Rebecca Lynn Howard
{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rebecca Lynn Howard
| image =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|4|24}}
| origin = Salyersville, Kentucky, United States
| genre = Country, Pop, Rock, Gospel
| instruments = Bass guitar, guitar, piano, vocals
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 1997–present
| label = Rising Tide
Decca Nashville
MCA Nashville
Arista Nashville
Show Dog Nashville
Saguaro Road
Pump House Records
| associated_acts = Loving Mary
| website = {{URL|www.rebeccalynnofficial.com/}}||
}}
Rebecca Lynn Howard (born April 24, 1979) is an American country music artist. She has charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and has released three studio albums. Her highest-charting single, "Forgive", peaked at No. 12 on the country music charts in 2002. She is a founding member of the country-rock group Loving Mary.
Biography
= Career =
Howard began her professional career as a singer-songwriter in 1997, writing for Patty Loveless, John Michael Montgomery, Jessica Andrews, Lila McCann and others.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p371891/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Rebecca Lynn Howard biography|last=Huey|first=Steve|work=Allmusic|accessdate=March 29, 2010}} After signing to Rising Tide Records Nashville, she earned the first of two Grammy Awards with her cover of the hymn "Softly and Tenderly" for the soundtrack of the film The Apostle{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-apostle-mw0000032463|title=The Apostle|work=Allmusic|accessdate=September 22, 2014}} before the label closed in March 1998.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Q4EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22rising+tide+records%22&pg=PA10|title=Universal Closes Rising Tide|last=Flippo|first=Chet|date=March 21, 1998|accessdate=September 21, 2010}} Later, she signed with Decca Records.{{cite magazine|last=Price|first=Deborah Evans|date=April 1, 2000|title=Label difficulties behind, Howard makes her MCA Debut|magazine=Billboard|page=65|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ww4EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Rebecca+lynn+howard%22+%22Decca%22&pg=PA65}}
Her self-titled debut album was released by MCA Nashville in 2000 and included the singles "When My Dreams Come True," "Out Here in the Water" and "I Don't Paint Myself into Corners," all of which charted on the Billboard country singles charts.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|page=196|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}
In 2001, accompanied on the piano by Jim Brickman, Howard sang "Simple Things," the lead single from his album of the same name. The song peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2001-08-25|title=Adult Contemporary Music Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 16, 2017}}
The title track of her second album, Forgive (2002) reached No. 12 on Billboard, broke Top 10 on the Radio and Records country chart,"[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2002/RR-2002-11-15.pdf Radio and Records]" (PDF). American Radio History. November 15, 2002. and became a Top 40 single. Two more singles followed in 2003: "What a Shame" and "I Need a Vacation," which respectively reached No. 43 and No. 49 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs. Howard exited MCA in 2004.{{cite magazine|last=Stark|first=Phyllis|date=February 28, 2004|title=Goldstone moves to Emergent Music Marketing|magazine=Billboard|page=45|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Rebecca+lynn+howard%22+%22mca%22&pg=PA45}}
In 2004, Howard shared in her second Grammy Award for "If I Could Only Win Your Love," a duet with Ronnie Dunn for Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers. Howard has sung vocals on numerous albums for major artists, including Dolly Parton,{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dolly-Parton-Little-Sparrow/release/2652928|title=Dolly Parton – Little Sparrow|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=December 6, 2017}} Patty Loveless,{{Citation|last=Patty Loveless – Topic|title=Little Drummer Boy (Duet with Rebecca Lynn Howard)|date=November 8, 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kWy3NW6gQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022145033/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kWy3NW6gQ |archive-date=2021-10-22 |url-status=dead|accessdate=December 6, 2017}} and Vince Gill.{{Citation|last=charmy299|title=Rebecca Lynn Howard and Vince Gill – Jackson|date=February 13, 2010|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS2xMlx7zRg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/NS2xMlx7zRg |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|accessdate=December 6, 2017}}{{cbignore}} She has also toured extensively with Kenny Rogers, Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Gretchen Wilson, and Steven Tyler. Howard has been a frequent performer at the Grand Ole Opry ever since her debut in 1994, and toured as one of the headliners of the 2004 Grand Ole Opry American Road Show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/home/article/20448535/grand-ole-opry-to-hit-the-road|title=Grand Ole Opry to hit the road|website=Nashville Post|date=March 11, 2004 |language=en|access-date=December 6, 2017}}
By 2005, Howard moved to Arista Nashville, where she released two more singles, including "No One'll Ever Love Me," which reached No. 48, and "That's Why I Hate Pontiacs".{{cite magazine|last=Price|first=Deborah Evans|date=January 29, 2005|title=That's Why I Hate Pontiacs|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22rebecca+lynn+howard%22+%22alive+and+well&pg=PA34}}
Her third album was 2008's No Rules, on the Saguaro Road label.
Howard performed "Forgive" on the NBC primetime television drama series Providence. The song featured prominently in the Season Five episode "The Sound of Music," with Howard credited as herself.{{Cite web|url=http://providence.tktv.net/Episodes5/9.html|title=The Sound of Music|website=providence.tktv.net|access-date=October 16, 2017}}{{Citation|last=Kanakaredes|first=Melina|title=The Sound of Music|date=December 6, 2002|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0680137/|others=Melina Kanakaredes, Seth Peterson, Mike Farrell|accessdate=October 16, 2017}}
Howard has been nominated twice for the Academy of Country Music Awards{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/72116/38th-annual-academy-of-country-music-awards-nominees|title=38th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards Nominees|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 16, 2017}} and is a two-time recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Awards (for "If I Could Only Win Your Love" and "Love Please Stay" on Larry Sparks's album 40.){{Cite web|url=https://ibma.org/awards/recipient-history|title=Recipient History|website=International Bluegrass Music Association|access-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103011642/https://ibma.org/awards/recipient-history|archive-date=January 3, 2018|url-status=dead}}
In 2017, Howard announced the debut of her new company, the Second Say, which features Rebecca Lynn Howard as a motivational speaker for corporate and trade association meetings. Her company also provides leadership workshops and musical performances. "I'm here to connect with people," Howard said. "When I'm singing, I'm speaking to people. I feel like this venture is an extension of who I am." Additionally, she serves as a creativity consultant for business leaders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2017/12/07/why-this-country-singer-is-getting-into-the.html|title=Why This Country Singer is Getting into the Convention Business|website=Nashville Business Journals|access-date=January 2, 2018}}
In 2023, Howard released the first single "I Am My Mother" from her latest album "I'm Not Who You Think I Am" on Pump House Records.https://rebeccalynnofficial.com/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
= Covers and songwriting credits =
Howard's "I Don't Paint Myself Into Corners" (co-written with Trey Bruce) was recorded by Trisha Yearwood for her 2001 album Inside Out. Yearwood later performed the song at the 2002 Country Music Awards.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1454515/the-acm-show-smooth-but-not-award-winning/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113222758/http://www.cmt.com/news/1454515/the-acm-show-smooth-but-not-award-winning/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2017|title=The ACM Show: Smooth but Not Award-Winning|work=CMT News|access-date=November 13, 2017}} "As Long As We're Here," co-written by Howard and Jan Buckingham, was recorded by Clay Aiken on his 2008 album On My Way Here. In 2011, Martina McBride recorded Howard's "Whatcha Gonna Do" (co-written with Rachel Thibodeaux and Jason Sever) for her album Eleven. In 2016, Howard was a co-writer of "Lipstick" (for which she developed the song concept and signature lyric), which became a breakout hit for the trio Runaway June.{{Cite web|url=https://theboot.com/story-behind-the-song-runaway-june-lipstick-lyrics/|title=Story Behind the Song: Runaway June, 'Lipstick'|website=The Boot|date=February 10, 2017 |access-date=November 13, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbrmusicgroup.com/runaway-june-goes-top-25-history-making-debut-single-lipstick/|title=RUNAWAY JUNE GOES TOP 25 WITH HISTORY-MAKING DEBUT SINGLE "LIPSTICK"|website=BBR Music Group|language=en-US|access-date=November 13, 2017}} She has also co-written numerous songs for Gwen Sebastian and was a co-writer with Charles Esten (of the TV series Nashville) for his single "Don't Cry Long."{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rebecca-lynn-howard-mn0000347741/credits|title=Rebecca Lynn Howard|website=AllMusic|access-date=November 13, 2017}}{{Citation|title=Charles Esten – Don't Cry Long|url=http://new-country-songs.com/charles-esten/dont-cry-long|language=en-US|accessdate=November 13, 2017}} With husband Elisha Hoffman she also has songwriting credits on the hard rock band New Medicine's 2010 album Race You to the Bottom and "World Class Fuck Up" from its follow up Breaking the Model (2014).{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/world-class-fuck-up-mt0050494590|title=New Medicine – World Class Fuck Up|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 22, 2020}}
= Loving Mary =
In 2014, Howard joined Suzie McNeil, Marti Frederiksen, Andrew Mactaggart, Sarah Tomek, and husband, Elisha Hoffman to form the country rock group Loving Mary{{cite news|last1=Kennedy|first1=John R.|title=Canadian singer Suzie McNeil launches new band Loving Mary|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1224047/canadian-singer-suzie-mcneil-launches-new-band-loving-mary/|accessdate=December 15, 2014|work=Global News|publisher=Shaw Media|date=March 21, 2014}} in which she serves as songwriter, vocalist, and bassist. The group joined Aerosmith's Steven Tyler as backup band on his debut country solo studio album We're All Somebody from Somewhere and its supporting "Out On A Limb" tour in the U.S. and Japan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steven-tyler-unveils-first-solo-album-new-tour-20160608|title=Steven Tyler Unveils First Solo Album, New Tour|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 20, 2017}} The band has made numerous appearances with Tyler on the festival circuit, including WE Fest and The Pilgrimage Music Festival,{{Cite news|url=http://wefest.com/steven-tyler-and-the-loving-mary-band-join-we-fest/|title=Steven Tyler and The Loving Mary Band Join WE Fest|date=February 17, 2016|work=WE Fest|access-date=October 20, 2017|language=en-US}} as well as on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The TODAY Show.
Loving Mary released its debut album Little Bit of Love in 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.elmoremagazine.com/2016/12/reviews/albums/the-loving-mary-band|title=The Loving Mary Band|date=December 15, 2016|work=Elmore Magazine|access-date=October 20, 2017|language=en-US}}
In 2017, Loving Mary joined Gretchen Wilson on a multi-city tour in support of her album Ready to Get Rowdy.{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/lifestyles/ct-ecn-gretchen-wilson-st-0630-20170622-story.html|title='Redneck Woman' Wilson gets back on the stage|last=Cichon|first=Kathy|work=Elgin Courier-News|access-date=October 20, 2017|language=en-US}}
= Critical reception =
Howard's vocal and songwriting abilities have earned wide critical praise. In her AllMusic review of Forgive, Maria Konicki Dinoia called the title track a "chill-inducing masterpiece" and described the album as "loaded with diversity, freshness, and inspiration."{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/forgive-mw0000224167|title=Forgive – Rebecca Lynn Howard|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 6, 2017}} Entertainment Weekly had similar praise for her performance of "Jesus and Bartenders" from the same album: "Now, that's country!"{{Cite news|url=http://ew.com/article/2002/09/20/forgive/|title=Forgive|work=EW.com|access-date=December 6, 2017|language=en}} CMT News described "I Don't Paint Myself Into Corners" as a "soaring declaration of freedom"{{Cite news|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1454515/the-acm-show-smooth-but-not-award-winning/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113222758/http://www.cmt.com/news/1454515/the-acm-show-smooth-but-not-award-winning/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2017|title=The ACM Show: Smooth but Not Award-Winning|work=CMT News|access-date=December 6, 2017}} while Billboard Magazine called it "pure country joy."{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_JQ8EAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_JQ8EAAAAMBAJ/page/n28 27]|quote=reviews I don't paint myself into corners.|title=Billboard|date=May 13, 2000|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}} AllMusic's Thom Jurek praised the "deep, high lonesome sound" of Howard's duet with Vince Gill, "Girl"{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/these-days-mw0000402550|title=These Days – Vince Gill|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 6, 2017}} and gave a glowing review to Howard's third album, No Rules—naming it an "enormous leap in creative growth that is the measure of a consummate artist" and "easily Rebecca Lynn Howard's finest, most consistent record to date."{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/no-rules-mw0000788225|title=No Rules – Rebecca Lynn Howard|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 6, 2017}}
Personal life
Howard was raised in Salyersville, Kentucky, and first began singing in church. She currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, songwriter/producer Elisha Hoffman. Howard plays a Höfner bass guitar.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hofner.com/en/blog/hofner-artists-4/rebecca-lynn-howard-116|title=Rebecca Lynn Howard|website=Höfner|access-date=November 13, 2017}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details ! colspan="2"| Peak chart |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="45"| US Country ! width="45"| US |
| scope="row"| Rebecca Lynn Howard
|
| 54 | — |
| scope="row"| Forgive
|
| 5 | 29 |
| scope="row"| No Rules
|
| 69 | — |
| scope="row"| I'm Not Who You Think I Am
|
| — | — |
| colspan="4" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Single ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="45"| US Country ! width="45"| US ! width="45"| CAN Country |
| 1999
! scope="row"| "When My Dreams Come True" | 65 | — | 84 | align="left" rowspan="3"| Rebecca Lynn Howard |
| rowspan="2"| 2000
! scope="row"| "Out Here in the Water" | 54 | — | 73 |
| scope="row"| "I Don't Paint Myself into Corners"
| 71 | — | 58 |
| 2002
! scope="row"| "Forgive" | 12 | 71 | x | align="left"| Forgive |
| rowspan="2"| 2003
! scope="row"| "What a Shame" | 43 | — | x | align="left" rowspan="2"| Laughter & Tears (unreleased){{cite web |url=http://www.cjonline.com/stories/092603/ent_howard.shtml |title=CJ Entertainment / The Topeka Capital-Journal |website=www.cjonline.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031011122546/http://www.cjonline.com/stories/092603/ent_howard.shtml |archive-date=11 October 2003 |url-status=dead}} |
| scope="row"| "I Need a Vacation"
| 49 | — | x |
| rowspan="2"| 2005
! scope="row"| "No One'll Ever Love Me" | 48 | — | — | align="left" rowspan="2"| Alive and Well (unreleased) |
| scope="row"| "That's Why I Hate Pontiacs"
| — | — | — |
| 2006
! scope="row"| "Soon" | — | — | — | {{NA}} |
| 2008
! scope="row"| "Sing 'Cause I Love To" | — | — | — | align="left"| No Rules |
| 2020
! scope="row"| "A Good Place to Turn Around" | — | — | — | align="left" rowspan="2"| I'm Not Who You Think I Am |
| 2023
! scope="row"|"I Am My Mother" | — | — | — |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart x denotes that no relevant chart existed at the time |
= Guest singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Single ! rowspan="2"| Artist ! colspan="1"| Peak Positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="65"| US AC |
| 2002
! scope="row"| "Simple Things" | 1 | align="left"| Simple Things |
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Year ! style="width:16em;"| Video ! Director |
| 1999
! scope="row"| "When My Dreams Come True" |
| 2000
! scope="row"| "Out Here in the Water" | Guy Guillet |
| 2002
! scope="row"| "Forgive" | Morgan Lawley |
| rowspan="2"| 2005
! scope="row"| "No One'll Ever Love Me" |
| scope="row"| "That's Why I Hate Pontiacs"
| |
|---|
| 2016
! scope="row"| "Little Bit of Love" | |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Organization !Award !Nominee/Work !Result |
| rowspan=2| 2003
|Academy of Country Music Awards |Rebecca Lynn Howard |{{nom}} |
| Academy of Country Music Awards
|Song of the Year |"Forgive" |{{nom}} |
| 2004
|Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers |{{won}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.rebeccalynnhowardofficial.com/|Rebecca Lynn Howard Official Website}}
{{Rebecca Lynn Howard}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Rebecca Lynn}}
Category:People from Magoffin County, Kentucky
Category:American women country singers
Category:American country singer-songwriters
Category:Country musicians from Kentucky
Category:Show Dog-Universal Music artists
Category:Arista Nashville artists
Category:Singer-songwriters from Kentucky
Category:Kentucky women musicians
Category:Singers from Kentucky
Category:American country bass guitarists
Category:American women bass guitarists
Category:21st-century American bass guitarists