Sara Evans

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Good article Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Sara Lynn Evans (Template:IPAc-en; born February 5, 1971)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> is an American country music singer and songwriter. She had five songs reach the number one spot on the Billboard country songs chart and has sold over six million albums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nine additional singles have reached the top ten of the Billboard country chart, including "I Could Not Ask for More", "I Keep Looking", and "Cheatin'". Among her top 20 charting singles are "Saints & Angels", "Backseat of a Greyhound Bus", and "As If".<ref name="Billboard Songs">Template:Cite book</ref> She has won accolades from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. She has also been nominated for several more accolades from both associations, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year.

Evans grew up in New Franklin, Missouri, and started performing alongside her siblings in The Evans Family Band. The group performed throughout her childhood and early teenage years in her local area. During her teenage years, Evans and her older brother Matt formed their own band before moving to Nashville in 1991 to pursue a country music career. In Nashville, Evans met her first husband Craig Schelske and briefly moved to Aumsville, Oregon, before returning to Nashville. Upon moving back to Nashville, Evans found work as a demo singer, which led to her signing a recording contract with RCA Records. Her first album Three Chords and the Truth was released in 1997. It was followed by No Place That Far (1998), whose second single of the same name topped the Billboard country chart.

Evans reached her peak success in the 2000s with the albums Born to Fly (2000), Restless (2003) and Real Fine Place (2005). The discs sold over one million copies each and included the number one country singles "Born to Fly", "Suds in the Bucket" and "A Real Fine Place to Start". In 2006, Evans appeared as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars before subsequently dropping out. Evans took steps back from her recording career to focus on her family life, only releasing a Greatest Hits package in 2008. She re-launched her career in 2011 with her sixth studio album Stronger. It was supported by the two-week number one single "A Little Bit Stronger". After the release of Slow Me Down (2014), Evans left RCA and formed her own record label. In 2017, she released her first album through the label, Words.

Early life

Sara Lynn Evans was born in Boonville, Missouri, on February 5, 1971.<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was raised in New Franklin, MissouriTemplate:Sfn by parents Pat and Jack Evans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She was one of seven children (which also included her half siblings after her mother remarried).Template:Sfn The Evans family was raised on a 400-acre farm that included several crops and livestock. To make ends meet, her mother became a school bus driver while her father became a pressman for the Columbia Daily Tribune newspaper.Template:Sfn Evans's family discovered she had a natural singing ability after she started singing along with her two older brothers who were taking guitar lessons. This prompted Evans's mother to put her siblings into a band which they later called The Evans Family Band. Evans started performing lead vocals in the band when she was six years old. She later learned to perform guitar, mandolin, and drums.Template:Sfn

Evans was raised on a farm in New Franklin. When she was eight years old, Evans was hit by a car after crossing the highway that faced her family's farm.<ref name="Car Accident">Template:Cite magazine</ref> She was thrown onto the hood of the car and eventually landed in a grassy field along the highway.Template:Sfn She had suffered a concussion and a leg injury.<ref name="Car Accident"/> Due to the severity of her injuries, Evans was sent to the University of Missouri Hospital, located 30 miles from her hometown. To avoid having a deformed left leg, doctors had to drill pins into Evans's knee.Template:Sfn She was unable to move from her hospital bed for six weeks. According to Evans, the accident itself and being tied to the hospital bed resulted in her having post-traumatic stress disorder. "I had severe PTSD and anxiety, but it was the '80s, and I didn't have a name for it," she explained.<ref name="Car Accident"/>

In 1983, Evans's parents divorced.Template:Sfn Her mother remarried in 1985 and the couple had two more children (Evans's half sisters). After her mother remarried, the family moved to a tobacco farm, also located in New Franklin.Template:Sfn The Evans Family Band continued performing as well. The group often performed on weekends and later had a manager.Template:Sfn When she was about ten years old, Evans recorded a song called "I'm Gonna Be the Only Female Fiddle Player in Charlie Daniels Band". She then traveled to Nashville alongside her manager to promote the song at Fan Fair.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Evans later performed on a local program called Country Stampede and briefly formed a band with her brother Matt.Template:Sfn In 1989, Evans graduated high school.Template:Sfn She accepted a full scholarship to study music at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri.<ref name="Missouri">Template:Cite web</ref> However, she left after one semester once realizing she wanted to pursue a country music career.Template:Sfn She returned to her mother's New Franklin farm where she got a job at the Holiday Inn as a waitress. With the money saved from waiting tables, Evans and her brother Matt moved to Nashville in 1991.Template:Sfn

After moving to Nashville, Evans got a job waiting tables during the breakfast shift at another Holiday Inn restaurant. At the restaurant she would meet her first husband who was also a waiter at the Holiday Inn. The couple started datingTemplate:Sfn and temporarily moved to Aumsville, Oregon, in 1992. In Oregon, she performed billed as Sara Evans & North Santiam.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The couple married while in Oregon and spent three years there before returning to Nashville in the mid-1990s. Through her lawyer, Evans got a job as a demo singer. Among the demos she recorded was a cover of Buck Owens's "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail", which was originally intended to be sent to Patty Loveless. Her demo was heard by Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard who was impressed by Evans's traditional country singing style.Template:Sfn Howard convinced executives at RCA Records to hear Evans sing.<ref name="Allmusic"/> In a live audition for RCA executive Joe Galante, Evans sang three songs. The same day, Evans was offered a recording contract from RCA Records.Template:Sfn She accepted and signed a seven-album deal with the label.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Career

1997–1999: Three Chords and the Truth and early success

Country music artist Pete Anderson, playing an electric guitar onstage

Pete Anderson produced Evans's debut album.

Evans quit her job following the signing of her contract. She chose to have her album produced by Pete Anderson, a producer and guitarist best known for his work with Dwight Yoakam. To record the album, she moved to Los Angeles.Template:Sfn In July 1997, Three Chords and the Truth was released on RCA.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The album's sound centered around traditional honky tonk country and drew critical acclaim.<ref name="Country Music">Template:Cite book</ref> Allmusic's James Chrispell positively commented, "This disc rings out with an air of originality helped along by great tunes and solid backup musicianship."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Billboard commented, "At once a preserver of the best of country's history and a progressive writer and singer forging a timeless contemporary country sound, she invites favorable comparisons to the best country divas."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> However, the album was not commercially successful.<ref name="Country Music"/> The disc peaked at number 56 on the Billboard country albums chart.<ref name="Country Albums">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Its three singlesTemplate:Emdashin order of release, True Lies, the title track, and "Shame About That"Template:Emdashpeaked outside the Billboard country songs top 40.<ref name="Billboard Songs"/> According to Evans, country radio refused to play the singles, claiming they were "too country". "It was the most disheartening experience of my life–at least to this point," she reflected in her memoir.Template:Sfn

In an effort to have commercial success, Evans went back into the studio to record her next album. She intended to cut an album that was contemporary yet "without compromising" her musical interests.Template:Sfn The result was No Place That Far,<ref name="Country Music"/> released in October 1998 on RCA.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The project peaked at number 11 on the Billboard country albums chart.<ref name="Country Albums"/> While its lead single ("Cryin' Game") peaked outside the country top 40, its second single (the title track) reached the number one spot on the Billboard country songs chart.<ref name="Billboard Songs"/> Its success was due to the buy-in from country radio programmers who were invited to a private showcase of her new repertoire in Cincinnati, Ohio. "By the end of the show, they were all eating out of my hands and singing my praises," Evans recounted.Template:Sfn The album's final single "Fool, I'm a Woman" only reached number 32 on the country songs chart,<ref name="Billboard Songs"/> which disappointed Evans. "It felt like I was constantly starting over, like in Groundhog Day, with these people at country radio," she commented.Template:Sfn To rebuild career momentum, Evans hired a co-manager. Evans also discovered she was pregnant with her first child during this time. This caused friction with her record label who encouraged her to "lose the baby weight as soon as possible".Template:Sfn

2000–2005: Peak success

Evans was motivated to make shifts in her career after watching Faith Hill's "Breathe" music video. "I'm going to lose this weight, grow my hair long, and make the best album Nashville has ever heard," she recounted.Template:Sfn She was drawn to the bluegrass sound by Dixie Chicks and sought out their producer, Paul Worley. She also sought out rock session musician Matt Chamberlain to play drums. Together, they would craft Evans's third studio album.Template:Sfn In October 2000, Born to Fly was released on RCA Nashville. Evans co-produced the project with Worley.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The disc became Evans's breakout album, certifying double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over two million copies in the United States.<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref name="Born to Fly">Template:Cite web</ref> Critic Thom Jurek took notice of the record. He described Evans as having the "confidence and authority of a seasoned veteran who is in control of her work."<ref name="Born to Fly 2">Template:Cite web</ref> Born to Fly peaked at number six on the Billboard country albums chart<ref name="Country Albums"/> and number 55 on the Billboard 200.<ref name="Billboard 200">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Template:Listen Four singles were released from Born to Fly. First was the title track, which Evans co-wrote with Darrell Scott and Marcus Hummon.Template:Sfn This reached the number one spot on the Billboard country singles chart and number 34 on the Hot 100.<ref name="Billboard Songs"/><ref name="Hot 100">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Next was a cover of Edwin McCain's "I Could Not Ask for More",<ref name="Top 10">Template:Cite web</ref> followed by "Saints & Angels" and "I Keep Looking", the latter a top-five country hit in 2002.<ref name="Billboard Songs"/> In 2001, Evans received five nominations from the Country Music Association Awards. This included Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year. She later won Music Video of the Year for Born to FlyTemplate:'s title track.<ref name="CMA">Template:Cite web</ref> The Academy of Country Music Awards also nominated her for Top Female Vocalist.<ref name="ACM">Template:Cite web</ref> With her new success, Evans joined Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Jamie O'Neal, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson on the all-women headlining Girls Night Out Tour in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In August 2003, her fourth studio album Restless was released, with Evans and Worley continuing to co-produce.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Restless was met with mixed reviews. Writer Edward Morris described it as being "more pop than country in sound and attitude".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> James Christopher Monger found it to be "slick and predictable".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Restless debuted at number three on the Top Country Albums chart<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> reached number 20 on the Billboard 200<ref name="Billboard 200"/> and certified platinum in the United States.<ref name="RIAA">Template:Cite web</ref> While the lead single "Backseat of a Greyhound Bus", reached the top 20, its second single, "Perfect", climbed to the number two spot on Billboard country chart.<ref name="Billboard Songs"/> The album's third single was the traditionally-sounding "Suds in the Bucket". The song was not intended to be part of the project's track list but Evans pushed for its inclusion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It became her third number one song on the Billboard country chart. The fourth and final single "Tonight" was less successful, peaking outside the top 40 of Hot Country Songs in 2005.<ref name="Billboard Songs"/> Evans was subsequently nominated for several awards by the Academy of Country Music in both 2003 and 2004<ref name="ACM"/> She received similar nominations from the Country Music Association.<ref name="CMA"/> In 2004, she co-headlined the Mud & Suds Tour with Brad Paisley.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 2005, Evans released a cover of Radney Foster's "A Real Fine Place to Start". It became her fourth number one song on the Billboard country survey<ref name="Billboard Songs"/> and her fourth song to reach the Top 40 on Hot 100.<ref name="Hot 100"/> It would serve as the title track to her fifth studio album Real Fine Place, which was released in October 2005. Unlike her previous albums, Evans co-produced with Mark Bright.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Sue Keough of BBC called it "the perfect balance between radio-friendly country pop and the rootsy sounds she offered with her 1997 debut Three Chords And The Truth."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Meanwhile, Slant Magazine's Jonathan Keefe gave it 2.5 stars, calling its notoriety in her catalog "less than essential".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Despite mixed reviews, the disc was her first to top the Billboard country albums chart.<ref name="Country Albums"/> It also debuted at number three on the Billboard 200.<ref name="Billboard 200"/> Like its predecessors, it also certified platinum in sales.<ref name="RIAA"/> Real Fine Place also included the single "Cheatin'", which reached the number nine spot on the country chart. While the follow-up single "Coalmine" faltered on the charts, follow-up "You'll Always Be My Baby" reached number 13 in 2006.<ref name="Billboard Songs"/> She would also win the Top Female Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music.<ref name="ACM"/>

2006–2009: Setbacks and music hiatus

Country music singer Sara Evans, singing into a microphone.

Evans in concert, 2008

By 2006, Evans had reached the height of her career.Template:Sfn She was headlining her own tours,Template:Sfn and made almost 300 appearances in one year.Template:Sfn In August of that year, Evans joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars which aired on the ABC network. She made her first appearance on the show in September alongside dancing partner Tony Dovolani.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Evans moved her family to Beverly Hills, California where the show rented her a home while she competed on the program. "It was absolutely exhausting and totally invigorating at the same time," she reflected in her memoir.Template:Sfn At the same time, Evans's marriage to husband Craig Schelske was ending. The stress in her personal life caused Evans to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks.Template:Sfn A month following her first appearance, she announced her departure from the show after filing for divorce from Schelske.<ref name="Today">Template:Cite news</ref> "I had to quit working altogether, focus on my children, and really figure out what I was going to do," she later explained.Template:Sfn

Evans's divorce received widespread media attention between 2006 and 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Rejuvenate">Template:Cite news</ref> These personal events delayed plans for the recording of a studio album for several years. However, Evans did continue to sporadically release new music.<ref name="Rejuvenate"/> In 2007, RCA released her first compilation album of Greatest Hits.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The project reached number three on the Billboard country albums chart<ref name="Country Albums"/> and number eight on the Billboard 200.<ref name="Billboard 200"/> The disc featured twelve of her most popular recordings, along with four new tracks co-written by Evans.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> AllMusic's Thom Jurek gave the album three stars, criticizing its production and choice of material.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Three of its new songs were released as singles. Its lead single "As If" reached number 11 on the Billboard country songs chart. It was followed by the top 40 entry "Some Things Never Change".<ref name="Country Songs">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Later that year, she co-hosted the Country Music Association Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In May 2008, Evans appeared on CMT Crossroads, a music show on CMT which paired country music artists with pop music artists for collaborative performance. On her episode, she collaborated with pop band Maroon 5 to sing songs from both artists' catalogs.<ref name="Crossroads 1">Template:Cite news</ref> In September 2008, Evans recorded the theme song to film Billy: The Early Years. Released as a single, "Low" briefly charted on the Hot Country Songs chart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Country Songs"/> In June 2009, ABC Daytime and SOAPnet sponsored a tour, headlined by Evans, that featured performances throughout the middle of the year.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Evans's next single was "Feels Just Like a Love Song", which only peaked at number 59 on the country songs chart.<ref name="Country Songs"/> She ended 2009 by releasing an extended play of Christmas music titled I'll Be Home for Christmas. The release coincided with a two-month holiday tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010–2015: Comeback and career re-launch with Stronger

In 2010, Evans collaborated with author Rachel Hauck to write The Sweet By and By. Its follow up book, Softly and Tenderly, was released in January 2011. Both novels focused on Christian themes and the main characters explored their religious relationships.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Evans also returned to music in 2011. She enlisted record producer Nathan Chapman to help re-launch her career.<ref name="Rejuvenate"/> Evans also started searching for material and eventually found the song "A Little Bit Stronger". The song was co-written by Lady Antebellum lead singer Hillary Scott, who allowed Evans to record the song after that band did not cut it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was issued as a single in 2010 and topped the Hot Country Songs chart in 2011. "A Little Bit Stronger" became her first number one single since 2005 and spent two weeks at the top.<ref name="Country Songs"/> It was released on Evans's corresponding sixth studio album, Stronger.<ref name="Rejuvenate"/> The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums list and number six on the Billboard 200.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Stronger later certified gold in the United States.<ref name="RIAA"/>

A view of Sara Evans performing in concert.

Evans performing on Walmart Soundcheck, 2011

In mid-2011, Evans served as the opening act for Rascal Flatts on their Flatts Fest tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The duo continued touring through 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also in 2011, "A Little Bit Stronger" was nominated for Single of the Year by the Country Music Association Awards. The program also nominated Evans for Female Vocalist of the Year.<ref name="CMA"/> The Academy of Country Music Awards also nominated Evans for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2011.<ref name="ACM"/>

Evans felt pressure to sustain the commercial success from her comeback. "I've worked my ass off," she told Country Music Television. Evans had hoped to have "two or three big hits" off of Stronger.<ref name="Rejuvenate"/> The follow-up single, a cover of Rod Stewart's "My Heart Can't Tell You No", only reached number 21 on the Billboard country chart. It was followed by a third single, "Anywhere", which peaked outside the top 40 in 2012.<ref name="Country Songs"/> Evans also released her third novel in 2012 titled Love Lifted Me. The book was co-written again with Rachel Hauck and followed a similar story to that of her previous book releases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Evans also sang the National Anthem at Game two of the 2012 NBA Finals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Evans also sang the National Anthem at the start of Game 2 of the 2015 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In November 2012, Evans went back into the recording studio alongside Mark Bright to prepare for her next album project.<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A year later RCA released the single "Slow Me Down".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> According to Evans, the single required more promotion due to the popularity of Bro-country which had taken chart positions away from women. "I did something like forty-four free shows that year, on top of my regular touring dates," her memoir recalled.Template:Sfn Nevertheless, "Slow Me Down" peaked in the top 20,<ref name="Allmusic"/> climbing to number 19 on the Billboard country songs chart and number 17 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.Template:Efn<ref name="Country Songs"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Her seventh album of the same name was released in March 2014 on RCA.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The album reached number two on the Country Albums list<ref name="Country Albums"/> and number nine on the Billboard 200.<ref name="Billboard 200"/> It was named among the "Best of 2014" in AllMusic's year-end ranking<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and ranked number ten on Billboard's "Best Country Albums of 2014".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In October 2014, Evans appeared on ABC's Nashville, playing herself. She performed a duet version of her next single, "Put My Heart Down", with Will Chase, who performed in-character as Luke Wheeler.<ref name="ET">Template:Cite web</ref> Evans herself helped inspire the creation of the series lead Rayna Jaymes, as the writers consulted with her about her experiences as a working mother in the country music industry so that Rayna's character would come across as authentic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2014, Evans released her first full studio album of Christmas music titled At Christmas.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The project featured covers of Christmas songs along with original tunes. She later promoted the project on ABC's annual CMA Country Christmas television special.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In August 2015, Evans made a second appearance on CMT Crossroads, this time performing alongside rock band REO Speedwagon.<ref name="Crossroads 2">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

2016–present: New record label and career transition

After spending her entire recording career on RCA, Evans left the label in February 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Six months later, she announced that she would be signing a contract with Sugar Hill Records.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However the label underwent a restructuring and Evans ultimately decided to leave the contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same year, Evans appeared on the season finale of USA Network's Chrisley Knows Best. She performed a new track called "Infinite Love". The song was a duet with one of the show's cast members, Todd Chrisley.<ref name="Chrisley">Template:Cite magazine</ref> A recording by the pair appeared in 2016 that charted in the top 40 of the Billboard country chart.<ref name="Country Songs"/> Evans and several of her siblings also competed against the Chrisley family on the 2016 season finale of ABC's game show Celebrity Family Feud.<ref name="Feud">Template:Cite news</ref>

Evans had become increasingly frustrated with the country radio's lack of support for female artists. "No one seemed to respect all my previous success that I'd worked years to achieve," she recalled in her memoir.Template:Sfn The frustration prompted Evans to launch her own label titled Born to Fly Records. Sony RED partnered with the label to distribute the company's music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Now I'm in the driver's seat, and every decision is made between my managers and me," she commented.Template:Sfn The label released Words, her ninth studio record, in July 2017.<ref name="Allmusic"/> All fourteen of the album's tracks included credits from female songwriters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine commented that, "Words offers a sharp and welcome contrast to the bustling digital era."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press praised the album and concluded, "Artistic freedom has never sounded so good."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Words peaked at number four on the Billboard country albums chart<ref name="Country Albums"/> and number 46 on the Billboard 200.<ref name="Billboard 200"/> Despite heavy promotion, its lead single ("Marquee Sign") failed to make a chart appearance.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 2019, Evans collaborated with her son and daughter to release an EP named The Barker Family Band. The project featured harmonies from Evans and her children performing covers of songs by Aretha Franklin and Fleetwood Mac. A corresponding live album was recorded at City Winery in Nashville. Both projects were promoted through a mini tour that included five show dates in May 2019.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In May 2020, Evans released her tenth studio project titled Copy That.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The project was a collection of classic country and pop covers from different decades.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The album received mixed reviews. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine commented, "Copy That is a clever title for a covers album, but it also raises the question of whether these new cover versions are mere Xeroxes of the original."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Meanwhile, Jeffrey B. Remz of Country Standard Time found it to be "just too syrupy" in his review.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2020, Evans released a memoir that discussed highlights from her life and career. The book was published by Howard Books.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2023, Evans competed in season nine of The Masked Singer as "Mustang". She was eliminated during the season premiere alongside Dick Van Dyke as "Gnome".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> During this time, Evans stated that she started working on her next studio album that resembled neotraditional country sound.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2023, Evans signed with Melody Place Records.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The same year she accepted an invitation to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Her first Melody Place album was issued in June 2024 titled Unbroke. The project chronicled her marital conflicts and reconciliation with her second husband. The album's lead single "Pride" was issued in March 2024. Evans also created her own podcast titled Diving in Deep with Sara Evans which was also released in spring 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Artistry

Musical styles

Evans has embedded different styles of country music into her songs throughout her career.<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref name="Contemporary Country">Template:Cite book</ref> In her early career, Evans incorporated a traditional country sound on the albums Three Chords and the Truth and No Place That Far. Box Paxman explained, "Evans was hailed for her neo-traditional vocal style and obvious respect for country's past".<ref name="Born to Fly"/> When Evans released 2000's Born to Fly, her sound shifted towards a contemporary country musical identity. "Born to Fly marks an uptown shift in Evans' musical landscape. With Worley at the helm, the singer has made a much more contemporary record than her previous outings," commented Lisa Young of CMT.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Thom Jurek from AllMusic noted a similar theme while reviewing the disc: "Born to Fly emphasizes the more contemporary sounds on the recording, while placing some of the rootsy bluegrass back in the mix."<ref name="Born to Fly 2"/>

Country music singer Sara Evans, singing into a microphone with her arms outstretched

Evans performing for the military in 2012

When the genre shifted back to a traditional country style, Evans followed suit with 2005's Real Fine Place. Writer Jacquilynne Schlesier found Evans to be a "natural choice to lead the parade" considering the acclaim she received from her debut album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Critic Johnny Loftus also found a traditional element to her 2005 transition, commenting that, "Real Fine Place is sure to lure traditional country fans with Evans' rich vocal presence and the album's assertion that the simplest things in life are its truest."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As the genre shifted towards a pop and rock-inspired sound, Evans's music also made the shift. In his review of 2011's Stronger, Jurek highlighted how Evans was attentive to the changing trends: "Contemporary country music has undergone a tumultuous shift in terms of its production style and songwriting trends. Though her life experiences--good and bad--have kept her from recording, Evans reveals here she's been paying close attention."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ken Tucker of NPR found Evans to have fondness for pop and that she found more confidence singing it her later career: "It's undeniable that on her last album, 2011's Stronger, and this new one [2014's] Slow Me Down, Evans has located a new undercurrent of steely firmness that has only strengthened her singing."<ref name="NPR">Template:Cite news</ref> After leaving RCA Records, Evans began experimenting with other musical styles, particularly on the 2020 album Copy That. Reflecting on her current musical style, Evans commented, "For the first time in my career, I felt like I didn't have to stay in any certain genre".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> When promoting her eleventh album Unbroke, Evans cited a desire to return to more traditional country sounds and lyrics.

Voice

Writers and critics have highlighted the power of Evans's voice. Ken Tucker of NPR commented, "Sara Evans is a singer with a big voice who knows what to do with it. Her phrasing is conversational; she rarely tries to goose the emotion in a song by stretching out syllables or leaping registers."<ref name="NPR"/> In reviewing a live show, Emily Yahr of The Washington Post described Evans as having a "crystal-clear powerhouse twang."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Other journalists have noted that Evans's singing has a specific identity. AllMusic's John Bush described her as having "an instantly recognizable contralto"<ref name="Allmusic"/> while The Boot wrote, "Evans has built a hugely successful career on the strength of her song choices, as well as her readily identifiable voice."<ref name="Top 10"/>

Personal life

First marriage, children and divorce

Evans married Craig Schelske in 1993. At the time of their marriage, Schelske was an aspiring musician.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=autogenerated1 /> In 2002, Schelske ran in the Republican primary for Oregon's 5th congressional district but was unsuccessful.<ref name=autogenerated1>Template:Cite web</ref> After Evans became commercially successful, the couple moved into a home located in Franklin, Tennessee. They also had a residence outside Aumsville, Oregon, and a residence in Missouri.<ref name="Franklin">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1999, Evans gave birth to their first son, Avery Jack.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She had a daughter named Olivia Margaret in 2003,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a second daughter named Audrey Elizabeth one year later.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Evans's children are also musical; both Avery and Olivia have performed in her touring band, the former as a guitarist and the latter as a vocalist.<ref name="Barker Family Band">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Her daughter debuted in 2021, and her son currently tours as part of Thomas Rhett's band.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In September 2025, Evans became a grandmother when her younger daughter Audrey and her boyfriend John Headley welcomed their first child, a son.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After her 2006 departure from Dancing with the Stars, it was disclosed that Evans had filed for divorce from Schelske.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In court documents, Evans accused Schelske of unemployment, alcoholism, infidelity, watching adult entertainment with their children present, maintaining sexually explicit photographs of himself and others, and verbal abuse. Schelske denied all of his wife's claims. He explained that the "interrupted adult entertainment viewing" was inadvertent and involved both Schelske and Evans. Schelske also claimed that his explicit photograph collection was limited to images of the married couple, and counterclaimed that Evans had numerous personal problems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Schelske accused Evans of having multiple affairs with fellow musicians, including Kenny Chesney. A representative for Chesney called the allegations "ridiculous".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On September 28, 2007, the divorce between Evans and Schelske became final. The divorce agreement established a joint custody plan for their three children, a split of marital assets, and an alimony agreement whereby Evans would pay Schelske at least $500,000 over 10 years.<ref name=autogenerated1/> Subsequently, Evans's ex-nanny sued her for $3 million,<ref name="tennessean.com">Template:Cite web</ref> claiming that Evans had smeared her name by accusing her of an affair with Schelske.<ref name="tennessean.com"/> The lawsuit was settled in July 2009 for $500,000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following their divorce, Evans obtained two temporary restraining orders against Schelske in 2010 and 2011, restricting him from making any derogatory statements to the media about Evans or their former marriage.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Schelske also sued Evans's Nashville attorney John Hollins Sr. and his firm (Hollins, Wagster, Yarbrough, Weatherly & Raybin, P.C.) for "slander, false light and other damages" after Hollins gave an October 2006 interview to People magazine regarding Evans's divorce claims. That lawsuit resulted in an undisclosed financial settlement and a written apology from Hollins in 2011, which stated in part: "My firm and I represented Sara Evans in a highly contested divorce from Craig Schelske... to the best of my ability. I regret that my actions on behalf of Sara Evans caused Mr. Schelske harm in any way." Schelske issued a public statement thanking God, family, and friends for staying alongside during the period and stating: "Sara is not my enemy... Hollins... he's the one who did this."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Quote box

Second marriage

Through her marriage counselor, Evans would meet her second husband, Jay Barker. The pair first began exchanging emails in 2007 and started a romantic relationship shortly afterward.Template:Sfn Barker was a former University of Alabama quarterback and, at the time of their meeting, was a radio host. The pair married in Franklin on June 14, 2008; their children were their attendants.<ref>Sara Evans Marries Her Football Hero - Weddings, Sara Evans. People.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2015.</ref><ref>Finan, Eileen. (June 17, 2008) FIRST LOOK: Sara Evans Wedding Photo - Weddings, Music News, Sara Evans. People.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2015.</ref> Barker shared custody of four children with his ex-wife, totaling seven kids when both families were present. "We are truly a family. We don't think of it as 'blended'; they are just our kids. But we also understand our roles. If I'm around when Sara's kids' father is around, I give him his place as their dad," Barker explained in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The family later settled in Mountain Brook, Alabama, which is a suburb of Birmingham.Template:Sfn

In 2019, the family returned to Nashville so that Evans could live in closer proximity to the country music business.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On January 15, 2022, Barker was arrested for aggravated assault, after he allegedly attempted to use his car to hit Evans while she was a passenger in a friend's car after leaving a party. The arrest affidavit has the couple listed as separated,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and that Evans had filed for divorce prior to the incident in August 2021, citing "irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Barker responded on social media to his arrest claiming that the reports "do not adequately capture the full context and complex fabric of our lives". Barker was released from the Davidson County Jail on a $10,000 bond and was scheduled for a court appearance in March 2022.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In June 2022, Barker entered a plea deal and was sentenced to a year of probation. Around that time, a divorce between Evans and Barker was "in progress", according to Billboard.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In a March 2024 interview, Evans stated that the couple had reconciled and are living together again.<ref name="People separation">Template:Cite magazine</ref> She stated that both of them had been in therapy together (and separately) to work on their relationship. Evans expressed anxiety about how people would view her getting back together with Barker and stressed that her decision to stay with him was not meant as a prescription for any relationship facing similar circumstances.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Personal setbacks and challenges

Evans has suffered from panic attacks and anxiety at different points in her life.<ref name="iHeart">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Car Accident"/> In her memoir, Evans described having a "meltdown" in December 2005 once realizing her first marriage was ending. She recounted having "terrifying thoughts" of being kidnapped and losing control of herself. Evans refused to leave her Nashville home for ten days and was afraid to "walk from one room to another". She was also briefly brought into the hospital and diagnosed with "exhaustion". Evans found solace in her Christian faith and began working with a pastor, who helped her gain control of her mental health. "He encouraged me to just stay home for the time being and get rest and let God do the rest," she remembered.Template:Sfn Evans also prescribed an anxiolytic.<ref name="iHeart"/>

In December 2012, Evans was nearly killed in a plane crash in Minnesota.Template:Sfn<ref name="Car Accident"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following a successful takeoff, the aircraft's gyroscope malfunctioned, causing her private plane to fly upside down.Template:Sfn "I knew we had not been in the air long, so we were probably seconds from dying. I completely accepted it. It was so strange and peaceful," her memoir recalled.Template:Sfn The pilots were able to recenter the plane despite its one wing breaking. The pilots then made an emergency landing in Fargo, North Dakota.Template:Sfn

Advocacy

Evans is a spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association and has spoken out widely on this subject.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She was influenced to become their spokesperson after having a close friend suffer from anorexia. "Thankfully, I have never suffered from an eating disorder but am well aware of our society’s obsession with body image," she told CMT.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> She also hosted a charity event, Fashion for Every Body, which featured a fashion show, silent auction, and performance by Evans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A libertarian Republican, Evans showed support for Texas Congressman Ron Paul in the 2008 United States presidential election and was the headliner at his Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic on September 2, 2008, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the same day as the 2008 Republican National Convention in neighboring St. Paul, Minnesota.<ref>McCarthy, Daniel (September 22, 2008) Ron Paul's Party, The American Conservative</ref>

Discography

Studio albums

• Three Chords and the Truth (1997)
• No Place That Far (1998)
• Born to Fly (2000)
• Restless (2003)
• Real Fine Place (2005)
• Stronger (2011)
• Slow Me Down (2014)
• At Christmas (2014)
• Words (2017)
• Copy That (2020)
• Unbroke (2024)

Awards and nominations

Evans has won several awards for her work as a music artist. This includes one accolade from the Academy of Country Music<ref name="ACM"/> and one accolade from the Country Music Association.<ref name="CMA"/>

Filmography

Film and television appearances by Sara Evans

Title	Year	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
Dancing with the Stars	2006	Herself	13 episodes	<ref name="Today"/>
CMT Crossroads	2008, 2015	Herself	2 starring episodes	<ref name="Crossroads 1"/><ref name="Crossroads 2"/>
Nashville	2014	Herself		<ref name="ET"/>
Chrisley Knows Best	2016	Herself		<ref name="Chrisley"/>
Celebrity Family Feud		Herself		<ref name="Feud"/>
The Talk	2018	Herself	Guest co-host	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Nashville Squares	2019	Herself	Center Square	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
A Nashville Christmas Carol	2020	Belinda Manners		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Masked Singer	2023	Herself/The Mustang	Season 9 Premiere	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Books

• You'll Always Be My Baby Template:Small (2006)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Sweet By and By Template:Small (2010)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Softly and Tenderly Template:Small (2011)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Love Lifted Me Template:Small (2012)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Born to Fly: A Memoir (2020)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

References

Books

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Official website