Summerfest U.S. Cellular® Connection Stage with FM106.1

July 3 - Women Crushing It Wednesday with Lauren Alaina, Brandy Clark, Lindsay Ell, and Nora Collins

LAUREN ALAINA: Georgia native Lauren Alaina captured America’s hearts when she competed on Season 10 of American Idol. In 2017, Lauren followed up her No. 1 debuting first album, Wildflower, with the release of the critically-acclaimed Road Less Traveled. The album landed on multiple end-of-year “Best Of” lists including Billboard, Rolling Stone and Amazon, and it became the top-streamed female country album release of the year. Praised as “full of life lessons and uplift” (PEOPLE), the collection of 12 songs all written by the young star includes Lauren’s first No. 1 hit, title track “Road Less Traveled." Lauren is this year’s ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year and performed on the Apr. 15 broadcast live from Las Vegas. She was also nominated for ACM Vocal Event of the Year for “What Ifs,” the double-platinum-selling No. 1 collaboration with her childhood friend, Kane Brown. Lauren is one of CMT’s Next Women of Country and she received her first CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year with her No. 1 smash “Road Less Traveled,” This year she received her second CMT Music Award for Collaborative Video of the Year, with Kane Brown. In addition to performing on the 51st Annual CMA Awards, 2017 saw Lauren earning nominations for CMA New Artist of the Year, several Teen Choice Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards. Click Here To Read More

BRANDY CLARK: The Nashville, Tennessee based Clark received her first of an impressive six career GRAMMY nominations in 2013 in the Best Country Song category for co-writing the Miranda Lambert No. 1 hit "Mama's Broken Heart." Her talent as a storyteller has quickly propelled her into critical acclaim as one of Nashville's best tunesmiths. Subsequently writing songs for Sheryl Crow, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, and Kacey Musgraves to name a few. In 2013, Brandy independently released her own debut album, 12 Stories, which was embraced by music lovers and critics alike and was subsequently nominated for two GRAMMYs, including Best New Artist and Best Country Album. 12 Stories went on to be named "Best Album of 2013" by The Boston Globe, New York Magazine, NPR, The New York Post, and more. Brandy also won the 2014 CMA Song of the Year Award for "Follow Your Arrow," which she co-wrote with Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves, and was also nominated for a CMA New Artist Of The Year that same year. This past year Clark has been honing her craft on the road playing with the likes of Willie Nelson, Brandi Carlile, Dwight Yoakam and Sugarland. Click Here To Read More

NORA COLLINS: Nora Collins brings a confident and youthful originality to country music – a style she describes as “fun, flirty, relatable and honest.” That individuality is evident in “Who Knows Who,” a catchy single that captures her energetic spirit and her talent for songwriting. Already her dynamic music has gained the attention of CMT, Radio Disney, and the iconic music festival Summerfest in Milwaukee. In 2016, Collins played 18 Summerfest sets across 11 days. The following year, she opened for Lee Brice on the festival’s main stage, which remains a landmark in her career. “Being a Milwaukee girl this was a dream come true for me,” says Collins, who was born and raised in nearby Brookfield, Wisconsin. “That was the stage I grew up going to, to see my favorite bands play. In a way it made me feel like I am ‘making it.’” Collins has claimed the Best of Milwaukee Award in the Female Vocalist category four times (2013-2016). She also earned recognition as Best Acoustic Musician in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In addition, she has received eight Wisconsin Area Music Industry Award (WAMI) nominations, leading to wins as Singer/Songwriter of the Year in 2014 and Rising Star in 2012 and 2013. Click Here To Read More

LINDSAY ELL: Coming from a family with deep musical roots, the Stoney Creek Records’ artist started playing piano and guitar at a very early age. "I learned how to play guitar traveling to country-bluegrass camps with my dad, and knew right from the beginning of my strong passion for country music." Starting on piano at siX, guitar at eight and singing in her church youth group at 10 ("the most forgiving audience ever"), The 24-year-old Calgary native was discovered at 13 by BTO and The Guess Who's Randy Bachman ("American Woman," "Takin' Care Of Business"). This Fall, Lindsay will embark upon one of her most eXciting opportunities to-date: an opening slot on The Band Perry’s We Are Pioneers World Tour encompassing 50 dates throughout Europe and North America and kicking off November 8 in Gothenberg, Sweden. Click Here To Read More