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Hey, She’s a Country Girl Kristi Miller

By A.R. Thomas
Photos Provided

Much has been written concerning the abundance of musical talent that emanates from the Bluegrass State.  Kentucky-bred artists such as The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakum, Billy Ray Cyrus, Montgomery-Gentry and Patti Loveless are world due to their contributions to the Country Music Industry.  Soon to be joining their ranks is Eastern Kentucky native Kristi Miller.  While growing up just a stone’s throw away from U.S. 23, otherwise known as The Country Music Highway, Kristi was given a solid musical foundation through her mother, who sang in church, and by her father, both a songwriter and a collector/dealer of records, giving Kristi access to a huge variety of music to explore. “He was the one that encouraged me to try putting music to my original poetry,” said Kristi, speaking of her father.  “He’d say,  ‘You need to record that tune; don’t be lazy; record it and go back to see how to make it better!”  Along with developing her writing career, Kristi wanted to take mandolin lessons, purchase musical equipment, and take vocal lessons.  She secured a position working “clean-up” at a local tool and die factory while her parents “bartered” ads for studio time in their monthly Christian magazine, The Seeker (a family business founded by the Millers which led to a profitable publication with distribution throughout 20 counties.)

Just as Kristi seemed to have her career going in the right direction, tragedy struck as her mother, suffering from Crohn’s Disease, passed away.  “My mother left me with so many important lessons.  She was so strong-willed, even through her terrible circumstances.” Kristi remembers, “She said if you want something, go after it.  If there’s any possible way to reach within and find the strength to press, then press on; because it’s worth it!”

Following the loss of her mother, Kristi had to undertake a more prominent role in management of The Seeker.  Though she was doing everything from ad sales to writing articles to driving the three-day distribution route, this blonde dynamo was able to squeeze in performances at famed venues such as the Pigeon Forge Tennessee Memories Theater.  Spotted by former Oak Ridge Boy and nationally known Christian music artist, Gary McSpadden, Kristi soon found herself cast in several variety shows with (Gary’s help) in addition to performing on commercials for Clear Channel Radio.

With her father’s continuous support, Kristi began to visit Nashville “while I had the chance.”  Writing and recording with producer, Dan Sarafini, Kristi has kept a sense of humor about life “that is apparent in most of the music I write.”  She believes her best work so far is the song Country Girl (co-written with Dan Sarafini), as it allows her to express her energetic spirit and explains the old fashioned values that have been instilled throughout her whole life.  And as for the live performance side, she has since opened for both bluegrass and country stars such as Dale Anne Bradley, Ralph Stanley, and Jason Michael Carroll.  Now and for the last three years, she has been averaging 150 dates per year all the way from Pennsylvania to the Deep South, performing full band and acoustic shows.

Through loving support and overwhelming adversity, Kristi has pressed on, just as her mother advised her.  Blessed by the belief of her family and with immense talent, Kristi is charting a career course that is both successful in life as well as her career.

To learn more about Kristi Miller, please visit her website at www.kristimiller.net
Or her Myspace at
www.myspace.com/kristimillerartist .