Martina McBride: Eleven (Humphead Records Cat No HUMP118) (From The Northern Echo)

Martina McBride: Eleven (Humphead Records Cat No HUMP118)

6:19pm Thursday 10th November 2011 in Country By Brian Clough

WHILE Dolly Parton is nicknamed The Queen Of Country Music, it may have escaped your attention that Martina McBride has affectionately been called The Celine Dion of Country Music due to her soprano vocal range and big voiced ballads.

McBride has set the pace with many of her contemporaries by having more than 18m album sales and 24 top ten singles.

Six went to number one, perhaps the most famous, written by Gretchen Peters, becoming a women’s anthem in Independence Day.

In her latest offering, McBride reveals a new side to her personality. She says: “This is such an amazing time in my life and my career, I feel like I’ve been given the support and power to go into the studio and write and create an album that pushes the boundaries of what people expect of me, while still being true to myself.”

This release will garner her more number ones. It’s an album for anyone who likes great music. On reflection, perhaps it’s Celine Dion who takes on the Martina McBride mantel.