Sarah Ross

Signed to Average Joes Entertainment after the label head, Shannon Houchins, saw her on "American Idol” and looked up her videos on the internet, Sarah has been in Nashville one short year yet has already found recording success. The singer recorded with the label's group, The Lacs, on their #3Billboard album, and one of her songs, "Knock 'Em Dead," was on the compilation album "Mud Digger 4," along with label mates Colt Ford, the Lacs with J.J. Lawhorn and Montgomery Gentry. She also claims her country roots along with Colt Ford in “We All Country” by the Moonshine Bandits. The upcoming album, "Mud Digger 5," will have another of Sarah's compositions, "Shotgun," as its lead single. She has already filmed the video for the tune, a gritty warning to guys about what might happen if they are found cheating on their sweetheart. "As a little girl I grew up listening to my daddy’s all-time favorites -- Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, George Strait, Patsy Cline and Martina McBride," says the young lady who grew up on a farm just south of Atlantic City. It didn’t take long before she started flipping through radio stations, from country to rap and back, discovering tunes she loved from favorites Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Justin Moore, Jason Aldean, Eminem, Wiz, Drake and Nicki Minaj, and, of course, her country rap label mates. One of the audiences that enjoy the music Sarah and her label mates sing and perform are folks who love mud sports. While the singer is well acquainted with hanging out with friends who like to drive their pickup trucks on the back trails of the farms around her southern New Jersey town, she had never been to any of those type sporting events until she moved to the south. "My friends and I always had a great time taking our four wheelers and trucks out trail riding and deer spotting. When it rained, we would head to nearby historical Batsto to get all muddy riding through the creeks and trails. So I’ve done that kind of thing but not at an ‘official’ mud bog." The singer of Italian descent admits that now when she attends the bogging events, she does so as a spectator, not a participant, unless she rides shotgun. "My four wheeler is back home and my dad would kill me if I got a scratch on my truck," she admits with a laugh. Sarah began singing at 15 and started taking voice lessons at 16. She credits her vocal coach, Sal DuPree, who has worked with artists including “America’s Got Talent” million dollar-winner Bianca Ryan, “Star Search” champion Tiffany Evans, the group Choice with Alisha Moore (Pink), Miss Americas, Broadway stars and participants in TV singing competitions, for being a huge part of her career. Soon after starting to work with DuPree, Sarah was winning singing competitions throughout Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. Winning and recognizing that people enjoyed her music was the catalyst for pursuing a musical career path rather than following in her mother's footsteps as a nurse. Her mother was not totally disappointed in Sarah's journey to a music career. It was actually she who encouraged her daughter to try out for "American Idol" season 12. Sarah went all the way to Hollywood singing a country song and rapping one of Nikki Minaj’s songs for her, which the judge absolutely loved. Judge Keith Urban said it best, telling Sarah she was “like an IPOD shuffle, never knowing what you’re gonna get.” Minaj told her she shouldn’t have to choose between the two genres. Sarah decided to heed that advice …she didn’t choose … she combined them! “You’re No Good,” a Linda Ronstadt hit, was the first song Sarah combined rap with country on. She sang the first verse and chorus, then rapped the second verse. She recorded a video for YouTube which has become her most popular video to date, and is the one that Shannon saw that caused him to call her to Nashville for a meeting. Sarah is now working on her debut album in Nashville, writing most of the tunes that she will record. "I’m writing some as well as co-writing. I learn more about myself every time I write alone. Co-writing with some amazing writers has opened my mind to ideas I never knew existed. I also love writing songs about things I enjoy as well as telling the stories from the minds of others. "I'm not sure all the songs on the album will be rap mixed with country," the singer continues. "One of my favorite songs so far, "Calm Before the Storm," was written with Jared Scuillo and Mallary Hope. I have recorded one version where I sing the chorus and rap the verses, and the other version I sing the entire song." The album will continue in the vein of the single "Shotgun" from "Mud Diggers 5," a "bad ass, harder and grittier country. I'm not the mushy relationship-type who stands around and cries because he left me, but on the same note I would never do what the video leads the mind to believe I did…" Sarah has one trait that she gets from her father which will do well for her in the music career that she has chosen. She doesn't worry; she just figures that if it's going to happen it will. "I do feel like I have a weight on my shoulders since I am the first female to do this kind of music, so that does make me step up my game," she admits. “It all began with a passion for eclectic music and unique sounds. I hope it will connect with others who have an open mind and also enjoy a variety of country and rap music.” “It’s kind of crazy but in a cool way, when you see all the country/rap collaborations such as Tim McGraw and Florida Georgia Line with Nelly, Jason Aldean with Ludacris and Brad Paisley with LL Cool J. Florida Georgia Line even raps on “This is How We Roll.” It's all about who does it, if it works and who believes in you. Country music is evolving. It has its roots and that’s here to stay. I would never want to try and change it, just add a variation." Sarah is in Nashville to stay. While she misses her family and the horse farm in Southern New Jersey, and roaming the 240 acres with her cousins, Sarah is committed to making the music she loves. There is no turning back. As she says, there is no Plan B.