Mary Sarah

Mary Sarah
Mary Sarah in 2017
Mary Sarah in 2017
Background information
Birth nameMary Sarah Gross
Also known asMary Sarah
Born (1995-07-07) July 7, 1995 (age 28)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2007–present
Websitemarysarah.com/

Mary Sarah Gross (born July 7, 1995), known professionally as her stage name Mary Sarah, is a country music singer and songwriter. She started what would become her career with performances local to her region, before being picked up by Kidz Bop in 2007. After leaving them, she continued with local and regional performances before releasing Crazy Good in 2010. Her second album, Bridges, followed in 2014, and included duets with several high-profile country music stars. A third album, Dress Up This Town, followed a year later, and she has performed at the Grand Ole Opry and was featured on The Voice.

Early years[edit]

Mary Sarah Gross[1] was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 7, 1995, to Richard and Patricia Gross. She has one sister, Emilee Elizabeth (b. 1993), one brother, Christopher Thomas (b. 1989)[citation needed], and one step brother, Richard Tyler[2] who resides in Santa Barbara, CA, and works as a photographer.[3] Christopher was born prematurely,[4] received a liver transplant[5] and is Type 1 diabetic.[6] For this reason, she supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). She is also the National Ambassador for Caiden's Hope,[7] an organization that assists with non-medical expenses related to caring for an infant in neonatal intensive care.

Singing career[edit]

Mary Sarah began performing in church at the age of 8, and began to appear on radio stations and at several regional Opry Theaters. She was signed to the Osbrink Talent Agency in Los Angeles at age 11, and in 2007, at the age of 12, toured as a featured lead vocalist and dancer in Kidz Bop for six months.[8] At the age of 14, she left the agency and returned to Texas, where she performed in local and regional events.

In 2010 she released her first album, Crazy Good.

In January 2011, Mary Sarah was invited to meet The Oak Ridge Boys after Joe Bonsall saw a video of her performance of "Don't Stop Believing" at the Sugar Land (Texas) Idol competition.[9] After visiting with them backstage before the show at the Galveston Grand Opera House, Joe and Duane Allen invited her onstage to sing "Where the Boys Are".[10] She credits the support and love of The Oak Ridge Boys for helping her career move forward.[11]

In 2011, she hosted a four-part series for the 2011 season of "OPRY on the Square – Country Now and Then" at the Sugar Land, TX, town square.[12] In December 2011, the Houston Texans held a vote-in contest to see who would sing the National Anthem for their annual Home for the Holidays game. Mary Sarah was the winner over 7 other finalists.[13][14] In April 2014, Mary Sarah appeared on the "Opry Country Classics" with Lynn Anderson and The Oakridge Boys, honoring the late Ray Price[15]

On July 8, 2014, Mary Sarah released her second album, Bridges.[16][17] Included on the album is a rendition of "Where the Boys Are" with Neil Sedaka. The Oak Ridge Boys also appear on the album singing "Dream On" with her. Several major country stars also join Mary in duet.[15] On July 29, 2014, Mary Sarah appeared on Mike Huckabee's show on Fox News to promote her new album. The Governor played bass in accompaniment as they performed "The Fightin' Side of Me".[18]

On May 31, 2016, Mary Sarah made her Grand Ole Opry debut.[19] Mary Sarah has appeared a total of 5 times since that date.

On October 31, 2017, Deadline Hollywood announced that Mary Sarah was selected to be a lead performer in The Voice: Neon Dreams.[20]

The Voice (2016)[edit]

On February 29, 2016, Mary Sarah auditioned on season 10 of The Voice with "Where the Boys Are". All four coaches turned their chairs for her, and she chose Blake Shelton as her coach. She defeated Justin Whisnant in the battles, and defeated Brittany Kennell in the knockouts.[21][22] She placed in the middle three in the semifinals and was then eliminated in the Instant Save performances, placing her in the Top Six. She lost a "twitter save" to Laith Al Saadi, the bearded blues guitarist/rocker from Ann Arbor Michigan in a sing off, exiting the show in the 5th position.[23]

  – Studio version of performance reached the top 10 on iTunes
Order Air Date Round Song Original Artist Result
1.5 February 29 Blind Audition "Where the Boys Are" Connie Francis All Four Chairs
Joined Team Blake
7.2 March 15 Battle Rounds "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (vs. Justin Whisnant) Conway Twitty feat. Loretta Lynn Saved By Coach
12.2 April 4 Knockout Rounds "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" (vs. Brittany Kennell) Loretta Lynn
14.9 April 11 Live Playoffs (Top 24) "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden" Lynn Anderson Saved By Public Vote
17.1 April 18 Live Top 12 "So Small" Carrie Underwood
19.5 April 25 Live Top 11 "Johnny and June" Heidi Newfield
21.7 May 2 Live Top 10 "Stand By Your Man" Tammy Wynette
23.2 May 9 Live Top 9 "My Church" Maren Morris
25.7 May 16 Live Semifinals (Top 8) "I Told You So" Randy Travis Middle 3
26.1 May 17 Semifinals Instant Save "Something in the Water" Carrie Underwood Eliminated
Non-Competition Performances:
Order Collaborator(s) Song Original Artist
16.3 Katie Basden
Paxton Ingram
Joe Maye
Adam Wakefield
Justin Whisnant
"Hey Brother" Avicii
18.2 Blake Shelton, Paxton Ingram, and Adam Wakefield "I Love a Rainy Night" Eddie Rabbitt
25.2 Bryan Bautista "Break Free" Ariana Grande
28.12 Adam Wakefield
Nick Hagelin
Justin Whisnant
"Gimme Some Lovin'" Spencer Davis Group

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US Heatseeker
Crazy Good
Bridges
  • Release date: July 8, 2014
  • Label: Cleopatra
  • Formats: CD, music download
28
Dress up This Town
  • Release date: August 9, 2015
  • Label: Cleopatra
  • Formats: CD, music download

Singles[edit]

Year Single Peak
positions
US
Country

[25]
2016 "Stand by Your Man" 36
"My Church" 35
"I Told You So" 29

Further reading[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mary Sarah
  2. ^ "New Music". July 1, 2010.
  3. ^ RTYLERPHOTO
  4. ^ Swirsky, Jen (April 19, 2016). "Mary Sarah Helps Score "The Voice" Coaches Boot Barn Boots".
  5. ^ Weigle, Lauren (May 16, 2016). "Mary Sarah on 'The Voice': Top 10 Instagram Photos". Heavy.
  6. ^ "Interview with Artist "Mary Sarah"". The Country Buzzz. January 27, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "Mary Sarah". Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  8. ^ Mary Sarah's Rockin Around The KidzBop Tree Video. Kidzbop. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
  9. ^ Schelle, Crystal (October 9, 2016). "The Voice's Mary Sarah to perform in three concerts in area for charity". Herald Mail Media. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  10. ^ Where The Boys ~ Connie Francis ~ by Mary Sarah w/ @OakridgeBoys. YouTube. Galveston Grand Opera House: Mary Sarah. March 8, 2011.
  11. ^ Mary Sarah on Why She Owes the Oak Ridge Boys. YouTube. Associated Press. August 22, 2014.
  12. ^ Sweetland, Phil. "Mary Sarah: Houston 15-Year-Old Already Headed for the Top Ten". Opry on the Square. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.
  13. ^ "Home for the Holidays National Anthem Contest". Houston Texans. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  14. ^ Guerra, Joey (December 14, 2011). "Mary Sarah to sing National Anthem for Texans". 29-95.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012.
  15. ^ a b Dauphin, Chuck (April 16, 2014). "615 Spotlight: Mary Sarah Builds 'Bridges' With Country Icons (Song Premiere)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  16. ^ Leahey, Andrew (July 8, 2014). "Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson Duet With Teen Prodigy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  17. ^ "Cleopatra Records to Release Mary Sarah 'BRIDGES' Feat. Dolly Parton & More, 7/8". BWW Music World. July 1, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  18. ^ 'The Fighting Side of Me'. Fox News. July 29, 2014.
  19. ^ "Mary Sarah". Grand Ole Opry. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  20. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (October 31, 2017). "'The Voice: Neon Dreams' Set To Open In Las Vegas With Former Contestants". Deadline Hollywood.
  21. ^ Norwin, Alyssa (February 29, 2016). "'The Voice' Recap: Christina Aguilera Is Back With A Vengeance As Season 10 Begins". Hollywoodlife.com. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  22. ^ Bentley, Jean (February 29, 2016). "The Voice's Tenth Season Kicks Off With Some Truly Outstanding Blind Auditions". E! Online. Deadline. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  23. ^ "'The Voice: Neon Dreams' Set to Open in Las Vegas with Former Contestants". November 2017.
  24. ^ Matt Bjorke (August 13, 2014). "Country Album Sales Report – August 13, 2014". Roughstock.
  25. ^ "Mary Sarah Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 10, 2016.

External links[edit]