THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608160052
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
MARTINA McBRIDE, whose recording and video of ``Independence Day'' has become a theme against spousal abuse, will be the country star at this year's Peanut Fest in Suffolk.
In 1994 and 1995, the impressive song received eight different awards in the United States and Great Britain and was nominated for four more.
McBride, who is becoming one of country music's major stars, was inducted as the newest Grand Ole Opry member last year.
As if that wasn't exciting enough, it has just been announced that she is a finalist in three categories for the 1996 Country Music Association awards.
McBride has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for ``On My Own,'' which stars Reba McEntire and features McBride, Trisha Yearwood and Linda Davis.
Her current release, ``Wild Angels,'' has been nominated Album of the Year. The winners will be announced Oct. 2 on CBS.
McBride's first album, ``The Time Has Come,'' did not make a big splash, but the second one, ``The Way That I Am,'' went platinum and spawned three hits - ``Independence Day'' ``Life No. 9'' and ``My Baby Loves Me.''
McBride loves her baby. Delaney Katharine was born Dec. 22, 1994.
``Motherhood changes your outlook. You realize that what you do impacts someone else's life,'' she said. ``I think the songs I sing should stand for what I believe. The people who buy my albums should get a sense of who I am from my music. In ``Wild Angels,'' they can.
``The charts are full of relationship songs and everyone records them,'' McBride said. ``I think it's important to take a stand and say, `This is what I believe.' ''
She believes in supervising her own work and has co-produced all three albums. Her co-producers are Paul Worley and Ed Seay.
The Canadian-born singer will be at Peanut Fest Oct. 13. On Oct. 25 and 31 The Nashville Network will profile her in a 60-minute program tentatively titled, ``Martina McBride: Heroes and Heartbreakers.''
The country star will be the major Peanut Fest star, but there will be other entertainment including music to suit almost every taste.
An unusual offering will be the Buckingham Lining Bar Gang, a group of retirees who worked on the railroad all the live-long day, usually as section hands for several railroads.
They will be in Suffolk for performances Oct. 10 and 11, ``going through their old chants, explaining their work,'' said Sanny Chapman, Fest chairman. ``I saw them perform and they put on a really good show.''
Another new offering this year is a cheerleader competition involving several schools in the area, and Pop Warner Football cheerleaders.
For the very adventurous, there will be bungee jumping, and for those who enjoy fireworks - a double treat.
``The regular fireworks will be Oct. 11,'' Chapman said, ``but there will be a pre-show exhibit the night before.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Martina McBride by CNB