Carrie Cunningham is a Nashville, TN based singer/songwriter. She has been a touring artist for two decades and has performed on over 1,000 stages. She has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with over 50 national acts, such as Kacey Musgraves, Charlie Daniels, Jake Owen, Crystal Gayle, Diamond Rio, Collective Soul and more.
Throughout 2021, Carrie released one single per month from her “Showgirl” album as part of her “Showgirl Series.” The series received rave reviews from both fans and the press. She is currently in the studio working on new music to release later in 2023.
Who are your main musical influences?
Oh geez, there have been so many throughout the years. Just this morning I came across a Facebook memory where I was talking about how Reba shaped me in so many ways. She is a true entertainer. But, before her was Barbara Mandrell. If you search out Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell sister’s show on YouTube, you will find a true female performing icon. Her voice, her stage presence, the multiple instruments, the songs. She was the whole package. The way Reba owns the stage, I would think Reba used to watch Barbara as an influence. From one Goddess to the next. If I keep along the female influence trail, for modern times, there are a few. Taylor Swift falls into the Reba and Barbara category.
I really love so many different styles. I love the way Leon Bridges brought back the Motown soul that I grew up with. Stevie Wonder and the Supremes were huge influencers growing up. Along with Alabama, Diamond Rio, and En Vogue. I loved bands with harmonies.
Currently, I love listening to Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce, Brandy Clark, Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless too. Kane Brown is an inspiration and testimony to never give up and don’t believe that where you came from, keeps you from where you should be going.
What are your top two favorite albums of all time? Why those albums?
Patty Loveless- “Mountain Soul” and Taylor Swift- “Folklore.” I would have to say those two because of how often I listened to them, religiously!
I love Patty Loveless. I don’t think she gets enough credit. Her voice along with Leann Womack, were the two best singers in the 90’s, in my opinion. I love story songs and both of these albums do a fantastic job. “Mountain Soul” is bluegrass, and gospel, has story songs, beautiful harmonies, strong soaring vocals, not overly produced…just perfect. Plus, my all-time favorite song, “You’ll never leave Harlan Alive,” is on that album. I wrote a couple of songs because of how it took me into a mindset lyrically and sonically.
Folklore- if anybody is a Swifty, then they know why. But, that album was so well crafted that I could do a lecture on it. I remember the summer it came out – it was during the Covid pandemic and I was driving around the back parts of Nashville, heading towards Dickson County. I was listening to the album and all of a sudden, I heard patterns. The majority of the album was intertwined from one song to the next. I nearly threw myself off the road when I put song A with song B with Song C…I was super happy that I “cracked a code,” so to speak. I have a concept Christmas album I have been working on and that golden nugget of information is the reason I am working on the album. Oh, to be like Taylor…
Of your own music, do you have a favorite? If so, can you pin down why?
I have a few favorites actually and for different reasons. “Secrets” and “Road By Road” are both story songs that are darker and have nothing to do with love. I really appreciate being able to write and touch someone in a different way, other than in the form of love. “Secrets” was influenced by the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes.” There was a scene of them pulling the truck out of the river, and my co-writer, Carl Wirkkala, and I went to town about the secrets that small towns and rivers keep.
With “Road By Road,” I was talking to my co-writers, Jan Edwards and Lucy Leblanc, about past lives. I had a friend who recently died whom I had seen in multiple past lives. Also, one of my earliest memories was about sinking to the bottom of a lake and I could see two shadows in a canoe and lily pads above my head. I’ve had that vision since I was a little girl. So, we took three of my stories and wrote “Road by Road” I love the creativity of writing.
With every album, I try to throw in a fun or funny song. “Just a Bar Thing” is a fun song that is really popular right now off my “Showgirl” album. I think it’s one of my favorites because of the story behind it and also being able to sing it out and have people sing along with me.
What can we expect from you within the next 6 months? Are any releases planned? Future gigs?
I am going back into the studio to record a couple more singles! I plan on doing a video for one of them as well. I am really excited about the two songs. Be on the lookout for “Just Like” and “Habit.” I wrote “Just Like” with artist Riley Roth and “Habit” with Riley Roth and Patrick Dodge. Two phenomenal writers and friends!
I am also doing some summer shows in the Northwest, ala Washington and Oregon. You can check out my schedule on my website www.carrielive.com.
Are you creative in other disciplines?
Yes! I am a benefit auctioneer as well! My grandfather and great grandfather were cattle auctioneers and in 2019 I decided to follow in their footsteps. I don’t auction off cattle or cars, but I love raising money for children and non-profits that help the community! So far to date, I have helped raise over 2.6 million dollars!
What is the most useless talent you have?
I can clap with one hand! Seriously! I use both hands to clap individually and it sounds like I have a room full of people clapping for me. Ha!
What was the last TV series you watched on TV?
Well, I am trying to get through “Yellowjackets.” I just finished Season 1 and need to head into Season 2, as soon as I slow down enough to give myself an hour for an episode.
If you could learn any language fluently, what would it be?
I have two. German and Spanish. German because I know some and I love Germany. I want to retire there. Spanish because I know more than I do German, but because I think everyone should know how to speak Spanish. There is so much business done with Spanish speaking people in America, there really is no excuse for why people don’t learn the language. Everywhere else in the world, cultures learn multiple languages, except in America. Those are the two languages in my house that we work on.
Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other stuffed animal sitting on your bed at home?
No, I don’t, but I do have a memory. My favorite stuffed toy was my E.T. doll. It was my most prized possession. I don’t know why. Maybe because I related to the tug and pull of being in a strange place and wanting to go home. Some sense of normalcy. You know how his heart would glow? Yeah, I often felt like that doll was talking to my heart…
As a kid were you ever frightened of a monster under the bed or in the cupboard?
I did lead a very stressful childhood and reality was the big scary monster. I remember staring into the black hallway, from my bed, in fear that someone might come in. My mind would play tricks on me, and I would see little white things go across the floor. I remember one time I saw a bunny rabbit. Maybe it was my guardian angels trying to help me out. I was also a child of the 80s, so horror movies were really popular. Michael Myers from the Halloween movies. Not a fan of those movies anymore.
For more information, visit www.carrielive.com and follow Carrie on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify and Twitter.
