra Wives, starring George Montgomery and Ann Rutherford. It was performed in the film and on record by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, with vocals by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday...
" (Etta JamesEtta JamesEtta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
) by Mack GordonMack GordonMack Gordon was an American composer and lyricist of songs for the stage and film. He was nominated for the best original song Oscar nine times, including six consecutive years between 1940 and 1945, and won the award once, for "You'll Never Know"...
and Harry WarrenHarry WarrenHarry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,...
. (Only shown briefly in a montage.) - Semifinals: "Bless the Broken RoadBless the Broken Road"Bless the Broken Road" is a song that has been recorded by several American country music artists. It was co-written by Marcus Hummon and members of the country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994, and recorded by Hummon a year later...
" (Rascal FlattsRascal FlattsRascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
) by Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus HummonMarcus HummonMarcus Spencer Hummon is an American country music artist. After several years of playing in various bands, he eventually found his way to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was signed to a songwriting contract, and subsequently a record deal with Columbia Records, which released his debut album All...
. - Top Ten: "Til I Can Make It On My Own", by Tammy WynetteTammy WynetteVirginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
, George Richey and Billy Sherill. - The Final Eight: "CrazyCrazy (Willie Nelson song)"Crazy" is a ballad composed by Willie Nelson. It has been recorded by several artists, most notably by Patsy Cline, whose version was a #2 country hit in 1962....
" (Patsy ClinePatsy ClinePatsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
) by Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
.
She became one of the top four finalists, and on August 14, performed "What Hurts the Most
What Hurts the Most
"What Hurts the Most" is the title of a song written by American songwriter Jeffrey Steele and English songwriter Steve Robson. Initially recorded by country music artist Mark Wills in 2003 on his album And the Crowd Goes Wild, it was covered by Bellefire a year later...
" (Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
) by Jeffrey Steele
Jeffrey Steele
Jeffrey LeVasseur is an American country music singer and songwriter, more commonly known by the name Jeffrey Steele...
and Steve Robson, as the judges' pick for her, and "Over The Rainbow
Over the Rainbow
"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...
" by Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
and E.Y. Harburg, as her choice. After the song, judge Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
said:
.Julienne, I still don't think you've done enough to win, but I've gotta say, that was a brilliant performance. And I think if America gives votes for people that make me look stupid, you're going to get lots of votes.
The "The Season Finale" was about entertainment, performance reviews and announcement of results. Irwin performed "Teardrops on My Guitar
Teardrops on My Guitar
"Teardrops on My Guitar" is a song by American country pop singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The song was co-written by Swift, alongside Liz Rose and produced by Nathan Chapman with Swift's aid. "Teardrops on My Guitar" was released on February 24, 2007 by Big Machine Records, as the second single...
" with the famous country singer-songwriter Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
. After the song, Swift was asked, based on her experience as a teenage Country Music singer, what advice she would offer to Irwin. In reply, Swift commented:
... She [Irwin] has such an adorable personality, and that's so much of the battle right there. You know, being so endearing and so so humble. I think she should just stay who she is. I think she's got it.
Afterward, a prerecorded message was played from four-time CMA
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
and three-time ACM
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
Female Vocalist of the Year winner, Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
. In it she said:
I just want to take this chance to let you know that I'm really impressed with your [Irwin's] singing. You have a great voice. It's wonderful to watch you. As a matter of fact, watching you brings back a lot of memories of myself singing when I was your age...
It was later announced that Irwin was the first contestant eliminated of the final four.
Career
On September 9, 2007, Julienne Irwin got to live her dream of singing the national anthem at Camden Yards, as reported in the September 10, 2007 issue of the Baltimore Sun. In the words of Sun reporter, John-John Williams IV:
Before she performed, the Bel Air resident showed signs of a typical awe-struck teenager. Her jaw dropped after a brief conversation with Orioles starter Melvin Mora.
"Oh my gosh!" she mouthed to her father, Felix "Phil" Irwin.
When it was time to perform, Julienne displayed the poise and maturity that captured fans this summer. The words of the anthem flowed with the clarity and strength of a professional. Julienne later said she was a bundle of nerves inside.
The story goes on to say that Julienne is settling into life as a student. She began her freshman year at Harford Christian School in Darlington earlier that week.
On September 23, 2007, Julienne Irwin's singing once again brought her to the national stage. She was invited to sing the national anthem to a crowd of 140,000 spectators at the Dodge Dealers 400, at Dover International Speedway, as televised on ABC to a nationwide audience.
Irwin announced on her MySpace that she was going to tour with Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
in December 2007. She finished the tour on December 23, 2007 and has written on her MySpace that she is extremely grateful to Kenny Rogers for giving her that opportunity.
On May 27, 2008, Irwin announced on her MySpace blog that in March, she went into a recording studio to produce video demos:
A little over two months ago, for my 15th birthday, I went into the recording studio (for the first time ever!!!) to record some demos. Four of which were new songs, written for me, and the final two were a full version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Fields of Gold".
Recently, the songs recorded in the demo session were made available for viewing on the Internet.
Julienne is now a senior at Bel Air High School in Bel Air, Maryland. Within the last year, she worked with noted Nashville producer, David Malloy and is continuing her goal of song-writing. Her new website www.julienneirwin.com has come more interactive and fan-friendly with the addition of a blog. Julienne can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.