Hoppy Birthday Martina McBride

 Martina McBride makes 45 look like the new 35. It's her birthday today and she has a lot to celebrate. 

Martina Mariea Schiff  was born in Sharon, Kansas with a population of about 200 people.  She began singing with her father at around age 8 or 9 in a country band, then moved onto a rock band in the 80's.  

Martina met her husband John McBride in 1987.  He owned the space they rented to rehearse.  They married in 1988 and moved to Nashville the following year.

Martina got her foot in the country music door by selling t-shirts at Garth Brooks concerts.  She signed her first record deal in 1991 and released her first album 'The Time Has Come" in 1992.  But it was her second CD "The Way That I Am" that really put Martina on the charts.  Her first two singles were in the top ten: "My Baby Loves Me" peaked at number two, and "Life #9" at number six. The third single, "Independence Day", did not reach the top 10 because many radio programmers objected to the song's subject of a mother fighting back against abuse by burning the family home to the ground.  "Independence Day" won Video of the Year and Song of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.  Martina was also named New Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMA's in 1993. 

Martina has gone on to win a number of awards, release several multi platnum selling albums, and perform in concert for millions of fans.  Despite all that, Martina hasn't let the fame go to her head.  She'a still a mom to three beautiful girls works on several charities in her free time.

Hoppy birthday Martina!  You make juggling motherhood and a career look easy.  And what a career it is.  Here's wishing for many more years of hearing Martina music on the radio.