March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Patience pays off for Terri Clark> Decade of waiting over for country star

Terri Clark spent nearly a decade anonymously toiling in Nashville. But her career has taken off over the past three years.

Propelled by the No. 1 single “Better Things to Do,” her self-titled 1995 debut album went platinum. Her 1997 follow-up album, “Just the Same,” went gold, led by her remake of Warren Zevon’s “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me.” She’s gained nominations and/or honors from all the major country-music awards shows in this country.

It’s been a crazy time, but Clark, 29, has kept her feet planted firmly on the ground.

“I feel like it’s been a big, long dream,” said Clark from a tour stop in Evansville, Ind. “Some of it seems a little hazy and blurred. I certainly don’t have enough time to stop and smell the roses. But I still hang out with the same friends I’ve had for years, and talk with them and my family. I realize it’s just an image that people are latching onto. I don’t validate my self-worth by my career.”

Clark is now part of The Encore Tour, opening at 7:30 tonight for Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland. She’s the tour correspondent for country.com, providing journal entries from the road titled “Terri’s Tour du Jour.” Also she will do live moderated chats at that Web site on Aug. 6, Aug. 14 and Aug. 27.

While growing up in Alberta, Canada, Clark was a big fan of McEntire, and is still learning from her today.

“I’ve watched her career grow,” she said. “Reba’s message is `Never say never.’ You can change a lot and reinvent yourself. Also, she’s a savvy businesswoman.”

Clark has recently been reinventing herself. She had made a reputation for up-tempo wit and sass, but on her third album, “How I Feel,” she sought to show a broader emotional range.

“I dug a little deeper and peeled a couple more layers off the onion,” she said. “I feel I’ve grown up a lot, and I’ve done songs that were more emotional.”

“How I Feel” has been drawing critical raves, but Clark downplayed those.

“I’m pleased with the critical response we’ve had,” she said. “I was hoping the critics would like it, but I’m more concerned with how I feel about it. I want to do the best I can.”

Clark’s success comes about 15 years after she started playing the clubs in Medicine Hat in Alberta at the age of 15.

She moved to Nashville at 18, and began singing in Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. At the time, she had a big bouffant hairdo and weighed 30 pounds more than she does today.

Clark landed a staff songwriting job at Sony Tree in 1993, then the slimmed-down, restyled singer was signed by Mercury in 1994. Her debut album came out the next year.

Clark is one of a new wave of country singers who have been launched largely through video. She is this month’s “Showcase Artist” on Country Music Television.

“We’re all thrilled about that,” she said. “It will help to boost my profile. I appreciate CMT doing that. They’ve been very good to me.”

Clark has dominated the Canadian Country Music Association Awards, winning three awards each of the last two years. This year, she will be hosting the awards show, which will air from 9 to 11 p.m. Sept. 16 on The Nashville Network.

“I feel honored that they asked me to do it,” she said. “I’ll try to keep it loose and casual. It will be weird to change clothes so much.”

Also, her CBS special “Terri Clark — Coming Home” is expected to air on TNN in September or October.

Frequent touring doesn’t leave Clark a lot of spare time, which is just as well. Last year, she fractured her left cheekbone when she was hit by a softball in a charity game. This year, she broke her hand trying to ride a Harley.

“I like to rollerblade,” she said. “Also I like to watch movies and hang out with my friends.”

Tickets for the Reba McEntire-Brooks & Dunn-Terri Clark-David Kersh concert are available by calling the Civic Center box office at 775-3458 or Ticketmaster at 775-3331.


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