Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Lee Ann Womack is Country Music's Association's Female Vocalist of the Year
Aired August 22, 2002 - 11:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: It has been a long way from Jacksonville, Texas to country superstar. But Lee Ann Womack has made the trip and she is the Country Music's Association's female vocalist of the year. Her new CD, her fourth, is out this week. It is entitled "Something Worth Leaving Behind."
Lee Ann Womack joins us right here this morning at the global headquarters of CNN.
Good morning. It's a pleasure to have you here with us.
LEE ANN WOMACK, SINGER: It's a pleasure to be here. Everything's so exciting.
KAGAN: It's a pleasure to be here. Everything is so exciting. This is happening. We call it the casino, because so much is happening with all the neon and everything.
WOMACK: It is kind of like that.
KAGAN: But talk about stuff happening, stuff that's happening with you.
WOMACK: We have a new CD out, and I'm so excited, because I worked on this thing for over a year and a half. It's we have been working on it for a year and a half. I'm on a two-week in-store tour.
KAGAN: To go meet the fans.
WOMACK: Yes, and to sign autographs. We perform a little bit. That's what we're doing the next two weeks.
KAGAN: I'm sure fans have told you over and over again what touches them about your music. And there is a lot of great country music out there, but your message over and over again, but your message, over and over again, and it comes across, too, is do something worthwhile.
WOMACK: Yes, I mean, and especially with this song, "Something Worth Leaving Behind," it talks about what's really important, what's really worth leaving behind. Not everyone is going to paint a masterpiece or write a symphony, but everyone can love, and make a difference in somebody's life, and that's really what the song is about.
KAGAN: And then even with your big hit single, "I Hope You Dance," it's the same thing, kind of like when you get the opportunity, when life presents it to you, I just kind of hope you go for it.
WOMACK: Yes, I mean, when I heard that, I thought, that's what I want for my kids, I want them to live and enjoy life, and so every song I record isn't like that, but these two certainly were.
KAGAN: But there is a theme that kind of goes through that.
WOMACK: Yes.
KAGAN: You are no overnight success. You had to work really hard at this.
WOMACK: Yes, I was in Nashville for a long time before I really got any attention and started writing songs, and singing demos, and the same way a lot of people do, but it took me a while, maybe a little bit longer than a lot of people, you know, but that made me appreciate it so much more, and I had time it learn so much, and so I felt like when I finally did hit, I knew a lot about what I was doing.
KAGAN: But how did you have the fire and the passion to keep going and not get discouraged? I'm sure there were days, when it's like, it's over, I'm done.
WOMACK: I never got that discouraged. I knew it would happen for me, I just knew it had to happen at the right time. And if something doesn't happen at the right time, I see people and it is just not the right timing for them, and so I knew how important that was.
KAGAN: How did you have that inner belief that it was going to happen?
WOMACK: You know what, my parents. They were always so good, and so supportive. I have a sister who has three kids now, but she went to school, and she was a lawyer for a while, and they just -- they really believed in both of us and what we wanted to do and really supported us. That can make so much of a difference in a child's life. You know, and a lot of people aren't lucky enough to have parents like that, so if you know a kid, you know, that doesn't have that, if can you help that kid out, that's wonderful.
KAGAN: Let's go back to the time when you are just about to break through, and here it comes, but the same time that Leanne Rhymes is also coming through, was it your record company, someone came to you and said, Lee Ann, we should probably think about changing your name.
WOMACK: Yes, it was the label, my manager.
KAGAN: And how do they even pitch that? How do they even kind of explain to you, that you know what, maybe you're the one who should be changing your name
WOMACK: It was odd, because we were in this room around this big table, and they suggested that, and my manager just went, no, that's not going to happen, we are fine with her name. There is plenty of room for two people with the same name.
KAGAN: Two Lee Anns, two excellent talents, and you certainly have proven your place in the country mix.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
