“Take It Like a Man” Singer and 90s Country Artist
Michelle Wright You probably know Michelle Wright as a 90s country icon, and that is true! In this interview we talk about her illustrious career in country music and her latest album, “Milestone” that includes a remake of her smash hit “Take It Like a Man.”
She is a multiple Canadian Country Music (CCMA) award winner, Academy of Country (ACM) winner and has been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Sue Bonzell
She has won a multiple awards in country music. She’s a country legend. She has a new album. I am so excited. Michelle Wright is here. Welcome, Michelle.
Michelle Wright
Thank you. lovely to be here with you.
Sue Bonzell
I’m excited. We have a lot to talk about. So you know, a lot of the stuff.
Michelle Wright
I’ve been around for a little
Sue Bonzell
while a little while,
Michelle Wright
I fought for four decades, I can’t believe that we’re starting my story for decades already first year on the road this year. So I could this I started when I was like two or three years,
Sue Bonzell
but we Yeah, well, obviously. Yes. Well, we want to talk about that. Because a lot of times I’m interviewing some, you know, new up and coming artists and you’ve had this amazing, established career, like you said, for 40 years. I want to start by talking about what was it like starting out as a country artist, because you did you man you hit, you hit some big stuff that we’re going to talk about, but just starting out in country music to go on to do what you did. Tell us about that experience?
Michelle Wright
Well, you know, my mum and dad were country music singers and performers. So I grew up around country music and rehearsals in the in the garage in the backyard, and you know, a garage full of musical instruments. So I actually started out on the drums. Karen Carpenter was a slight bit of an influence nice, yeah. And then moved on to acoustic guitar and just sort of played in little bands in high school in high school. And then I actually hit the road. And I was when I was 20 years old after college. And I feel like I was one of the fortunate to have the fortunate generation in that we could play clubs six nights a week. Oh, wow. So we went from town to town, and six nights a week. And I did that for nine years, nine years who arrived in Havana, we started in the Bay Area. And then we moved on to a que van and I’ve, you know, changed an alternator on the side of the road and a few tires. I’m a farmer’s daughter too. So I kind of knew a little a little bit about mechanics. But of course the boys helped me out. But we played the club six nights a week and then nine years and I got my record deal with arysta Nash well in 1989, and put the first record out in 1990.
Sue Bonzell
Was there ever a time when you were like, man, what am I doing this for? Like, what’s what’s what’s happening? What’s going to happen?
Michelle Wright
You know, I can’t say so I you know, because I will say that, you know, I spent five years out there before anything happened. And then just by happenstance up, the most popular manager and country music and Canada had come out to see me perform. And after I was done performing, he offered me a management contract. So that was sort of five years into it. And then you know, a couple years after that sudden, we put the first album out and then a couple years after that I got my record deal with heiress to Nashville. So it’s almost as if, you know, the first five years were definitely grinding it out. And then as I had developed as an artist and kind of knew, had the vision in my mind, it’s almost like then every step by tech took led to another door opening and not easy, no doubt about it. And you have to be really determined and and keep dreaming the dream. But I can’t say that I’ve ever went What am I doing this for? I truly love it. I love it to this day, and I’m very thankful. And so
Sue Bonzell
yeah, I mean, so 40 years of, you know, out there touring, making new music, all these things, and you’ve got a new album. Now I’m excited about this. So okay, back in the day. I actually had your albums I have had CDs. Remember those? Yeah,
Michelle Wright
I made my first album was when we moved to the cassettes and then the CDs. Yeah.
Sue Bonzell
So So I had that. So now take it like a man. That was kind of like a really big hit, especially in American country. Obviously, you’re Canadian. And you’ve had a a and I can hear it in your voice. It’s so cute. I love it. I love it. Now that song I understand you’re also remaking on the new album.
Michelle Wright
Well let me share with you in fact what we’re doing with the new album milestone is that we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of take it like a man and so we rerecord it take it like a man we you but but kept it exactly the same key true to the original because you don’t want to mess with that you guys made that such a big hit for me. So I don’t want to mess with it. And I love it. I love to sing it every day. But when we use four of the six original musicians that recorded with that, that or did that song with me and Lonnie Wilson, the drummer use the same snare drum from 30 years ago which is awesome, right? So we just we want to rerecord it and freshen it up a little bit. And so it sounds very similar. Yeah, it’s fresh, you know, technology changes and I want the radio to keep playing that song and I want to sound sonically competitive. So, we did that also as a celebration of the of the 30th anniversary. And then we cut nine new songs and songs that I’ve written and songs that I’ve held on to like, like a couple of the songs I’ve had for like 2025 years really that I I’ve been wanting to record forever and ever and I just held on to them because I knew there would come a time when I would record these. This record is very much, not not a big departure from everything I’ve done throughout the years because my influences our country, and Motown and a little bit of rock and roll, you know, those are my influences. But we really did lean maybe a little heavier towards the r&b, Motown groove oriented stuff on this record, and I feel so happy that we were able to do that. And another song I recorded that I just always wanted to record as a song that Delbert McClinton had out called I’m with you. And it’s this cool, funky, awesome song fun party song. And the first time I heard it was in 1989. And I thought, oh, man, someday I want to record that song. So here we are, all these years later, we’ve cut it and I think it sounds wonderful. I’m really proud of the record. And I’m thankful that we can celebrate 30 years Yeah, of the reliefs have taken welcome, man.
Sue Bonzell
I think that that song, I was just really listening to it. Again, very familiar with like I said, I own the album, I put these things on replay when you know, when I was good, yeah. And, and I’m like, That song is kind of timeless. It is. And speaking as a single person, I’m like, I think you’re singing my anthem. Once again, I’m so glad you’re releasing.
Michelle Wright
You know, it is timeless, right away. It’s a little sassy. You know, we girls without, you know, being too aggressive about it. We really, really we do need our our men to be truthful, true to us, and steady and strong. And I know you guys want the same thing in return. So I think it goes both sides. I just happen to be singing it from a woman’s point of view. So I think through the generations that, that that song will always be relevant, right?
Sue Bonzell
Yeah, I think it’s I think it’s gonna continue to resonate for sure.
Michelle Wright
And I truly love doing it every night. If you can believe it. I just can’t wait to sing that song. Because they know how the audience is going to respond. And,
Sue Bonzell
and they’re probably all singing along with you. I mean, they just don’t you love to. It’s great. It’s wonderful. You’re like, my son. Yeah, you
Michelle Wright
probably don’t want to do that. Find them relieving. If
Sue Bonzell
I was in the front row thing, and you’d be like, I need to tone it down just now. Okay, so though the new song that you are, you’re the one that’s coming coming out right now is out now. Right? Yes. And this is first small town, right? So tell me about writing that because you came from a small town in Canada,
Michelle Wright
um, a little bit of small town near the border. So what that song is about is that I was raised just across the border from Detroit, quite frankly, about 80% of the population of Canada lives about 100 miles within 100 miles of the border. So all of us, a large majority of us in Canada are border town kids, you know, so I’m a little bit of small town edge of the border. And I actually didn’t intend to write this song. But a couple of them got together with a up and coming Canadian artist by the name of Daniel Bouchard, and Rick Farrell, who’s an American writer, and we were writing for our first time. And this Dan Emmerich is a wonderful writer. But I really didn’t know much about Danielle she’s just a young up and coming Canadian singer. But she’s a wonderful songwriter. So I was really thrilled to get together and write with her. And she was just kind of giggling and the first time we were room meeting she wants you want to know more about my career and and you know, what it was, what it’s been like for me and what my journey has been like and so I was sharing a little bit you know, I mentioned that I blog played smoky bars six nights a week and I Oh, I got to sing it the World Series and I got to do Jay Leno and I’ve traveled around the world I was just sharing she went that’s what we’re going to write I went no, no, no, no, not gonna write a song about myself and write you know, I’m just not going to do that. She said, Oh, please, can we please write that song? And so I said, Well, okay, let’s give it a go. And you know, the first line is it doesn’t seem that long ago, I hit the road with my guitar, playing six nights a week pay and dues and smoky bars. Sometimes it’s still hard to believe how far this road and you to the fans have carried me because I’m a little bit of small town edge of the border, a little big city when I got older. But when the carpet rolls up, and the lights go down, I’m still small town is the first of course, I’m a farmer’s daughter, you know. And so just a hard working girl it was raised on the farm and a small town and was lucky to enjoy this wonderful, wonderful journey that I’ve been on and, and I we started, we wrote a song in 2019 and then COVID hit, and then it was like, Okay, wait a second. It’s time for the 30th anniversary of take it like a man and I started reviewing some of the songs that I’d written over that time period, and small town just just resonated and became the first single and I really love singing that song and sharing a little bit of the journey through a song. If at first it seemed a little self absorbed. or self centered or whatever. But Daniel said, no, no, no people want to hear this. And so I’m glad I listened to that young little girl because she was right. Yeah, yeah. Well,
Sue Bonzell
I think there’s I mean, it’s a lot of us from from small towns who’ve who’ve left left your small town
Michelle Wright
a little bit.
Sue Bonzell
I got all that. Right. Yeah. I think that will resonate with a lot of so. And I love that there’s a there’s a sign isn’t there entering your town?
Michelle Wright
Yes, Mike. Mike, there’s there’s four roads that enter into Merlin. And there’s a blinking yellow light in the middle of all of those, those four roads and, and each entrance has a sign that says Welcome to Merlin, hometown of country singer Michelle Wright. And I just thought that was so cool. When they did that. I love that. And I didn’t expect that they would do that. And it was just a thrill for me when they, when I was told, Hey, we’ve, we’ve put a little sign out there for people to come and see that they’re very proud of me and my little town, it’s beautiful as well, they should, they should. And I have to say that I love Facebook because I’m able to stay you know, you grow up with the kids in the small town and we did everything together and and then all of us have been out living our lives, you know, and I love Facebook because we can all stay connected now I get to reconnect with my girlfriends and that were my you know, sleepover parties and you shared some of your you know, I pierced my ears with Suzy meanie. And you know, and you know what I’m saying like things you guys do. And so these girls are my friends and we’re reconnecting through Facebook and my small town roots are they just never change, right? You just feel like like, I feel like I’ve never really left when you
Sue Bonzell
probably have some of those friends that like you haven’t talked to in a long time. But then you start talking to them again. And it’s such like it’s pick up right where you left off.
Michelle Wright
Right? It is. Yeah, it’s
Sue Bonzell
Yeah, it’s like we’re right back where we were. Yeah. So let’s talk about okay, I got it. I gotta brag on you just a little bit because I mean, I’ve got I’ve got a little bit of a long list here. Okay, we got it. I probably not even gonna cover them all. So you had a number one video on CMT for take it like a man. Okay, that’s pretty cool. Academy of Country Music top new female vocalist. That was in 1992. The Canadian Country Music Awards. What like 16 times Female Vocalist of the Year? Good. Our girl I’m
Michelle Wright
actually five time female vocalist. Okay, here and but I think there’s about 616 Total awards. So yeah,
Sue Bonzell
I mean, you’ve I mean, you’ve gotten the Humanitarian Award, you can, I mean, you’ve gotten like all these awards, out of all of those amazing accolades. And I know, they’re all very, very important out of all of those, which one really meant the most to you.
Michelle Wright
Well, certainly, you know, winning the Academy of Country Music Awards was a big deal, because there’s, I was the first Canadian to do that. And I believe Ann Marie won something that was a little different titled award back then and about 73 or something, which, you know, she she wanted a career and Marie had. And so I was the first Canadian sort of in the modern era to to win an ECM. So that was just, I mean, I’m up there. And there’s Reba and Garth and, you know, all the end and Tammy Wynette, and Merle Haggard, and people that I loved and grew up on. So that was quite a thrill. I would say, first time I went female vocalist up in Canada is something I can I can even still visualize it and remember it. And and then recently, Well, recently, gosh, I was the youngest inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame about 10 years ago. And I didn’t expect that ever. That was never really on the, you know, you don’t set out to I mean, I mean,
Sue Bonzell
yeah, you could,
Michelle Wright
I guess you could, but you might be because, you know, it’s it’s a rare and lucky thing if your peers decide to vote you into that. So that’s pretty awesome, too.
Sue Bonzell
Like, I mean, yeah, like so for, you know, our watchers out there a lot. A lot of my fans are new country fans, and they may or may not know who you are, which I was super excited when we got to set this up. I’m like, I know exactly who that is. I know her music. I’m so excited that she’s here. And I’m so excited that you have this new album, like you said, with some new amazing songs, the remake of take it like a man. We’ve got more to talk about, and we gotta play my world famous game. Truth or truth. Uh, we’re gonna do that in just a second. Okay, I cannot let Michelle leave without playing my world famous game. Truth or truth. Are you ready to play my friend? Yes. Okay, great truths are true. The truth you question? Well, that’s Can we go ahead and
Michelle Wright
know about this? I’m ready. Let me dig in here and see what I get. Here we go. If you met a genie all what would your three wishes be? Oh my gosh. Oh, well, you know, I could get really cheesy but
Sue Bonzell
That’s okay to be like cheesy.
Michelle Wright
I do really wish we just all love each other. You know that right? Yes. Love each other and let people live their lives and, you know, not be judging how people should be loving or how they should be living. You know, I mean, of course, you know, I’m not talking about, you know, you know what I’m saying? I’m not talking about you know, you can’t go around beating up children or anything like that, but we don’t like that either. Right? Yeah. But just let, let’s love each other and respect each other’s life’s choices and that sort of thing. You know?
Sue Bonzell
Yeah, it’s kinda like the whole the whole thing now that people go you do you boo, that said, You do you?
Michelle Wright
Do? You go right. Next. I’m really good with that. What What’s your three wishes be? One, number two would be? Well, um, I love my husband. And I love wish for us to continue to love each other as we do and have many, many more years together. As you know, I’m ready to hang out at the beach a little bit more to do that with him. And number three, well, if I’m being honest, I want everybody to have my new record. So okay, I wish that I have like you’d all have, because I’m telling you, I think it’s really great. You won’t, you won’t be disappointed. It’s full. It’s a record full of heart, and passion and positiveness and a couple of heartbreak songs on there. And you know, because you got to do that right. And I think they would really enjoy it and maybe feel my heart a little bit through the music so
Sue Bonzell
we can already tell we can, we are already feeling your big heart. I feel like I feel like I’m putting you on the spot. Like you’re like Miss America, like answered this question. You’re like world peace. I would like to of course, it is a good answer. Yes. A good answer. Would you like to do another one?
Michelle Wright
Okay. All right, here we go. That one? What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done? Gosh, God not much scares me if I’m being honest with you. Good. I like that answer to have like, no, let me go do that. I’ll try that. The scariest thing I’ve ever done. Isn’t that interesting? What would I How would I answer that? I’m a big risk taker. And, uh, you know, just not raised in a lot of fear,
Sue Bonzell
roller coasters or anything like that?
Michelle Wright
Well, I did do a roller I did, right. And I was a little afraid of a roller coaster. And I did the roller coaster. And then you just couldn’t get me off of it I just loved was the old wooden roller coaster. I was actually singing at the All Star baseball game. And they closed down the Six Flags. I think they are in Texas, and all the athletes and performers and their families. We went there that evening, and I wrote the old wooden roller coaster for my first time and I just couldn’t wait to get back on it and do it again and again again. So I guess that was sort of kind of scary, but I loved it. So
Sue Bonzell
it comes up. It’s like, Oh, this looks scary. She’s like, Yeah, way
Michelle Wright
to go. Yeah. Sometimes some of the performances that you do can be very intimidating. And you know, doing the Jay Leno Show I was quite scared. But once I got what Jay came and met me in the dressing room, and he was lovely. So maybe I’m not answering that very well because I can’t think of anything that
Sue Bonzell
so your answer is basically I don’t have any fear if I do I just overcome
Michelle Wright
Well, I don’t mean to sound sound to Paul to Pollyanna, because of course, you know, but if I’m scared of something I’ll give it a go and then find out maybe that wasn’t so bad.
Sue Bonzell
Let’s see This is inspirational. Yeah, this is great advice. Good. Here’s what we’re getting to her she’s got a big heart great advice.
Michelle Wright
Oh boy, I like I’d like to know who that person is actually my own self here. Okay, one
Sue Bonzell
more thing to get me out of here. I
Michelle Wright
can you know, see something I’ve got a really good answer for it. He’s a good question. So interesting. Oh my god. She wants to know their chi just not necessary. What is the biggest mistake I’ve ever made? Are you kidding me? You want me to tell the folks that and yeah, and then what happened? Oh my gosh, what is the biggest mistake I’ve ever made? Oh, well, you see, I don’t know maybe I just don’t think enough about these sorts of things. What’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made?
Sue Bonzell
Well, so so maybe because I can tell with your positivity and and just kind of your the way that you’re looking at things. I think I heard someone say once they said I never fail. I learn or I succeed.
Michelle Wright
Oh, I think so. Don’t you agree? I mean, because you know what if you aren’t, you know, I just again, I don’t want to sound so but you know, it’s you got it, you got to make mistakes, you know, you got to go for it. And you know, as long as you’re not endangering yourself or somebody else, but I am trying to think of a big mistake that I’ve made. And I’m just not going to come up with anything i i
Sue Bonzell
ever accidentally used salt instead of sugar when you’re baking a cake.
Michelle Wright
That’s one but I can’t I’m not sure I’ve done that. Let me think what I have never accidentally burned anything down. I’ll tell you what, I do have a big mistake, which which, which is interesting. I come from the farm, right. And we used to burn the wheat fields down, like you burn the stubble down and we would have controlled fires, we would do that? Well, so I should have known better. So my husband and I moved out to a place here in Nashville and it has a bit of land. And we were I was burning the boxes. Because as we were unloading everything into the house or whatever, and I lit the box, it was like burning the boxes. And I was looking at that and I had to go into the house for just a second. I was like, I’m gonna go into the house for just a second. And in the back of my mind, I’m like, you probably shouldn’t be doing this. And sure enough, the wind caught in that fire took off, and it started rolling across our backyard and it went into the treeline of our backyard. Oh, now I can tell you a big mistake I almost made and I’m screaming at the neighbor’s good. And they got a hole and we literally stomped out the spy for about a half an hour. And I went into complete stun mode because if we hadn’t stopped that fire, we’d have burned down the bloody neighborhood. So that’s a mistake I made and I should have known better so don’t ever walk away from burning boxes anywhere anytime. Just so so moving forward after that I kept the hose with me because I did have more boxes to burn no and I didn’t leave them I didn’t I made sure I had a hose just in case the wind came in. So there you go.
Sue Bonzell
Yeah, we know it’s not it’s not a life unless you start a fire somewhere.
Michelle Wright
Thank God it didn’t get away from us though. So that that’s
Sue Bonzell
how it all worked out. It worked out Yes. And we learned right we did that we learned there. Yeah,
Michelle Wright
well you know and you know what they learned lesson for me of course is that when your intuition when something Say and don’t do it, don’t do it. Just don’t do it. Pay attention.
Sue Bonzell
Okay, well, that was fun. I want to thank you so much for joining me playing the game talking to us about everything. She’s got the new album out milestone, which is incredible. So go get that go download, go get it on Spotify and Apple Music and all the things and we
Michelle Wright
do have hard copies CDs available through the website. Yeah, some people, even the kids they like the hardcopy CD. Yeah, so we’ve got it out there. And of course all my socials you can keep in touch. I like to cook cooking videos. They’re my gardening videos and my dog. He’s a little bit of lifestyle stuff, you know, hanging out
Sue Bonzell
perfect. Okay, so make sure you’re following Michelle, right. Go get the music milestone. Very excited to have you here. Thank you so much. Thank you. She’s good. She’s good. Thanks for watching up in country be sure to like and subscribe and leave us a comment. We do new episodes every Tuesday. And be sure to follow up and country on Instagram tick tock and Facebook and you can follow me to add Sue Bonzell on instagram facebook tiktok.
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