Cherie Oakley; Stands Out and a Success In Her Own Right

Cherie Oakley’s music has been described as pop country with a twist of soul.

The up and coming artist is also a country hit writer. Reba McEntire’s Turn On The Radio, written by Oakley went to #1 on the Billboard Country charts.

Cherie recalls making up songs as a child and recording them on her Fisher Price recorder, singing for hours on end. “I was told that I began singing as soon as I could talk, and used to draw pictures of myself performing on stage in front of a massive audience. It’s always been my dream.”

And that dream, it seems, is coming true. Signed by the Number One Group, Cherie has been working closely in artist development with Paul Worley and is currently working on her debut album with renowned producer Dann Huff.

Cherie has enjoyed a successful career in the studio already as an established studio session vocalist featured on singles and albums by The Band Perry, Martina McBride, Kelly Clarkson, Vince Gill, Reba, Gretchen Wilson, Cassadee Pope and Sarah Darling as well as others including the cast from the popular CMT Channel show, Nashville.

In addition to being a session singer, Cherie has experienced an extensive career as a touring background vocalist for superstars such as: Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Gretchen Wilson, Amy Grant and Trace Adkins. She has also performed with such artists as: Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Reba, Martina McBride, Luke Bryan, LeAnn Rimes, Jennifer Nettles, Kacey Musgraves, Big and Rich, George Strait, Idina Menzel, and Mary J. Blige to name a few.

She’s performed on The Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, ACM Awards, CMA Awards, VH1 Divas, The View, The Tonight Show, Ellen, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CMT Diaries, American Idol, The X-Factor UK, BBC Breakfast, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Late Show with David Letterman and Star Search. You might even remember her from Christina Aguilera’s team on the first season of “The Voice”.

Born in Indiana, Cherie credits her family for her love of music, reminiscing of their long drives across the US as traveling evangelists. “My dad has always loved country music, and we would all sing along as it blared over the speakers in our old blue truck.”

I had the privilege of chatting with Cherie about how she began, where she's been and where she's going. It was a great chat too with many laughs.