I heard the news last night, but it was too late to write anything about it.
Country singer Mindy McCready was found dead at her home yesterday, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was only 37 years old. She had been in the news quite a bit over the last few years, mostly about her troubles with the law and in her relationships. She leaves behind two children, ages 6 and 10 months.
It's a sad state of affairs for a singer who 15 years ago was on top of her game. She had a number one hit, several good selling records, and a lot of fans. But some poor choices in her life led her to the path she traveled.
Almost 10 years ago, I became friends with a recording artist. I even ended up attending her wedding. She told me the music industry is very very stressful and cut-throat. The schedules are demanding, the workload can be very overwhelming, and producers, directors, and managers never stop. She said she almost turned to drugs before she finally realized that she needed to step back. She hasn't really gone back into the industry since then. She's moved on with her life. She did say she absolutely loved being an artist and still sings locally, but she's glad she made the decisions she did.
Being a popular artist comes with a price - your privacy, your schedule, and your personal time are rarely yours anymore. There are so many things you need to do to keep the income flowing - concerts, endorsements, etc. All those can lead to sleepless nights, stress, and concern about where your next paycheck comes. Think about it - if you don't sell records, perform concerts, and get endorsements, you're not getting paid.
Unfortunately Mindy fell into the path she did. It's sad that she did not attempt to seek out additional help. If she had, I wouldn't have to write this piece this morning. While she will be remembered for her music, one has to wonder if her legacy will be remembered by the unfortunate situation that led to her demise.
RIP Mindy. The ones you leave behind are the ones that will suffer most - your children. May God bless them.
Country singer Mindy McCready was found dead at her home yesterday, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was only 37 years old. She had been in the news quite a bit over the last few years, mostly about her troubles with the law and in her relationships. She leaves behind two children, ages 6 and 10 months.
It's a sad state of affairs for a singer who 15 years ago was on top of her game. She had a number one hit, several good selling records, and a lot of fans. But some poor choices in her life led her to the path she traveled.
Almost 10 years ago, I became friends with a recording artist. I even ended up attending her wedding. She told me the music industry is very very stressful and cut-throat. The schedules are demanding, the workload can be very overwhelming, and producers, directors, and managers never stop. She said she almost turned to drugs before she finally realized that she needed to step back. She hasn't really gone back into the industry since then. She's moved on with her life. She did say she absolutely loved being an artist and still sings locally, but she's glad she made the decisions she did.
Being a popular artist comes with a price - your privacy, your schedule, and your personal time are rarely yours anymore. There are so many things you need to do to keep the income flowing - concerts, endorsements, etc. All those can lead to sleepless nights, stress, and concern about where your next paycheck comes. Think about it - if you don't sell records, perform concerts, and get endorsements, you're not getting paid.
Unfortunately Mindy fell into the path she did. It's sad that she did not attempt to seek out additional help. If she had, I wouldn't have to write this piece this morning. While she will be remembered for her music, one has to wonder if her legacy will be remembered by the unfortunate situation that led to her demise.
RIP Mindy. The ones you leave behind are the ones that will suffer most - your children. May God bless them.
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