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AboutDonna Hughes has written well over 250 songs, inspired by
everything from family experiences, to heart break. Donna grew
up part of a close knit family on a small farm in Trinity, North
Carolina. Her musical odyssey began when she started playing
melodies on a piano at age three. The first song she ever played
was "You Light Up My Life," and then shortly after "When the
Saints Come Marching In," at age 3 with her right hand. Her
parents were excited and pleased, but would grimly discover
that they would have many years to endure of Donna making
lots of disturbing noise with that piano. Many interrupted television
programs and phone calls later, her parents would be thrilled
to suddenly hear her composing her own music. Shy about singing,
and never singing in public until after graduating from college,
Donna first began singing in her church, Westfield Baptist. She
has served as Church Pianist for the small church, attended by
her family for many generations. Donna plays guitar also, and
has entered and won 1st place at many bluegrass competitions
in the vocal category. She was once a member of two North
Carolina based bands, "Wildwood" and "Different Directions"
In 1996, Donna recorded a demo album of songs she had
written, but didn't have the knowledge of the music industry to
promote it at that time. So she worked harder, writing nine of
the songs on her first bluegrass album, Somewhere In Time,
including the title cut. The album, released in June of 2001,
received air play and recognition worldwide, and landed her
great reviews in many popular bluegrass & acoustic music
publications. A couple of her original tunes were selected for
"DJ's Hot Picks" in several issues of Bluegrass Now Magazine.
She did countless radio interviews in several states either live
or by phone, and was asked to perform across the nation as a
result of her debut CD. Donna's second album, Same Old Me
contains 21 original songs. In her quest for a record deal, and/or
getting a song cut, she left no stone unturned. Shortly before
Christmas of 2003, Donna received a phone call out of the blue
from Tony Rice. He had been given a copy of Donna's Same Old
Me album. Impressed with the fact that she wrote all 21 songs, he
asked if he could produce her next album, which eventually led
to her signing a recording contract with Rounder Records. He
stated it was simply a "box car load of great tunes." Ironically at
that time, her car CD changer was filled with Tony Rice albums. To
Donna, it was such a welcome relief to get recognition from such an extraordinary musical hero, after all of her hard work. Donna's new
& highly anticipated album, will be released on Rounder Records
in early 2007, produced by the legendary Mr. Rice and a host of
special guest including Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Carl Jackson, Sonya Isaacs and many more. Tony Rice later stated
that "She is an artist that has the potential to go as far in music as
she wants," and called her Same Old Me album, a "21-song
Masterpiece." Donna was chosen in 2006 for the third year in a
row, to perform at the "International Bluegrass Music Association
(IBMA) Songwriter Showcase. Dozens of songs submitted by
songwriters nationwide. Larry Cordle, a well-respected songwriter
who has written songs for the likes of Kenny Chesney & Garth
Brooks, helped judge the submissions one year, and stated "her
material was unforgettable." She was also chosen for the second
year in a row to appear on the IBMA Master's Stage for the
Songwriting Workshop. At IBMA in 2004, Donna met well
respected songwriter, Carl Jackson. He said about Donna, "This
lady is one of the best new singer / songwriters in the world of
bluegrass,I'm a big fan!" Carl, a three time grammy-winner, has
written songs for Alan Jackson, Glen Campbell, Emmylou Harris,
Rhonda Vincent, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Roger
Miller, and many other stars. Carl has made some awesome
contributions to Donna's new album with his superb harmony
vocals, and by helping Donna line up other awesome harmony
singers such as Sonya Isaacs, Alecia Nugent and Lona Heins.
Donna will always remember WNCW Radio in Spindale, NC for
playing her music when Barry Bales, bass player for Alison Krauss
& Union Station heard her music. Barry called the radio station
and got Donna's phone number from DJ, Dennis Jones. Barry then
contacted Donna and stated he had heard her music on the radio,
and that he "really liked what he had heard." He requested she
send her songs for their band's consideration. Donna has been a
huge fan of Alison Krauss and Union Station for many years,
possessing every album of the band, and was truly honored to
have such highly recognized and successful musician take notice
of her work. The song the band recorded was My Poor Old Heart,
which is on their newest album, Lonely Runs Both Ways, an album
that received a Grammy for "Country Album of the Year." It was the
final song to make their album. Alison Krauss & Union Station then
performed My Poor Old Heart at the 2005 CMA Awards Show. Alison
Krauss has written Donna to personally thank her for sending her
material, and complimented her writing. Alison has acknowledged
Donna several times on stage in front of thousands and even had
Donna's parents stand up in the spotlight, at a live concert in
Greensboro, NC, to congratulate them on their 34th wedding
anniversary. That is a moment Donna & her mother will never
forget. Donna said, "Where some artists easily forget where their
material comes from, Alison is extremely generous, in how she
lends recognition to all of her writers. I have a lot to be thankful
for, as I've always dreamed of having Alison record one of my
songs. This is a 12+ year dream that has survived to finally meet
reality." Alison and Donna are now pen pals, and meet in person
on occasion. Donna songs have also been recorded by other artists,
including the 2005 Country Colgate Showdown winner, Heather
Shelley, who recorded Donna's song "Not Anymore." According to
Donna, "Heather's abilities are absolutely beyond amazing, and
I am certainly rooting for her to become a huge star." The Seldom
Scene, long-time veterans of bluegrass, recently recorded Donna's
song Sad Old Train.
everything from family experiences, to heart break. Donna grew
up part of a close knit family on a small farm in Trinity, North
Carolina. Her musical odyssey began when she started playing
melodies on a piano at age three. The first song she ever played
was "You Light Up My Life," and then shortly after "When the
Saints Come Marching In," at age 3 with her right hand. Her
parents were excited and pleased, but would grimly discover
that they would have many years to endure of Donna making
lots of disturbing noise with that piano. Many interrupted television
programs and phone calls later, her parents would be thrilled
to suddenly hear her composing her own music. Shy about singing,
and never singing in public until after graduating from college,
Donna first began singing in her church, Westfield Baptist. She
has served as Church Pianist for the small church, attended by
her family for many generations. Donna plays guitar also, and
has entered and won 1st place at many bluegrass competitions
in the vocal category. She was once a member of two North
Carolina based bands, "Wildwood" and "Different Directions"
In 1996, Donna recorded a demo album of songs she had
written, but didn't have the knowledge of the music industry to
promote it at that time. So she worked harder, writing nine of
the songs on her first bluegrass album, Somewhere In Time,
including the title cut. The album, released in June of 2001,
received air play and recognition worldwide, and landed her
great reviews in many popular bluegrass & acoustic music
publications. A couple of her original tunes were selected for
"DJ's Hot Picks" in several issues of Bluegrass Now Magazine.
She did countless radio interviews in several states either live
or by phone, and was asked to perform across the nation as a
result of her debut CD. Donna's second album, Same Old Me
contains 21 original songs. In her quest for a record deal, and/or
getting a song cut, she left no stone unturned. Shortly before
Christmas of 2003, Donna received a phone call out of the blue
from Tony Rice. He had been given a copy of Donna's Same Old
Me album. Impressed with the fact that she wrote all 21 songs, he
asked if he could produce her next album, which eventually led
to her signing a recording contract with Rounder Records. He
stated it was simply a "box car load of great tunes." Ironically at
that time, her car CD changer was filled with Tony Rice albums. To
Donna, it was such a welcome relief to get recognition from such an extraordinary musical hero, after all of her hard work. Donna's new
& highly anticipated album, will be released on Rounder Records
in early 2007, produced by the legendary Mr. Rice and a host of
special guest including Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Carl Jackson, Sonya Isaacs and many more. Tony Rice later stated
that "She is an artist that has the potential to go as far in music as
she wants," and called her Same Old Me album, a "21-song
Masterpiece." Donna was chosen in 2006 for the third year in a
row, to perform at the "International Bluegrass Music Association
(IBMA) Songwriter Showcase. Dozens of songs submitted by
songwriters nationwide. Larry Cordle, a well-respected songwriter
who has written songs for the likes of Kenny Chesney & Garth
Brooks, helped judge the submissions one year, and stated "her
material was unforgettable." She was also chosen for the second
year in a row to appear on the IBMA Master's Stage for the
Songwriting Workshop. At IBMA in 2004, Donna met well
respected songwriter, Carl Jackson. He said about Donna, "This
lady is one of the best new singer / songwriters in the world of
bluegrass,I'm a big fan!" Carl, a three time grammy-winner, has
written songs for Alan Jackson, Glen Campbell, Emmylou Harris,
Rhonda Vincent, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Roger
Miller, and many other stars. Carl has made some awesome
contributions to Donna's new album with his superb harmony
vocals, and by helping Donna line up other awesome harmony
singers such as Sonya Isaacs, Alecia Nugent and Lona Heins.
Donna will always remember WNCW Radio in Spindale, NC for
playing her music when Barry Bales, bass player for Alison Krauss
& Union Station heard her music. Barry called the radio station
and got Donna's phone number from DJ, Dennis Jones. Barry then
contacted Donna and stated he had heard her music on the radio,
and that he "really liked what he had heard." He requested she
send her songs for their band's consideration. Donna has been a
huge fan of Alison Krauss and Union Station for many years,
possessing every album of the band, and was truly honored to
have such highly recognized and successful musician take notice
of her work. The song the band recorded was My Poor Old Heart,
which is on their newest album, Lonely Runs Both Ways, an album
that received a Grammy for "Country Album of the Year." It was the
final song to make their album. Alison Krauss & Union Station then
performed My Poor Old Heart at the 2005 CMA Awards Show. Alison
Krauss has written Donna to personally thank her for sending her
material, and complimented her writing. Alison has acknowledged
Donna several times on stage in front of thousands and even had
Donna's parents stand up in the spotlight, at a live concert in
Greensboro, NC, to congratulate them on their 34th wedding
anniversary. That is a moment Donna & her mother will never
forget. Donna said, "Where some artists easily forget where their
material comes from, Alison is extremely generous, in how she
lends recognition to all of her writers. I have a lot to be thankful
for, as I've always dreamed of having Alison record one of my
songs. This is a 12+ year dream that has survived to finally meet
reality." Alison and Donna are now pen pals, and meet in person
on occasion. Donna songs have also been recorded by other artists,
including the 2005 Country Colgate Showdown winner, Heather
Shelley, who recorded Donna's song "Not Anymore." According to
Donna, "Heather's abilities are absolutely beyond amazing, and
I am certainly rooting for her to become a huge star." The Seldom
Scene, long-time veterans of bluegrass, recently recorded Donna's
song Sad Old Train.
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