12-19-01 The GAC (Great American Country) television network is broadcasting a program titled "A December to Remember" featuring Aaron Tippin and labelmate Sonya Isaacs! The show was taped in Keystone, Colorado. Airtimes for the program are as follows:
Dec. 19 - 4pm
Dec. 20 - 6pm
Dec. 21 - 2pm
Dec. 22 - 10pm
Dec. 23 - 4pm
Dec. 24 - 12 noon & 10pm
Dec. 25 - 6am & 3pm
10-16-01 Country.com has featured an article on Trisha Yearwood's concert at the Ryman. The title is " "Normal" Yearwood Gives Spectacular Show; Sonya Isaacs Dazzles" written by Edward Morris. To read the article, go to http://www.country.com/news/feat/tyearwood.101501.jhtml
Here's an excerpt of the part about Sonya:
"If Yearwood's national anthem was the theatrical high point of the evening, then Sonya Isaacs' duet with her husband, Tim Surrett, was surely the musical pinnacle. With only Surrett's acoustic guitar backing them, the two sang an ethereally beautiful version of the old gospel tune, "The Prettiest Flowers." For the duration of the song, the audience seemed transfixed and stayed totally silent. Issacs and her eight-piece band did a 45-minute opening set of 10 songs. The Lyric Street artist demonstrated from the outset that her vocal prowess is on a par with Yearwood's. Poised and accompanying herself on a mandolin, Isaacs sang selections from her debut album, including "Let's Not Lose Each Other Anymore," "How Can I Forget" and "Barefoot in the Grass." However, it was her complete overhaul of the criminally overdone "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" that demonstrated her flair for making a song her own. Her voice captured the song's infinite forlornness, while her relentless mandolin chops amplified its sense of angry desperation. All Isaacs needs to become a star is more exposure. Everything else is in place."
10-2-01 Free Concert! The Isaacs along with other Gospel acts have joined together for a free benefit concert on Oct. 8, 2001. They have also recorded a new song written just for the concert. For more info, click here. (includes a picture of al involved)
9-26-01 Possible Tour! I've heard several reports that Sonya will or may be touring with Trisha Yearwood. No dates have been confirmed, and as far as we know, it could fall through, but let's hope it doesn't.
9-24-01 There is a nice article here about the Crabb Family Homecoming with two great pictures of Sonya Isaacs.
9-18-01 The Lyric Street Christmas album titled No Wrapping Required comes out today! (9-18) I just got some details on the album and Sonya has sung on three of the eleven songs! Sonya sings "The Christmas Song," "What Do You See," and "Mary, Did You Know?" For a full track listing including the album cover art, click here.
9-3-01 NEW SONYA MUSIC!! Lyric Street Records has assembled a Christmas album featuring its artists. The title of the album is "No Wrapping Required: A Christmas Album" When I saw Sonya in concert back in April 2001. Sonya told me that she had just recorded a couple of songs for a Christmas album that Lyric Street was putting together. This is that album and I can't wait to hear Sonya's songs! This album will be released on September 18, 2001! You can preorder the CD through CDNOW here. More details as they become availabe!
Did you miss Sonya on the Opry 8-18-01? Well, you can hear her performances of "Let's Not Lose Each Other Anymore" and "I've Forgotten How You Feel" here! Then move the scroll bar to around 3:38:00 to hear Sonya's portion!
8-20-01 Sonya looked and sounded great on the Opry Saturday night! She sang "Let's Not Lose Each Other Anymore" with Vince Gill singing back-up. Then, she sang harmony for Brad Paisley on his version of "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive." Afterwards, there was a short interview with Sonya. Overall, it was a great show!
8-14-01 Sonya is scheduled to appear on the Grand Ole Opry this Saturday. The Grand Ole Opry will now be shown on CMT at 8:00 pm every Saturday. Be sure to watch!
8-9-01 The International Bluegrass Music Association nominations are out and Sonya is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year! She's up against Claire Lynch, Lynn Morris, Dolly Parton, and Rhonda Vincent. Also, all of The Isaacs are nominated for Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year for the song Stand Still. Congratualtions to them all!
For a complete list of nominees: go to http://www.country.com/news/feat/ibma.080901.jhtml
8-1-01 The rumor that Sonya's next album will have a more pop sound was only a rumor. Word from Sonya is that it will be even less pop than the first album. Sonya is supposedly in the studio now recording the songs for her Sophmore album.
Also, you can order the "Stand Still Off Stage" video from The Isaacs' website. This is a new video full of songs and interviews with The Isaacs. Click here to order or see the track listing.
6-15-01 Sonya could be seen on the CMT/TNN/Country Weekly Awards show which aired Wednesday night (6-13-01). She looked beautiful in a green spaghetti strap style dress. She walked on stage during the Vince Gill tribute (He won the Lifetime Acheivement award and a bunch of his friends walked on stage to honor him.) The awards show will repeat on CMT
5-25-01 Brad Paisley's new album, titled Part 2 comes out next week! May 29th! Track # 7 on his album is titled "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" and the track listing says (with Sonya Isaacs). So, Sonya's vocal may be a duet vocal and not just a harmony. So, we'll see. You can pre-order the CD here.
5-9-01 Sonya is in yet another magazine this month! Sonya appears in the May 2001 issue of "Country Music Live" (Brad Paisley on the cover). She is pictured with Merle Haggard on page 85. See the pic here.
5-7-01 In the June/July 2001 issue of the magazine "Country Music," Sonya is pictured hugging keith urban on page 12. See the pic here.
Sonya makes guest appearances on two forthcoming bluegrass albums. The first is Uncontained, by a band called Wildfire, on the Pinecastle label; Sonya sings harmony on two songs, Paul Siebel's "Louise" and one called "Straight And Narrow," previously recorded by Barbara Mandrell and Wild Rose.
The second album is Rhonda Vincent's The Storm Still Rages (Rounder); Sonya and Ben Isaacs contribute harmonies on "I'm Not Over You," previously recorded by Rhonda on her first country album back in 1994. The Storm Still Rages is scheduled for a June 5 release.
I have created a new Sonya Isaacs Newsletter list. This new list, Strictly_Sonya, only allows posts dealing strictly with Sonya Isaacs and her career. If you know of any news, or have a great Story to share ABOUT SONYA, then please post it. But, no off topic posts please! To join, send a blank email to Strictly_Sonya-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR go to this page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Strictly_Sonya
3-29-01 Sonya sings harmony on several songs on a forthcoming CD by Wildfire, a
new bluegrass-oriented group composed of Phil Leadbetter, Robert
Hale, Darrell Webb and Curt Chapman; they're members of J.D. Crowe's
band, but started this side project as well last year. The album - I
don't have a title - will be released in late May or early June on
the Pinecastle label.
3-20-01 The final nominees for the TNN/Country Weekly fan voted awards were announced today, and unfortunately, Sonya did not get enough votes to qualify as one of the final five nominees in the Discovery Award category. Oh well, there's always next year! For a complete list of nominees, go here.
3-16-01 Sonya has been added to the line-up for Fan Fair 2001, which will be held in Nashville, TN from June 14-17, 2001. For more info visit Fan Fair.com.
3-5-01 Newcomer Sonya Isaacs took home the trophy for winning the Ladies' Long Drive contest in the ACM golf tournament 10-10-00. read the full story here. (old news, but still important!)
Sonya is scheduled to appear on the Orange Blossom Stage in Riverside, CA on April 15, 2001. For more info, visit the Tour page.
2-13-01 News from The Isaacs Newsletter:
Sonya has been extremely busy with her Mary Kay business. She just
earned her new free car! A 2001 Red Pontiac Grand AM!! Of course,
the Isaacs women are their own best customers! She also just found
out that she will be recording her second solo album sometime this
summer. She is writing a lot, making frequent trips to Nashville.
Busy as a bee!
Great news, isn't it? Sonya's next solo album! I Can't wait!
1-30-01 Sonya is one of 20 other artists up for the Discovery Award in the 2001 TNN/Country Weekly fan-voted awards! Please vote by going here. If everyone votes, then maybe we can get Sonya in the final 5 for the actual award show! You can only vote once, so ask your brother, sister, neighbor, & friend to vote for her too! Vote Now!
1-27-01 Sonya appeared on the Grand Ole Opry at the legendary Ryman Auditorium last night, Jan. 26, 2001. She sang "I've Forgotten How You Feel" and "Let's Not Lose Each Other Anymore." You can listen to her performance here. Sonya's portion is at about 1:44:00.
I'm trying a little something else for the page, it's a section called "Fanspeak!" You can send original letters, reviews, stories, etc. to i_love_dolly@yahoo.com and I'll post them on the page!
1-23-01 Dolly Parton's new CD comes out today! Sonya sings on two songs, two wonderful, amazing songs! I can't believe how good this album is! It is, in my honest opinion, Dolly's best album, ever! It's classic Dolly! Be sure to buy the album soon! You won't be let down! To order from CDNOW, click here! There's also a small picture of Sonya and Becky in the studio in the album liner notes!
1-22-01 Country Music Magazine has a great review of Sonya's solo album in the Feb./Mar. 2001 issue on newsstands now! It gives the album 4 out of 5 stars!
1-20-01 We all love Sonya, and we know how amazing she is, but Brad Paisley does too!
These are from previous chats with Brad Paisley:
staycalm: What is your favorite country song out now (besides yours)?
Brad Paisley: "I've Forgotten How You Feel" by Sonya Isaacs. I heard that listening to the Opry one night and I think she's got the best voice and style that I've heard in years. I'm totally a fan of what she's doing.
katygurl: Who is your dream duet partner?
Brad Paisley: William Shatner. No, seriously. there's several. I got to record "He Didn't Have To Be" with Martie Seidel of the Chicks for CMT's "On the Verge" special, March 1. That was a real thrill. So there's one down. I can't say enough about Sonya Isaacs' singing. She really reminds me of a young Patty Loveless or Dolly Parton. That would be great. After that, the list goes on.
And it turns out that Sonya has recorded something for Brad's new album which is due out this Spring! This from Brad Paisley.com: Lyric Street artist Sonya Isaacs tells us she completed a session this week where she contributed to Brad Paisley's upcoming sophomore album. Sonya couldn't provide details about what she heard of the album but offered, "It sounds incredible!"
1-18-01 Word is that Sonya may appear on the Opry on the weekend of January 26 & 27.
Don't forget that Dolly Parton's new album, Little Sparrow will be released January 23, 2001. It includes two songs on which Sonya and her sister Becky sing harmony vocals! Order the CD here!
1-6-01 Sonya sang with The Isaacs' last Saturday on the Grand Ole Opry. They performed a beautiful song titled "Stand Still." You can order the Isaacs' album, "Stand Still" here.
Richard Harrington of The Washington Post last week published his Top 10 best CDs of the year list, including Sonya Isaacs’ self-titled debut at No. 6. Harrington noted that the cut "Healing Hands" features “glorious harmony vocals from (Vince) Gill and Dolly Parton.”