El Paso Times

“Rising country singer heading home to Las Cruces”

April 21, 2012

Since her appearance on “CMT’s Next Superstar” last summer, McCombs alumna Bri Bagwell has been hard at work releasing her debut album, producing a video for her single titled “Whiskey” and securing a deal with a booking agency that has worked with Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley and LeAnn Rimes.

This excerpt from the El Paso Times highlights Bagwell’s journey so far in the music industry and how this up-and-coming country music singer is applying her marketing degree along the way:

The booking agency has already secured Bagwell as one of the opening acts for Ronnie Dunn — half of the former duo Brooks & Dunn — for a May 18 concert in New Braunfels, Texas.

 

"I wouldn't have had this opportunity if I wasn't signed with them," she said.

 

But just as important, at least to the people of the Borderland, is that she will be in her hometown for a 7 p.m. show today at the Rio Grande Theater, 211 N. Downtown Mall.

 

During the show, she'll debut the music video for "Whiskey." "I have the DVD in my purse. I'm like, 'Oh, God, don't let me lose it,' " Bagwell said. "We're giving everybody a chance at home to see it first."

 

While attending Mayfield High School, Bagwell was the lead singer of a Las Cruces garage country rock band, On Tap, which also featured her older twin brothers and their friends. At age 18, she moved to Austin, where she now lives, and earned a marketing degree from the University of Texas at Austin, which she says has helped her tremendously with her music career.

 

"I think that a lot of people think, 'What a waste. Why'd you go to college and then become a musician?' But I market myself every day."

 

In early May, Bagwell will start a radio tour throughout New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. On June 27, she'll be in El Paso to play a show at State Line Restaurant.

 

She's also hard at work on her next album. "If I can get in the studio later this year, that would be awesome," she said.

 

She's anticipating, she said, "lots of road miles to come."

 
Read the entire article here, or check out the music video for "Whiskey" on Bri Bagwell's official website.