Martina McBride life and biography

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.

McBride was signed to RCA Records in 1991 and made her debut the following year as a neo-traditionalist country singer with the single, "The Time Has Come." It was not until 1997, when she released her fourth album, Evolution, that she broke through into the country music industry with a new pop-styled crossover sound, similar to that of Faith Hill and Shania Twain. From that point on, McBride has had a string of major hit singles on the Billboard country chart and occasionally on the adult contemporary chart. Five of these singles went to No. 1 on the country chart between 1995 and 2001, and one peaked at No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart in 2003.

McBride has recorded a total of nine studio albums, one "greatest hits" compilation, one "live" album, a "Christmas" compilation, as well as two additional compilation albums. Seven of her studio albums and two of her compilations have received an RIAA certification of "Gold", or higher. Worldwide, she has sold over 18 million albums. In addition, Martina has won the Country Music Association's "Female Vocalist of the Year" award four times (tied with Reba McEntire for the most wins) and the Academy of Country Music's "Top Female Vocalist" award three times.

McBride was born Martina Mariea Schiff in Sharon, Kansas, to Daryl and Jeanne (née Clark) Schiff on July 29, 1966. She has two brothers, Martin and Steve, who currently play in her concert band, and a sister, Gina.

Country music singer and Grammy nominated Martina McBride rose to stardom in the late 1990s and to this day has recorded a total of ten albums. Two albums are certified gold and seven are certified platinum or higher. She has more than thirty singles and her biggest hit "I Love You," in 1999, spent five weeks at number one on the country charts. Nicknamed the "Celine Dion of Country Music," McBride has sold over 16 million albums--the most recent of which is "Martina McBride: Live In Concert" in 2008.

McBride performs for President Obama and Stevie Wonder on Wednesday February 25, 2009. She is scheduled to sing "You and I" off of Wonders 1972 album Talking Book. The show will air on Thursday February 26, 2009 on the PBS network.

Discography:

1992: The Time Has Come
1993: The Way That I Am
1995: Wild Angels
1997: Evolution
1998: White Christmas
1999: Emotion
2000: CMT Girls' Night Out
2001: Greatest Hits
2003: Martina
2005: Timeless
2007: Waking Up Laughing
2008: Martina McBride: Live In Concert

Awards :

2003: Favorite Female Country Artist
2004: Female Vocalist of the Year

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