 Though she didn't begin her musical career until relatively late,
Deana Carter managed to defy conventional expectations and unexpectedly shot
to the top of the country
charts upon the release of her 1996 debut, Did I Shave My Legs for This?
Deana Carter's success was equally unexpected considering that she didn't quite
fit into the mold of a standard female contemporary country singer. Melding the
popular appeal of country chanteuses with folky singer/songwriters like
Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Deana Carter racked up both positive reviews and healthy sales with Did I Shave My
Legs for This?, becoming one of the most pleasant success stories of the post-Garth
Brooks generation.
As the daughter of Nashville studio guitarist
Fred Carter, Jr.,
Deana Carter grew up in a musical environment, and was exposed to a wide
variety of music.
Fred played guitar for a wide variety of musicians, including
Willie Nelson,
Bob Dylan,
Waylon Jennings, and
Simon & Garfunkel. The music of those artists would eventually seep into
Deana Carter's own style, which she hadn't yet formed when she initially tried to
land a record contract at the age of 17. Despite her efforts and her father's
assistance,
Deana Carter wasn't able to secure a deal, so she abandoned music to study nursing
at the University of Tennessee. While she was a student, she continued to sing
for fun, yet she didn't devote much energy to music.
After graduation,
Deana Carter worked in a few hospitals before deciding to pursue a musical career
at the age of 23. Learning the guitar for the first time,
Deana Carter also began to write songs. For several years, she worked odd jobs as
she continued to develop her songwriting skills and sing at Nashville
nightclubs. Eventually, one of her demo tapes made its way to
Willie Nelson, while another wound up in the offices of Capitol Nashville.
Nelson, who remembered her from her childhood, was impressed with
Deana Carter's songs and asked her to perform at Farm Aid VII in 1994; she was the
only female artist on the entire bill. Within a year, Capitol Nashville had
signed
Deana Carter to a contract.
Boasting six songs co-written by
Deana Carter, her debut album, Did I Shave My Legs For This?, was released to
strong reviews in late summer of 1996. By the end of the year, the record had
climbed to the upper reaches of the country charts and had made inroads on the
pop charts, going gold in the process. Everything's Gonna Be Alright followed in
late 1998. In 2001,
Deana Carter realized her dream of performing with her father on her holiday
album, Father Christmas, which featured her dad on guitar. I'm Just a Girl, a
recording that leans strongly toward adult pop, was released on Arista Nashville
in 2003. The Story of My Life followed in 2005 on Vanguard. ~ Stephen Thomas
Erlewine, All Music Guide
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