Lainey Edwards stands on the stage of the new Choctaw Nation Grand Theater the night before she performed in Durant. She had returned to her home state and the land of her tribe to share her blend of rock ‘n’ roll and country.
Choctaw Singer Lainey Edwards Proving She’s a ‘Lucky Girl’
By Brandon Frye
Choctaw Nation
Durant, Okla. Lainey Edwards, of Moore, began stomping out her own musical path early in life, making her way to Nashville as a performer and the voice of a popular radio show.
“It was just a soul thing,” Edwards said, “At age 9, I just knew. I told both of my parents, and I auditioned for the school talent show before asking them.”
This was one of her first musical steps, made back when she lived in Moore as a young Oklahoma tomboy. She received full support from Marty and Karen Edwards, her parents. Both were musically talented. Edwards’ father served as song leader at the family’s home church for 25 years, and he and her mother both sang at weddings.
Edwards said her parents have always enjoyed music. Her father preferred country, and her mother was more of a rock ‘n’ roll kind of person. “I think I have a great mixture of both of them and their loves,” she said.
With such a musical environment, and such supportive parents, it is no surprise by the age of 12 Edwards was performing frequently at the Oklahoma Opry in Oklahoma City. And it wasn’t long after the family followed Lainey to Nashville to pursue her ambitions.
It’s not an easy task, moving to a city full of musicians and pushing into singer-songwriter stardom. But, Edwards is on her way, and offers appreciation for every songwriter, musician, friend, and family member who has played a role in her journey so far.
“Moving to Nashville, everyone has huge hopes and aspirations. I moved to town with a team of people who believed in me,” she said. “There have been so many great lessons to be learned, so many great people to learn from.”
In particular, she tends to shower praise upon her band members, referred to as “the tribe” in the official name for her group: Lainey Edwards and the Tribe. She also considers her fans to be a part of her tribe.
In 2009 Edwards recorded and released her first album, “Lucky Girl,” it included 12 songs that she co-wrote.
This summer she released a new five-song extended play, or EP, called “Barnstormin’.” The title track of the EP is a party song likely to transport most anyone who grew up as a southerner back to memories of their roots.
Edwards has joined the list of proud Oklahoman country music performers, alongside the likes of Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, and Toby Keith – only Edwards holds an additional pride close to her: being a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
She said there aren’t many other performers with black hair, chocolate brown eyes, and the skin tone her heritage has offered her. Edwards said she embraces her heritage and where she came from.
“My passion is to get back into Oklahoma as much as I can, work with my own tribe, develop awareness towards the culture,” Edwards said. “Everyone is so fascinated when I say I am Native American. I am extremely proud of it.”
She recently returned to Oklahoma and to the Nation to perform in Durant and Pocola, and is planning on coming back soon for more shows.
In addition to her country-rock performances, Lainey has taken on the role of hosting a radio show called “Latest with Lainey” every Saturday. Her show offers a behind-the-scenes look at the music scene in Nashville. The show currently reaches nearly 50,000 music fans a week, and can be found online at www.lotoradio.com.
Her official website is www.laineyedwards.com, where you can watch her new music video “Barnstormin’,” as well as listen to some of her songs, read up on her latest news, and plan ahead to see one of her shows.