Q13 Fox... Lily Jang's NEW Bio

Chance McKinney and Paul Schille will be special guests on Q13 Fox News in The Morning Friday, October 21st with Lily Jang in the 9am hour.  We, here at Chance McKinney Music, would like to take this opportunity to re-write Lily's Bio.  We're pretty sure it's the way it was "supposed" to be written until the Q13 higher-ups got a hold of it and edited it down to what it is now. Old Bio:

MorningLily joined Q13 FOX News as co-anchor for Q13 FOX News This Morning in May of 2004. Lily brings to her position significant television experience in reporting and anchoring, providing continuing coverage of the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, 9/11, the War in Iraq and was live on the air during the capture of Saddam Husssein.

Prior to joining Q13 FOX News, Lily was an anchor/reporter for Northwest Cable News. Before moving to Seattle, she was an anchor/reporter for WIAT – TV in Birmingham, Alabama and prior to that she was an anchor/reporter for KFDA – TV in Amarillo, Texas. Her most memorable assignment was the Oprah Winfrey vs. Cattlemen trial where she got to meet her icon.

Growing up in Houston, Texas, Lily managed to spend 23 years of her life in the Southwest without ever attending a rodeo, owning a cowboy hat or riding a horse. She enjoys the gorgeous Seattle summers, trying out new sushi restaurants, mountain biking, belting out karaoke tunes, and travel and exploring new places around the Northwest.

Lily graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Texas, Austin and is long-time member of the Asian American Journalists Association. She's also fluent in Cantonese and Vietnamese. If you'd like to send Lily an email, feel free to do so at ljang@tribune.com.

NEW "improved" Bio:

Lily joined Q13 FOX News This Morning in May of 2004 and became part of the Chance McKinney "movement" in Spring 2009. Lily brings to her position significant television experience in reporting and anchoring, providing continuing coverage of the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, 9/11, the War in Iraq and McKinney's meteoric rise in the country music industry. 

Prior to joining Q13 FOX News and Chance McKinney Music (her true passion), Lily was a lost soul searching for meaning. Upon moving to Seattle, dear friend Heather R. (no last names, must protect the innocent) informed Lily of Chance's CMT win and how his music spoke to the "real" American.  Lily, being the news-hound of a reporter she is, smelled a story (or something very close to being a story... or just a big pile of steaming $#@%,  It was hard to tell the difference, especially where Chance was involved) and became a leader in the "Industrialized Country" underground.

Growing up in Houston, Texas, Lily managed to spend 23 years of her life in the Southwest without ever attending a Chance McKinney concert, a rodeo, owning a cowboy hat or riding a horse... which she regrets very much.

 

She enjoys the gorgeous Seattle summers (as does CM), trying out new sushi restaurants (as does CM), mountain biking (as doesn't CM), belting out karaoke tunes (as did CM), and travel and exploring new places around the Northwest (ever been to Enumclaw? Hermiston? Tremonton?).

 

Lily graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Texas, Austin.  She has "hkemhrns" on her license plate and drives a burn orange BMW.  She is a long-time member of the Asian American Journalists Association and an honorary member in the Bremerton FFA. She's fluent in Cantonese, Vietnamese and Pacific Northwest Redneck. If you'd like to send Lily an email, feel free to do so at ljang@tribune.com.  Or just spit on the back of an envelope with an "I love Lily" note on the inside and snail mail it to Fox Studios, Seattle, WA.

And that's another, Cougar, First "Chance"

Sometime early in the Summer of 2011, Chance received two calls in the same day from an old fling.  Nahhh, it wasn't one of those un-welcomed kinda awkward, silent calls you'd expect.  It was good news... no, make that great news!  See, Chance moved from Missoula, MT to Pullman, WA straight out of high school to attend the closest Pac-10  (now Pac-12) school and compete for Washington State University's perennial powerhouse of a track team.  She beckoned him, lured him in and has held a place in his heart since graduating 10 years ago.   Well, "she" called.  And when your first love calls, you can't help but pick up the phone and see what she wants and how she's doin'... right?!

But before we get to that, we need a little context to the story...

Summer 2010.  Chance is on a Southwest Airlines flight makin' a stop in Boise before heading onto Seattle to meet up with Blake Shelton for a week's worth of shows up n' down the coast of Washington State and Oregon.  He's still tryin' to comprehend the CMT win, the CMT Studio 330 session (recorded with Reba McEntire and Steel Magnolia), tour dates with Dwight Yoakam, Jamie O'Neal, Grand Funk Railroad and all the dates (including Blake, Luke Bryan, CCR, Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special) yet to come.  On that flight sat a girl who struck up a conversation with him talkin' of her internship at the capital in Boise for the summer, until she returned back to WSU in the Fall (see where this is heading?).

Anyway, that girl... let's call her DB (to protect her identity) happen to also be finishing her Masters and working for the WSU Athletic Department after completing her scholarship in swimming the year prior.  She asked what "what do you do?"  Chance, still not accustomed to sayin'... "well, I sing for a livin'" told her he was a former high school math teacher who just happened to be in the right place at the right time recently and ended up out on tour with some of her favorite acts (luck of the draw, she was a country fan).  They made introductions, realized they were both Cougar Alumni and chatted about Pullman and athletic careers for a bit.  DB got off the plane, Chance went onto Seattle, tour schedule got busy... add another new friend on the new career path.

Skip ahead to Fall of 2010.  Chance gets an email from DB... actually DB's boss (then Director of Marketing) in the WSU Athletic Dept inquiring about shows and what it would take (logistics-wise) to get him back to his stomping grounds.  Emails bounce back n' forth, ground work is laid, and the picture starts to take shape.

Now, back to Summer of 2011 and the "tw0-call" day.  The editor of WSU's Alumni Magazine calls asking if he can do a review and write an article on former All-American Javelin Thrower, now country singer, Chance McKinney.  On the same day, WSU Director of Marketing calls asking if Chance would be interested in performing at some point during the upcoming football season.  Not bad, the ol' fling still has a little interest... umm how 'bout yes, and yes.

So, here's the result of a 45-minute SWA flight sittin' next to a former WSU Alum...

October 15th, 2011.  Homecoming Weekend.  WSU v. Stanford.  Chance McKinney and the CrossWire boys will be performing at the Pre-Game Rally as the Cougs try to knock of the #4 nationally ranked Cardinal of Stanford.  CMCW will do a pre-game show in Hollingbery Fieldhouse from 2:30 - 4:00pm and then Chance has a little surprise at halftime for the 35,000+ fans there ready to support the Cougars of Washington State!

Think Pullman is ready for a little "Industrialized Country?"  Think WSU and Chance have a nice little recipe for success in the future?  Yeah, that's what we think too!

CMA First Round Nominations Announced

Congratulations to those nominated!  I see a lot of folks on there that I've had the opportunity to perform with or meet over the past couple years.  Hopefully... well, "hopefully."  We'll just leave it at that for now.  Here they are:

Topping the list of final nominees with five nominations each for “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” including Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift. Right on their heels are The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band, who each received four nominations as a group while individual members Kimberly Perry (of The Band Perry), Coy Bowles and Zac Brown (of Zac Brown Band) each earned a solo nod as a songwriter.

Aldean received first-time nominations in five categories in 2011 including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for My Kinda Party, produced by Michael Knox; and Single and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson, also produced by Knox. Aldean has two prior nominations including the Horizon Award in 2007 and in 2008 when the category changed names to CMA New Artist of the Year.

The 45th Annual CMA Awards Live on ABC November 9, 2011 8|7c

Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Taylor Swift Keith Urban

Male Vocalist of the Year Jason Aldean Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year Sara Evans Miranda Lambert Martina McBride Carrie Underwood Taylor Swift

New Artist of the Year The Band Perry Luke Bryan Eric Church Thompson Square Chris Young

Vocal Group of the Year The Band Perry Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year Blake Shelton, All About Tonight Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party Taylor Swift, Speak Now Brad Paisley, This is Country Music Zac Brown Band, You Get What You Give

Single of the Year Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger” Zac Brown Band, “Colder Weather” Jason Aldean ft. Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” Blake Shelton, “Honey Bee” The Band Perry, “If I Die Young”

Song of the Year “Colder Weather,” Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles “Dirt Road Anthem,” Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford “If I Die Young,” Kimberly Perry “Mean,” Taylor Swift “You and Tequila,” Matraca Berg and Deana Carter

Musical Event of the Year “As She’s Walking Away” Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records

“Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert Columbia Records Nashville

“Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson Broken Bow Records

“Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama Arista Nashville

“You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter BNA Records

Vocal Duo of the Year Civil Wars Montgomery Gentry Steel Magnolia Sugarland Thompson Square

Music Video of the Year “Honey Bee” Blake Shelton Directed by Trey Fanjoy

“If I Die Young” The Band Perry Directed by David McClister

“Mean” Taylor Swift Directed by Declan Whitebloom

“Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama Directed by Jim Shea

“You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter Directed by Shaun Silva

Musician of the Year Sam Bush Jerry Douglas Paul Franklin Dann Huff Mac McAnally

Kenny Rogers... no way! Yes way!!

Kenny Rogers along with Chance McKinney n' CrossWire on August 26th

I'd be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to say how thankful I am for opportunities like this that come up in this journey.  I stepped off the plane last week in Portland, OR preparing for the Willamette Country Music Festival with artists like Diamond Rio, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town and Blake Shelton only to find a text message from one of the biggest promoters in the Pacific Northwest on my phone.  It read... "You're IN for Kenny Rogers."  Period.  That's it.  No, not quite eloquent, but damn fine in spirit and "cut to the point"-ness.

 

I literally was Tweeting (as in Twittering) and Facebooking in the car rental line "just got asked to open for Kenny Rogers.  Is hellfrickinyeah one word or three?"  Over 50 comments and 120 likes later I realized the magnitude of what was just presented to me on a platter.  Dude, you and your band are going to open for one of the greatest ALL-TIME country artists.  I mean, a guy you grew up listening to on the portable AM radio that ran on batteries out in the fishin' boat with Mom, Dad and your brother.

 

Do you think I knew, (at age 5-ish) while I was casting away tryin' to keep up with the rest of 'em at a game of "whose stringer of bass was fullest", that I'd be sharing the stage one day with THAT GUY?!  No way...  the gravity still escapes me.  It usually hits right about showtime when we (the boys from CrossWire and I) are about to step on stage.  The headliner bus, limo, van, whatever pulls up and I catch a glimpse of Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson or that guy (Kenny Rogers) on their way to their hospitality trailer.  That's when it hits me.  I have 30-45 minutes to engage an audience and prepare them for a legitimate star.  No, not someone who just dresses the part or got to where they are because "daddy had some money" but literal "stars."  I mean, people who ooze talent.  And here I am, former high school teacher, CMT winner with a band full of talented musicians but still a kid from rural Montana responsible for flipping the switch.   That, is the moment.  That's the high.  That's the challenge.  And that, is why I love what I do.

 

Tonight, I'll be on stage with Paul, Ray and Brian "flippin' the switch."  Wanna know how the story ends?  It doesn't... but I'll try to keep you updated along the way through Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/chancemckinney), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chance-McKinney/160688966444) and Website (http://www.chancemckinney.com) if you're interested in taggin' along.

 

CM

Taking the stage with ALAN JACKSON...

 

Can you say JaneDear Girls, David Nail, Diamond Rio, Chance McKinney n' CrossWire, Sunny Sweeney, Steve Azar, Phil Vassar, Alan Jackson, The Harters, Amy Clawson, Little Big Town and Blake Shelton all in the same sentence? Of course you can, if you can "read" it you can probably "say" it... stupid question on my part.

Welcome to the Willamette Country Music Festival in Brownsville, OR on August 19th - 21st. Thirteen of Country Music's hottest acts take the stage for the Premier Country Music Festival in the Pacific Northwest. VIP tickets sold out over two months ago. General Admission has exceded the original capacity. Hotel rooms are gone. Parking is spoken for. Campgrounds are max'd out. And now, it's game time!

If you think touring with Mark Chestnutt through Montana... and Dierks Bentley through Oregon and Washington was fun... wait until you get a load of this! (Although, I will say that the DB shows we're particularly off-the-hook... but I digress.)

I would just like to thank all of you who've made this possible. Since the CMT Award in December of 2009, I've had the opportunity to share the stage with...

Dwight Yoakam Jamie O'Neal Grand Funk RailRoad Blake Shelton Pat Green Luke Bryan Creedence Clearwater .38 Special Lynyrd Skynyrd John Rich Sebastian Bach Mark Chestnutt Dierks Bentley Edens Edge Sunny Sweeney David Nail Gloriana Jane Dear Girls Diamond Rio Steve Azar Phil Vassar and Mr. Alan Jackson.

It's been a special treat for me and the boys in the band. Thank you for your continued support and stay tuned for some additional news coming down the pipe after we complete the shows this month!

Sincerely,

Chance McKinney

www.ChanceMcKinney.com