I'm here in Muskegon, MI for the Summer Celebration.  The weather is absolutely perfect and the attendance was great yesterday...maybe the best in five years.  I sang my new song "This View" with my new track mix that I finished last week.  I think what's left on the song will be some backgrounds and percussion; I was surprised how full it sounded as it stands.  When I get back to Nashville my goal is to get another song ready for the background singers (I'll let my producer pick which one).

I'm staying with author Virginia Sobel who is a well-known motivtional speaker.  Needless to say we have been "motivating" each other this weekend.  We are also sharing recent injuries to our backs, so we've been exchanging words of wisdom and comfort reguarding taking care of our bodies.  It's hard to do my job, let alone any job with a back strain, but I'm very grateful that I am able to sleep in a quiet, luxurious bed and eat delicious organic food. 

I hope you all have fun today watching the fireworks!  Tonight there is a very special event happening...a very talented young lady will be performing in Orlando at 4pm so I hope you can send out a little prayer for her.  Her name is Austin McLaughlin.  Below is a quote describing her amazing journey towards what may well be a very successful career as a country singer/songwriter.

"...Austin won first place (in the first round) with 31 percent -- making it into the top 10!!   She then went on to the next round at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando - where the contest added 2 wild card selections. Austin's performance brought the place to a "stand-still" and she was selected as one of the 8 finalists out of 12!!! The next stop is this Saturday, July 4th, in Orlando, Fl at Lake Eola with 150,000 people in attendance!!!"

She is one to watch!!!!  I'll keep you posted...I hear she has a Facebook page where you can find her.

God Bless America.

I am finally blogging again which lets you all know that YES I'm coming to Michigan!! YES I'm OK!!   No, the new album isn't done but it's coming along FABULOUSLY as I have a *great* producer helping me...come see me live and I'll sing some for you....

I haven't felt this good in two years.  I had no idea that heart disease could make you feel like you had the flu every day.  They say that women have different symptoms than men, and they are absolutely right.  I now feel confident enough to go back to yoga after working out on the treadmill the past few days.  My heart rate has gone up to 130 thus far (before the surgery my heart was unable to pump over 105 bpm).  I'm taking it slow, but just the past few days I've almost forgotten I have a pacemaker. 

(For the curious, I was diagnosed with Sick Sinus Syndrome in the early 90's at a very young age, and I've just been holding out for the right time and doctors to repair my heart.)

This weekend finds me in Grand Haven, MI, then I drive to St. Louis and fly to Oregon for the week.  I am in the studio every day with specific orders not to talk too much until I sing :(  Too much is riding on it.  Shhhh!

Back to the microphone!  Work that heart!

xoxoxo

Hello everyone.  It's been way too long since I posted anything, and even though I've got a pretty good excuse I apologize.  I'm  baaaaaack!

Today finds me *dry* and well at a festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  We've been getting rainy weekends the entire month, and today is no exception.  I think back on the the times when I was first doing outdoor festivals and the weather used to traumatize me.  It takes a lot more than a little rain to do that now...

I have this really neat pastel green rain jacket that keeps me comfortable, and I'm counting my blessings that I rented my tent this weekend.  Packing wet tents at the close of a show is not pleasant.

I started cutting my new album in earnest last week.  I had a lot of pain and health issues to work through before I could do it, and I am definately on the "happy" side since the operation two weeks ago. 

I wish there had been someone to tell me that the procedure would be life-altering.  There are blogs out there, but nothing really "heartfelt".  There is a whole emotional component that is hard to quantify until you start communicate with other heart disease survivors.  I *only* had a pacemaker implant and a catheter ablation in an effort to stop my heart from further deterioration, so I didn't really feel like I was undergoing anything serious until I started talking with the Doctor right before the operation. (!)  Hmmmm.

Then there's the huge ???? of being able to go back to work.  I can say thankfully after my first week in the studio singing and one whole 14 hour day performing that I'm glad I fixed my heart.  Just the comfort knowing that I won't faint while so far away from home is worth it, as I've lived with that fear for too long.  I now have a perfect EKG.  I even come with a warranty.

What do I miss the most?  I miss introducing a new album, I miss travel, and I miss you!  I'm baaaaaaaack!

I want everyone to know that we had a Fabulous Concert here in Bismarck.  The crowd was so full of energy and filled the venue with their great applause and a standing ovation at the end.  I can't say enough nice things about the musicians, the venue, the sound crew, and the promotional people that treated me so wonderfully.  My special thanks goes to the Bismarck Art and Galleries Association and the North Dakota Historical Society for bringing me to the Belle Mehus Theatre.

My accommodations were stellar--I just spent the week in the Presidential Suite where I am writing from right now.  Tonight I had dinner and played Wii for the first time with the concert contractor and his wife over at their beautiful home.

Tomorrow I fly home to Nashville and get everything sorted out that has been on the back burner for months.  Believe me, it's a big ol' pile of work, too.

I have lots and lots of video to go through of the show.  But first I have to shoot a music video for the TV station up here before rocketing off to Florida next weekend.

Thanks to everyone again!!!!!

Blessings

Kayte

Friends:

After getting up at 5 am to do laundry and clean my home and pack...I made it here to ND among people who had been sleeping in the airport since yesterday to get "my" flight.  Then we get on the flight and the pilot announces to us all that he has enough gas to make it to Bismarck, and then he might turn around and get back to Minneapolis if the narrow weather window doesn't hold.....no flights are getting thru and many of the interstates are closed.

No buses, no taxis, but the Radisson Shuttle gets to the airport (one of few) and takes us to safety.  Now tell me God doesn't have a hand in this!  So here I am, being treated as nicely as can be....beautiful view of the the city and the snow and first class treatment.  This is why I LOVE Bismarck!!!

I found out on the incoming flight that I have a phenomenal band behind me
and my first TV appearance is tomorrow.  I'm SO wiped from the rehearsals in Nashville.  I can't let them down, and I won't.  So I rehearsed to tape 2X and did all the wardrobe changes. 

This hotel suite has lights that turn on when you walk in the room....and all the sofas are leather.  So many rooms, and I've set up the rehearsal area today so I can work nonstop.   It's a HOUSE!

I'm such a simple girl that all this star treatment is not taken lightly.  Yeah, I might have earned it, but frankly I am the most grateful person that can be after working this hard. 

I want everyone to know that I am using Aveda products for the show on my hair as my stylist asked me in Nashville and I said that's all I like now.....this is not an AD just a nod to what works!

How scary to have such support.  Thank you everyone.

xoxoxo   Kayte

Last night we had all of the tornado sirens going off here as funnels passed by.  As I prepared my "safe spot" (my linen closet inside the bathroom) I asked myself, "What do I need to put here in my safety area with me?"  I recall times when in So. Cal. flames had come right up to our homes and I had the wedding and family photos and some clothes and some music gear thrown in the getaway car....not the same with a tornado.  There is no "getaway".

Yesterday I took the sole box of the charts I had written for the gig on Thursday and assured myself that's what I would hang onto for dear life.  We were lucky and the tornadoes skipped our area again, just like earlier this year. 

I'm going to be taping the show today here in my studio, and getting my toes and nails done to match the outfit I bought for the TV interview on Tuesday.  It's really cute and it was on sale, too!

I keep thinking that all I want to do when all of this is done is hop on a plane home to see Dad (he doesn't see the internet so I can say it here) for his birthday as a surprise.  Then I want to go skiing.  It will seem warm after this week.....lol.

Kayte

I am going to blog this trip as it may be significant.  I will be flying into the ND disaster zone to perform and to hopefully help in any way I can.  I'm preparing with what little clothes I have since I left all my ski gear in Oregon last year blindly thinking I'd never need it.   As a former ski pro I see what I may need to weather the weather.   I've done it in the past so I tease about my "Minnesota Tough" experiences, but this may be of epic proportions!

The concert will still go on, but my dreams are to be of some help to the disaster relief in some way as the flooding continues to be a threat.  I have a whole week in the state so I'll report back as to how everyone can be of some help to these people who are enduring the worst floods in a lifetime.  I have my camera and blog ready to help document this event.  I'm no journalist but I'm going to try.  Our own TN Red Cross is on the scene so I know that if I can find a way to show you how much help is needed, I will.

Stay tuned--I just might make the flights thru MN and into Bismarck on Pinnacle to the zone so everyone will have confidence in these airlines again.

Pray for ND!

Kayte

Hi everyone who wonders where I went!

I'm in rehearsals for my first major headliner on April 2nd, and I have a new agent that will come in and help me on the rest of the tour. Today I did radio spots and ran the show for the first time to tape so I now know I have much to review. I will be with a 7-piece band on the first date, and all of you in ND will be in for something really special since my new business partners have blessed me with a powerful catalog and moral support. This being an unusual economy has blessed me in so many ways as I have always championed the positive -- and boy do we all need it now!

I am still doing a few festivals but the television airplay of my songs has afforded me to take care of my health (first and foremost) as many of you know I need what is called an "ablation" and possibly a pacemaker to keep up such a schedule. I have the best doctors here in Nashville so I have planned to take a month off after this grueling winter tour to get my self in order. What is so cool is to be able to go home and be with my family during my recovery whom I miss so much!

The new record is being watched over and hopefully critiqued by one of the greatest talents in the biz here. It's so much fun to have him producing as his energy is so positive, like-minded and he's had so many hits.  We just had our first and final visual run-through in my studio today and I was "well-rehearsed" so now I'll get to the other tasks at hand.   If I'm behind on the website and tweets and facebook etc. that's why.

I tell everyone that I'm going at the "Rate of Kayte". Everything gets done but I have to breathe and take care of myself before tending to the biz right now. So if I'm slow on returning emails, etc. I'm not ignoring you, I'm just going through a lot.

The good news is that the music is better than ever. Pain is part of change, and I am now on my two feet again.

Come see the shows. I have more to give than ever!

Blessings

Kayte

Just another short note...I'm in rehearsals for the tour and last week's live show at Marco Island on their stage was GREAT!  I love the venue and all of the staff and I want to give my thanks to everyone who made it possible.

I just picked out my second "gown" with help from my fashion consultant in Vero (XOXOXOXO) and I can't wait to wear it on the big stage.   Let's just say that it will be as good as the music, and in my favorite colors--Black & White!  That's probably why I play piano......

The new album is now sounding killer in rehearsal;  I'm counting the 30 days now until blast-off.  Don't worry if you can't make it to ND (which, by the way has recently been about the same temp as here in TN).  I plan to YouTube some of it and then move it to some venues near you soon.

Wish me luck...the arranging has been brutal (as expected).  I bought a lot of organic food today to keep me on top, but as usual life has a way of throwing bricks in your road.  I FINALLY got my plumbing working in BOTH my house and my RV ($) and it did take precious time away from creativity.  But frankly, uh, no plumbing, no work!

Blessings From The Studio!

Kayte

Hello Everyone From Sarasota!

I have never had so much fun...we danced in the streets (literally) and I had so many paparazzi moments when flanked with videographers and photogs all day, each day.  I have to say that having the "red light ON" (the record button engaged on cameras) all day for 7 hours each day really tested my skills and stamina.  I barely could get out of bed today.  Thank you for pushing me to the limits so that the large concerts will seem easy!

 I'm SO grateful to have that kind of help working on my concert.  It was truly a blessing I had prayed for!  Now I have hours of video to review, in addition to the work on the concert coming in April in Bismarck.  I have learned a lot from the DVD's  that I'm watching, and it is all good.   Kudos to JohnJohn from myspace for his keen eye and professional videography.   He is a master as he is a wizard with making professional videos!

I have my band assembled now for Bismarck, and they are going to be amazing.  They are a seven-piece band that is going to send everyone who attends this show to a peaceful and loving place.   Please come out and support music about Love and Life.  I've been assured that the ticket price will be low so everyone can afford it.  I'm trying like heck to have a new EP released at the concert so you can get the first 100 copies there, and thus far I've been blessed with the aid of my publisher/recording & brilliant friend to help make the new album "The One".  The top writers in Nashville have given songs to it so I believe in it wholly.

I need 800 people to come to the Bismarck (Belle Mehus) Theater, so tell ALL of your friends.  I will give you everything and much, much more than you'll ever see from me live on the street since I now have the beauty of a GREAT BISMARCK BAND behind me.  I've had amazing reviews of this same show in 400 seat auditoriums  down in Tennessee, so I hope you all like my tribute to the Carpenter's legacy coupled with much of my own catalog like "Big Blue Sky" written by Carson Whitsett, a Memphis legend who passed away recently. 

Next year will be the 60th birthday anniversary for Karen Carpenter, and I am working towards the ultimate celebration of her talent.  She taught me to sing, truly.

Email me and request what you'd like me to perform!   I'm at
Kayte@Kayte.com.

Blessings From The Road

Kayte Strong, With Love