From Chicken Coop to Country Star: My Journey to Success

Growing up in a small town, my father, who ran a construction company and raised chickens, instilled in me a strong work ethic at a young age. I was barely 10 when he gave me the responsibility of feeding the chickens and cleaning the stable. He believed it was important for me to learn responsibility through these tasks. Later, at 22, I found a job at a country music club. I washed dishes and cooked from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, then took the stage and sang until 2:00 am. I quickly became known as the 'singing cook.' Despite countless rejections from record companies, I never gave up. One night, a woman executive from Warner Brothers Records came to hear me sing. After the show, we talked, and I thought it was just another rejection. A few weeks later, my manager received a call - Warner Brothers wanted to sign me. Soon after, I released my first record in June 1986, which sold over 2 million copies. I've always put my best effort into every job, and the sense of responsibility gave me a feeling of pride. This feeling remains with me today, even as a well-known singer. The lessons learned from my small-town upbringing, coupled with my unwavering determination, helped me achieve my dreams.