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Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road Comment By Wade Allen More Content Now MailTribune.com By Wade Allen More Content Now Posted May. 6, 2015 at 8:32 AM By Wade Allen More Content Now Posted May. 6, 2015 at 8:32 AM » Social News Suzy Bogguss hit the big time in the early ’90s with hit songs blending contemporary and classic country with the sound of folk music. “Someday Soon,” perhaps her most famous song, was recorded decades before by singer/songwriter Judy Collins. But once Bogguss started singing it, audiences loved it. It’s been a mainstay on country radio ever since she recorded it. Bogguss said she knew it would be a hit but had to fight to get the chance to record it. Music executives thought it would draw too many comparisons to Collins’ version. Bogguss toured with Alabama and Clint Black in those days. She only had one song on the radio and when she would sing “Someday Soon” at live performances, people loved it. She said her record label was sure recording the song would be bad news, but it was released as her first single anyway. “It ended up going platinum, so I guess it went OK,” Bogguss said. She’s now 58 and still on the road performing. She said two guys join her on stage to perform mainly an acoustic show. One guy plays an upright bass, the other plays electric and acoustic guitars. Bogguss sings and plays an acoustic guitar. “We do a real eclectic mix of the songs I did in the nineties,” she said. Haven’t heard from Suzy Bogguss in a while? Here’s what she’s been up to. SHE HAS A BRAND-NEW ALBUM Released a CD in February called “Lucky,” paying homage to Merle Haggard. It features 12 classic songs he once recorded including “Silver Wings,” “The Bottle Let Me Down,” and “Today I Started Loving You Again.” SHE STILL PERFORMS AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY Pretty regularly, too, as a matter of fact. Bogguss also performs in the Opry Country Classics show in Nashville, Tenn. She said the Opry is very active and much more “open armed” these days. “They’re really encouraging the young acts to come out and feel part of the fold,” she said. Some of the older stars are still around. Bill Anderson, Jan Howard, and Connie Smith still grace the famed stage. But the Opry has lost its share of singers in the past few years, and Bogguss said that’s sad. “It’s sort of the end of an era in a way,” she said. SHE’S ON THE ROAD PERFORMING Bogguss’ son is now in college and her husband goes on the road with her. Last year, she performed more than 100 concerts. “I’m really enjoying it. It’s great to be back full speed,” she said. “We get all over the place… the UK, Canada… wherever people come out, we’re happy to be there.” SHE DOESN’T KEEP A SET LIST ON STAGE Flying by the seat of her pants is how she prefers to perform live. With only two musicians onstage accompanying her, they don’t really know what songs they’ll play. And they’re open to random requests. “Whatever comes up and seems like the next song, I just start it and the guys just follow me,” she said. Spontaneity is the name of the game. Smaller venues allow her to hear chatter among the crowd. She works in new material with the classics, and it often ends up becoming a greatest hits show. SHE LOOKS UP TO THE BEST Bogguss counts Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt as inspirations for her music. What does she admire about them? For starters, they’re all different. Parton’s songwriting talent and business sense is “phenomenal,” and Harris has “the best song sense of anybody I have ever met in my life,” Bogguss said. “Every time she picks a song to sing, I think ‘Oh my gosh, that was a great choice,’” she said. “She knows what to sing for her voice and what relates to the audience.” As for Ronstadt, Bogguss said her voice is beautiful and powerful. Wade Allen is a feature writer for The Shelby (N.C.) Star and The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette. By Wade Allen More Content Now MailTribune.com By Wade Allen More Content Now Posted May. 6, 2015 at 8:32 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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