Siouxland's Shawn Mayer keeps on rising in competition
By Molly Montag Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Monday, Shawn Mayer competes for the third time in the "Nashville Star" competition. Above, she performs "He Stopped Lovin' Her Today" on the June 16 edition.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It's a long way from singing for a free trip to the pits to vying for a recording contract on national television, but the parents of one Siouxland woman say she's up to the task.
Northwest Iowa native Shawn Mayer, 21, and nine other "Nashville Star" contestants on Monday will once again take the stage to earn the right to be country music's next big thing.
Mayer, formerly of May City, Iowa, faced down the judges and earned enough viewer votes to make it to the next round of competition. A few short years ago, she was performing at Siouxland fairs and for an admission discount at the local stock car race tracks.
"It's very exciting," said her mother, Shandra Mayer of May City. "(It's) a little nerve-wracking, but that's to be expected."
"Nashville Star," which airs Mondays on NBC, is judged by pop artist Jewel, John Rich of country duo Big & Rich and songwriter Jeffrey Steele. This is the reality show's first run on NBC after five seasons on USA Network.
Plenty's on the line, including a recording contract with Warner Bros. Nashville and the opportunity to perform at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
Mayer couldn't be reached for this article. Her parents say she's sequestered because of the show, so much so they haven't spoken to her in weeks. A "Nashville Star" representative did not immediately return a message seeking an interview with Mayer.
Her parents say Mayer's story includes the normal highlights: performing plays at home, singing in the church choir, working local gigs and then a trek to Nashville.
It also includes a stint with the May City Volunteer Fire Department, long hours feeding hogs and many nights wielding a wrench on her dad's race car.
Her father, Mark Mayer of rural May City, Iowa, raced a modified stock car at local dirt tracks in Jefferson, S.D.; Worthington, Minn.; Jackson, Minn.; and Alta, Iowa.
The 2005 graduate of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School earned herself a free pit pass by singing the national anthem before the races. Once inside, Mayer wasn't just part of the entourage -- she was her father's entire pit crew.
"It was just her and me," Mark Mayer said. "It was all the way from switching motors to switching rear-end gear."
In recent years, Mayer worked as an entertainment coordinator at a venue in Boone, Iowa, but needed more money to get to Nashville. She got a job at a nearby hog-confinement, which her father described as "everything but castrating them."
"She's not scared of work," Mark Mayer said.
Working in the hog barns paid off in October, when Mayer moved to Nashville. She's been working the club scene, her mother said, hoping to land a record contract.
Shandra Mayer was visiting her daughter the day "Nashville Star" staff held auditions. Shawn Mayer agreed to go to the auditions, but only to accompany a friend who was trying out.
After nine hours of standing in line, Shandra said her daughter decided to give it a shot -- and her performance of George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today" propelled her on the show.
"It was just kind of more for fun," said Shandra Mayer.
Even though the judges can be harsh, Mark Mayer said he believes his daughter's energetic performances have always won over her audiences.
In the first round, Mayer sang a country version of "Piece of My Heart," a song made famous by Janis Joplin and later covered by Faith Hill.
"Even when she plays at the Clay County Fair, she's never on stage," Mark Mayer said. "She's always in the crowd."
Hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus, "Nashville Star" airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on NBC.
Northwest Iowa native Shawn Mayer, 21, and nine other "Nashville Star" contestants on Monday will once again take the stage to earn the right to be country music's next big thing.
Mayer, formerly of May City, Iowa, faced down the judges and earned enough viewer votes to make it to the next round of competition. A few short years ago, she was performing at Siouxland fairs and for an admission discount at the local stock car race tracks.
"It's very exciting," said her mother, Shandra Mayer of May City. "(It's) a little nerve-wracking, but that's to be expected."
"Nashville Star," which airs Mondays on NBC, is judged by pop artist Jewel, John Rich of country duo Big & Rich and songwriter Jeffrey Steele. This is the reality show's first run on NBC after five seasons on USA Network.
Plenty's on the line, including a recording contract with Warner Bros. Nashville and the opportunity to perform at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
Mayer couldn't be reached for this article. Her parents say she's sequestered because of the show, so much so they haven't spoken to her in weeks. A "Nashville Star" representative did not immediately return a message seeking an interview with Mayer.
Her parents say Mayer's story includes the normal highlights: performing plays at home, singing in the church choir, working local gigs and then a trek to Nashville.
It also includes a stint with the May City Volunteer Fire Department, long hours feeding hogs and many nights wielding a wrench on her dad's race car.
Her father, Mark Mayer of rural May City, Iowa, raced a modified stock car at local dirt tracks in Jefferson, S.D.; Worthington, Minn.; Jackson, Minn.; and Alta, Iowa.
The 2005 graduate of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School earned herself a free pit pass by singing the national anthem before the races. Once inside, Mayer wasn't just part of the entourage -- she was her father's entire pit crew.
"It was just her and me," Mark Mayer said. "It was all the way from switching motors to switching rear-end gear."
In recent years, Mayer worked as an entertainment coordinator at a venue in Boone, Iowa, but needed more money to get to Nashville. She got a job at a nearby hog-confinement, which her father described as "everything but castrating them."
"She's not scared of work," Mark Mayer said.
Working in the hog barns paid off in October, when Mayer moved to Nashville. She's been working the club scene, her mother said, hoping to land a record contract.
Shandra Mayer was visiting her daughter the day "Nashville Star" staff held auditions. Shawn Mayer agreed to go to the auditions, but only to accompany a friend who was trying out.
After nine hours of standing in line, Shandra said her daughter decided to give it a shot -- and her performance of George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today" propelled her on the show.
"It was just kind of more for fun," said Shandra Mayer.
Even though the judges can be harsh, Mark Mayer said he believes his daughter's energetic performances have always won over her audiences.
In the first round, Mayer sang a country version of "Piece of My Heart," a song made famous by Janis Joplin and later covered by Faith Hill.
"Even when she plays at the Clay County Fair, she's never on stage," Mark Mayer said. "She's always in the crowd."
Hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus, "Nashville Star" airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on NBC.
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