This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2010)

The Heath High School shooting occurred at Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky, United States, on Monday, December 1, 1997. Fourteen-year-old Michael Carneal opened fire on a group of praying students, killing three and injuring five more.

The shooting[link]

On December 1, 1997 Carneal wrapped a shotgun and a rifle in a blanket and took them to school, passing them off as an art project he was working on. He also carried a loaded .22 pistol in his backpack. Carneal rode to school with his sister and arrived at approximately 7:45 a.m. When he arrived, he inserted earplugs and took the pistol out of his bag. He fired eight rounds in fast succession at a youth prayer group. Three girls died while hospitalized and five others were wounded.

Member of the prayer group, Benjamin Strong, testified that Carneal dropped the gun of his own accord when he was finished.^[1] Carneal placed his pistol on the ground and surrendered to the school principal, Bill Bond. After dropping the gun, Carneal said to Strong: "Kill me, please. I can't believe I did that." ^[2]

Victims[link]

Deceased[link]

• Nicole Hadley was a fourteen-year-old freshman. Nicole was kept alive until 10:00pm the evening of the shooting. Nicole played in the school band and on the freshman basketball team. She was a member of the Heartland Baptist Worship Center and the Heartland Baptist Youth Group. Her family had moved to Paducah from Nebraska the year before the shooting. Her parents received praise for their decision to donate Hadley's organs, a decision they said their daughter supported. President Clinton cited the family's "courageous decision" in his Proclamation 7083 on National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week in 1998.^[3]
• Jessica James was a seventeen-year-old student. Jessica died in surgery at Western Baptist Hospital Monday afternoon. She was a member of the marching band and attended Lovelaceville Baptist Church.
• Kayce Steger was a fifteen-year-old sophomore. Steger died at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah about 45 minutes after the shooting. Kayce played clarinet in the school band, played on the softball team, and was a member of the Agape Club. She was an honor student, worked at Subway, and attended 12th Street Baptist Church. She was a member of Law Enforcement Explorers Post 111 and hoped to be a police officer. Her parents reported that Michael Carneal had asked her out on a date a little over a month before the shooting.^[4]

Wounded[link]

• Shelley Schaberg, 17 at the time, was described by the principal as the school’s best female athlete. Voted Miss Heath High School by the senior class, Shelley was homecoming queen. Though her injuries from the shooting prevented her from playing basketball, her college honored her basketball scholarship and she went on to play college soccer.^[4]
• Melissa “Missy” Jenkins, age 15 at the time, was president of the Future Homemakers of America. She was paralyzed from the chest down in the shooting. Missy has appeared on numerous national and local television shows, talked to newspaper reporters and is appearing in two TV commercials for Channel One News, an educational channel that reaches schools throughout the country. A video interview of her was featured on the home page of YouTube.com on April 22, 2007.^[5]
• Kelly Hard Alsip,^[6] 16 at the time, was a member of the softball team and the Future Homemakers of America. She transferred to the local Catholic school the year after the shooting.^[7]
• Hollan Holm, age 14 at the time, was a member of the Academic Team, the Spanish Club, and the Science Olympiad. In his valedictory speech at the class of 2001 graduation, he reminded his class that they had lost not one but two class members on December 1, 1997: Nicole Hadley and Michael Carneal.^[7] Holm has been involved with an organization that urges students to speak up if they know of threats against schools or students.^[5]
• Craig Keene, age 15 at the time, was a member of the Agape Club, the band, and the basketball team.^[7]

Trial[link]

In October 1998, Judge Jeff Hines accepted a plea of guilty from Michael Carneal, due to his mental illness. Under a plea arrangement, the judge agreed to accept the pleas on condition that Carneal would receive a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 25 years (2023). According to prosecutor Tim Kaltenbach, the plea allows Carneal to receive mental health treatment during imprisonment as long as this is necessary for him or until he is released. Carneal was transported to the Kentucky State Reformatory in La Grange when he turned 18 where he remains. Prior to that he was held in at Northern Kentucky Youth Development Center, a Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice facility.^[8] Carneal's Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDOC) ID is 151127. Carneal began serving time with KDOC on June 1, 2001.^[9]

In 2007, Carneal filed an appeal claiming that he was too mentally ill to plead guilty in 1998 to the shooting at Heath High School and asked the Kentucky Supreme Court for a re-trial. Prosecutors appealed and the Kentucky Supreme Court set up a hearing that was scheduled for September 11, 2008. The Court's ruling would decide whether to grant Carneal a new competency hearing and a trial. The Kentucky Supreme Court rejected his request and Carneal will continue to serve out his sentence.

Possible motives[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2010)

According to reports, Carneal had been bullied by other students. Following the shooting, Carneal was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has been hospitalized several times since the start of his incarceration due to psychosis, and takes medication for this condition.

Weeks before the incident, Carneal stole a .38 handgun from his parents' room and attempted to sell it. A student took the gun, threatening to tell police if Carneal did not give it to him. Additionally, Carneal had told students that "something big is going to happen on Monday" but no one took him seriously.

Lawsuit[link]

In early 1999, the parents of three victims represented by Jack Thompson filed a $33 million lawsuit against two Internet pornography sites, several computer game companies and makers and distributors of the 1994 film Natural Born Killers and the 1995 film The Basketball Diaries. They claimed that media violence inspired Carneal and therefore should be held responsible.^[10]

The case was dismissed in 2001. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it was "simply too far a leap from shooting characters on a video screen to shooting people in a classroom."^[11] Both Thompson^[12] and 79th United States Attorney General John Ashcroft claimed Carneal's proficient marksmanship was due to practice in violent video games.^[13]

Stephen King[link]

Carneal had in his locker at the time a copy of Stephen King's novel Rage (first published in 1977 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman). After this shooting King requested his publisher to allow it to go out of print, fearing that it might inspire similar tragedies. Rage for a time continued to be available in the United Kingdom in The Bachman Books collection, although the collection now no longer contains Rage.^[14] King's other Bachman novels are available in the US in separate volumes.

Carneal now does some of his own writing. He mostly writes short stories and doggerels. Some of his art work and poems can be seen on murderabilia websites.^{[citation needed]}

Popular culture[link]

• Christian singer and Heath alumnus Steven Curtis Chapman wrote and dedicated the song "With Hope", from his 1999 album Speechless, to the victims of the shooting.
• A self titled album put out by the band A Cross Between also featured a song dedicated to Nicole Hadley, titled Nicole Hadley's Heart.

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

	Kentucky portal
	Crime portal

• CNN news report

Coordinates: 37°04′43″N 88°47′36″W / 37.07861°N 88.79333°W / 37.07861; -88.79333

Rachel Childres^[2] (born July 1, 1986) is an American professional wrestler best known by her ring name Rachel Summerlyn. She wrestles for several independent wrestling promotions, most notably for Shimmer Women Athletes, IWA Mid-South and ACW.^[1] She currently performs for several Northern United States-based independent promotions as well as the all-female promotion Shimmer Women Athletes. Under her original ring name Rachel Putski, she was billed as the granddaughter of former professional wrestler and 1995 WWF Hall of Famer Ivan Putski.

Career[link]

Early career[link]

Rachel made her debut as Rachel Putski and on November 3, 2006, took part in the first ever Queen of the Deathmatch tournament, where she was got past Vanessa Kraven in a thumbtack death match in the first round, but ended up being eliminated in the quarter finals by the eventual winner of the whole tournament Mickie Knuckles in a taipei death match. After the tournament she changed her ring name to Rachel Summerlyn. She won the first round against Vanessa Kraven but she was unable to score the pinfall against Mickie Knuckles on the second round. After missing the following year's tournament, she came back to take part in Queen of the Deathmatch 2008. She defeated Annie Social in the first round but lost in the semifinals to the eventual winner Rebecca Payne. On May 4, 2009, she defeated Hailey Hatred, Daffney and Mickie Knuckles to win IWA-MS' second Volcano Girls tournament. On June 21, 2009, she took part in Anarchy Championship Wrestling's first annual American Joshi Queen of Queens tournament where she was eliminated in the semifinals by Sara Del Rey.

SHIMMER Women Athletes[link]

On October 19, 2008, at the tapings of Volume 21 Summerlyn debuted on SPARKLE, the preshow of Shimmer Women Athletes, where she defeated Sassy Stephie to win a part in the main roster. On Volume 22, taped that same night, she was defeated by Amazing Kong. On May 2, 2009, she returned to SPARKLE where she teamed with Rayna Von Tosh in a winning effort against the team of Sassy Stephie and Kimberly Kash. On Volume 25, she tapped out to Cat Power in a 4-way match which also included Ariel and Kellie Skater. She made her third appearance in SHIMMER in a Tag Team Match teaming with Daffney against the IHWC. Rachel got the pin after Daffney left her alone in the ring. Later in the night she claimed a Match with Daffney. She won it by DQ after Daffney didn't release an illegal hold over Rachel for more than 5 seconds.

As part of Volume 29 she wrestled LuFisto in a hard-hitting match where she was forced to submit to the juji-gatame.

On April 10, 2010, as part of SHIMMER Volume 30, Rachel teamed up with Jessica James as Rachel & Jessica's Excellent Tag Team in a losing effort against Annie Social & Melanie Cruise. The following night of SHIMMER tapings saw Rachel lose to Daffney in a No Disqualification match on Volume 31, while she defeated Kellie Skater on Volume 32.

In September, Rachel participated in the SHIMMER tapings of Volumes 33-36. On Volume 33, Rachel & Jessica's Excellent Tag Team defeated Athena & Bonesaw in the opening contest. On Volume 34, Rachel and Jessica's Excellent Tag Team were defeated by The Canadian NINJAS in a Shimmer Tag Team Championship match got Rachel was distracted by Daffney. On Volume 35, after being distracted by Daffney, was defeated by Sara Del Rey after a cross armbreaker. On Volume 36 she defeated Daffney in an I Quit Match with a Texas Cloverleaf in the ropes.

Rachel took part in the SHIMMER tapings of Volumes 37-40 in March of 2011. On Volume 38, she was defeated by Mercedes Martinez and then she bounced back with a victory over Mena Libra on Volume 39. Rachel did not return to SHIMMER following these tapings, saying that she chose not to return to what she felt was not a fun working environment.

JAPW Women's Division[link]

Rachel Summerlyn made her awaited debut for Jersey All Pro Wrestling WD on January 9, 2010 in a match against Ayako Hamada. Even if Rachel went strike for strike she lost to Hamada but due to her performance she will be booked back.^[3]

ACW & Texas Indys[link]

Rachel has continued working in Anarchy Championship Wrestling as a mainstay based out of Austin, TX. In 2009, she and Jessica James formed Rachel & Jessica's Excellent Tag Team. Teamed up against The Canadian NINJAs for the SHIMMER tag championships on October 18, 2009 for the NINJAs' first tag title defense. They teamed up on February 21 in a loss to Gary Jay & Davey Vega. In March, Rachel appeared in various promotions including Victory Crown Championship Wrestling, where she teamed with Darin Childs to defeat Robert Evans, and Insane Hardcore Wrestling Entertainment where she successfully defend the ACW American Joshi title over Lillie Mae. On May 29, Rachel lost the ACW American Josh title to Athena but quickly regained it two weeks later.

She lost the ACW American Joshi title to Daffney on June 27, 2010 in the 1st round of the ACW Queen of Queens tounament. Summerlyn & Jessica James will receive an ACW tag team title shot on July 18. On January 16, 2011, Rachel competed in a 10,000 thumbtacks match where she was defeated by Athena at ACW Guilty by Association V.

On February 21 at A Psychotic Break Summerlyn and James defeated Flippy Sh!t (Brent Masters and Matt Fitchett), The Lost Boys (Jason Silver and Sky de Lacrimosa) and tag team champions The Smurf Nation (Chingo Smurf and JC Bravo) in a Four Way Elimination Match winning tag team titles (second for Rachel, first for Jessica)^[4]

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • Cloverleaf^[1][5][6]
  • Peroxide Plunge (Reverse STO)^[1]

• Signature moves
  • German suplex^[7]
  • Implant DDT^[1]
  • Thug Life (Swinging fisherman suplex)^[1][6]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Anarchy Championship Wrestling
  • ACW-IWA Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times, current) – with Skylar Skelly (1)^[1] with Jessica James (1)^[4]
  • ACW American Joshi Championship (2 times)^[8]
  • ACW Televised Championship (1 time)^[9]
  • American Joshi Queen of Queens (2011)^[10]
• Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
  • Volcano Girls (2008)^[11]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked her #34 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2011^[12]
• Squared Circle Wrestling
  • Girls Grand Prix (2012)^[6]

References[link]

Angel Blue
Angel Blue backstage at the Auditorio Nacional de Música, Madrid, Spain.
Background information
Born	May 3, 1983 (1983-05-03) (age 29) California, United States
Genres	Opera
Occupations	Opera singer Soprano
Instruments	voice, classical piano, electric bass
Years active	1996 - present
Website	www.AngelJoyBlue.com

Angel Joy Blue (born May 3, 1983 in California) is an American operatic soprano. Blue's voice has been recognized for its shining and agile upper register, "smoky" middle register, and beautiful timbre. She has performed internationally and won numerous awards such as Operalia^[1] and Miss Hollywood. Placido Domingo has described Angel as “the next Leontyne Price”.

Career[link]

Angel Blue has performed lead roles and as a featured soloist at Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Opera, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Colburn School, Royce Hall, the Staples Center, Auditorio Nacional de Música, Seoul Arts Center.^[2][3]

Her operatic repertoire includes such roles as Violetta (La Traviata), Musetta (La Boheme), Micaela (Carmen), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Liu (Turandot), Manon (Manon), Contessa Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Olympia and Antonia (Tales of Hoffmann), Dido (Dido and Aeneas), and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni).

Blue has sung the National Anthem for the Border Governors Conference, hosted by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and for the California Women's Conference, hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver.^[4]

Awards[link]

In 2009, Ms. Blue was a finalist in Operalia, receiving 1st place in the Zarzuela competition, and 2nd place in the Opera competition.^[5][6] She has also received awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion’s Emerging Young Entertainers Award, and the Redlands Bowl Competition.^[7]

Education[link]

Blue received a Masters of Music degree in Opera Performance from UCLA^[8] in 2007 and a Bachelor’s of Music from the University of Redlands in 2005. She is an alumnus of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she studied voice and classical piano. She was a member of the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program at Los Angeles Opera from 2007/2009. Angel is a current member of the Artistas de la Academia "Placido Domingo" del Palau de les Arts from 2009–2010, under Maestros Alberto Zedda, Lorin Maazel, and Zubin Mehta.^[9]

Causes[link]

Angel Blue has been a featured soloist on the Madrilenos por Haiti concert with La Orquesta Clasica de Espana in Madrid, Spain. The concert was dedicated to raising funds for housing projects for Haitians who have relocated to the Dominican Republic.

Pageants[link]

In addition to singing, the 5’11” soprano is a former model and beauty queen. Blue was the first and only African-American to have held the title of Miss Apple Valley California. She competed in the Miss Empire America pageant and received 1st runner in 2003. She has held such titles as Miss Hollywood 2005, Miss Southern California 2006, and 1st runner up to both Miss California 2006 and Miss Nevada 2007^[10][11] and finished 1st runner up at Miss California 2005.^[12] In 2005 Angel represented the state of California as Miss California Sweetheart at the National Sweetheart Pageant, where she won the overall talent award singing “Sempre Libera.”

References[link]

Portia Perez
Portia Perez in April 2010
Ring name(s)	Faith[1] Portia Perez Xtasis Dr. Monstrous
Billed height	5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[2]
Billed weight	123 lb (56 kg)[2]
Born	(1987-10-26) October 26, 1987 (age 24) Brockville, Ontario
Billed from	Ottawa, Ontario[2] Hollywood, California Boston, Massachusetts
Trained by	Dave Dalton Tyson Dux Max Alexander Adam Cage Cody Hawk Matt Stryker Mikey Whiplash Chris Hero Delirious
Debut	December 2003[2]

Jenna Grattan (born on October 26, 1987) is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by her ring name Portia Perez. Perez currently teams with Nicole Matthews as The Canadian NINJAs.

Professional wrestling career[link]

Perez made her professional debut in summer 2004 for Professional Wrestling Entertainment. While still in high school, Portia took bookings with many companies in Quebec and Ontario, including the promotion she trained with: Universal Wrestling Alliance.^[3] In 2005, Perez began accepting bookings in the United States, making her US debut for Cleveland All Pro Wrestling. She also competed for several other American companies, such as Heartland Wrestling Association in Cincinnati, Ohio, and IWA East Coast in Charleston, West Virginia.

In January 2006, Portia took part in her first international tour, spending four weeks in Ireland's Irish Whip Wrestling and England's All Star Wrestling. After returning to Canada, she continued to perform in many Canadian and American companies, including debuting for Shimmer Women Athletes in May 2006. Perez made her Mexican wrestling debut in June 2006 as a masked competitor named Xtasis. She spent three weeks competing for Lucha Libre Feminil as well as appearing for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA). Perez returned to Europe in November 2006, touring once again with Ireland's Irish Whip Wrestling. During her trip, Perez took part in the Queens of Chaos 2 tournament in Paris, France and also debuted for Real Quality Wrestling in London's York Hall, challenging RQW Women's Champion "Jezebel" Eden Black.^[4]

Perez posing in the ring in April 2009.

She returned to Europe for a third time in April 2007. She wrestled shows in England and Ireland over the course of four weeks. Perez missed all of her June and July 2007 dates after suffering a broken hand in a match against MsChif at Shimmer Women Athletes's June 2 show. She returned to action at Ring of Honor's July 27 show in Long Island. Perez formed a tag team with Nicole Matthews debuting at Shimmer Women Athletes's October 2007 show, later dubbed The Canadian NINJAs (National International Nation of Jalapeño Awesomeness).^[5] She began a feud with Allison Danger at Shimmer's July 5, 2008 show.

On December 15, 2008 Perez was defeated by Angelina Love in a dark match for TNA Wrestling. On May 3, 2009, at the tapings of Volume 26 Perez and Matthews defeated Ashley Lane and Nevaeh to win the Shimmer Tag Team Championship.^[5] They would hold the titles for 692 days, before losing them to Hiroyo Matsumoto and Misaki Ohata on March 26, 2011.^[6]

Jersey All Pro Wrestling[link]

On January 10, 2009, Perez made her Jersey All Pro Wrestling debut defeating Jennifer Blake. On August 1, 2009, she unsuccessfully challenged the JAPW Women's Champion Sara Del Rey for her title. After missing several shows she came back on January 9, 2010 in a Tag Team Match teaming with Mia Yim against The Addiction (Angeldust and Brittney Force). Portia's Team lost and Mia Yim turned on her aligning herself with the D-Factor.

Anarchy Championship Wrestling[link]

Portia Perez fought and defeated Rachel Summerlyn to be crowned the first American Joshi Champion in a five woman scramble in Austin, Texas on August 23. On January 17, 2010 At Guilty By Association in Austin, TX, Portia Perez defended and lost the American Joshi title to Rachel Summerlyn. On June 27, 2010 Perez was crowned the 2010 ACW Queen of Queens and also captured the ACW Canadian Joshi title for the 2nd time. On November 12, 2011 Perez won the ACW Heavyweight Championship in the first round of the 2011 Lone Star Classic, defeating former champion Darin Childs and Rachel Summerlyn in a three way. Perez would then lose the title on the same night, as she was defeated in the semi final of the tournament by JT LaMotta, thanks to interference by Robert Evans.

Wrestlicious[link]

In early 2009 Grattan took part in the first season tapings of Wrestlicious, which began airing in March 2010. In the promotion she, as "Faith", teams with regular tag team partner Nicole Matthews, who portrays "Hope". She debuted on the fifth episode on March 31, teaming with Hope in a losing effort against the team of Charlotte and Paige Webb.^[1]

NCW Femmes Fatales[link]

Perez fought and defeated Kylie Pierce at the debut show of NCW Femmes Fatales with her feet on the ropes.^[7] At the following show, on February 5, 2010, she was defeated by Mercedes Martinez.^[8] Due to her being one half of the SHIMMER Tag Team Champions she entered the tournament to declare the first ever NCW Femmes Fatales Champion and in the first round she defeated PJ Tyler.^[9]

In wrestling[link]

Perez dropkicking Sara Del Rey during a match.

• Finishing moves
  • Kosher Pickle^[2] (Spinning or a flipping inverted double underhook facebuster)
  • School's Out^[2] (Swinging reverse STO)
  • Superkick^[2]

• Signature moves
  • Dropkick
  • Leg trap sunset flip powerbomb
  • Multiple knee lifts
  • Spinning wheel kick
  • Victory roll, as a wheelbarrow bodyscissors counter

• With Nicole Matthews
  • Finishing moves
    • Funky Cold Medina (Superkick (Perez) / bridging German suplex (Matthews) combination)^[10]

• Entrance themes
  • "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks
  • "Hall of Mirrors" by The Distillers (Pro Wrestling Ohio)

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Anarchy Championship Wrestling
  • ACW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • ACW American Joshi Championship (2 times)
  • American Joshi Queen of Queens (2010)

• Great Canadian Wrestling
  • GCW W.I.L.D. Championship (1 time)

• Main Event Wrestling
  • MEW Women's Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked her #25 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2010^[11]

• Shimmer Women Athletes
  • Shimmer Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Nicole Matthews

• Squared Circle Wrestling
  • 2CW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jason Axe

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Portia Perez

• Official website
• GloryWrestling profile
• NCW Femmes Fatales profile
• CageMatch profile

Jessie James
Jessie James at the Tour for the Troops concert, Incirlik Air Base, December 2009
Background information
Birth name	Jessica Rose James
Born	(1988-04-12) April 12, 1988 (age 24) Vicenza, Italy
Origin	Warner Robins, Georgia, United States
Genres	Country, pop[1]
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Years active	2008—
Labels	Mercury, Show Dog-Universal Music
Website	www.thisisjessiejames.com

Jessica Rose "Jessie" James (born April 12, 1988) is an American country pop singer and songwriter. Having auditioned for and being rejected by most of the country labels in Nashville, Tennessee at age fifteen, James began working on refining her craft with Karla Wallace of Yellow Dog Records. One of her songs attracted the attention of Mercury Records which offered her a recording contract. She released her debut album Jessie James in 2009.

Life and career[link]

James was born April 12, 1988 in Vicenza, Italy.^[1][2] She began singing at the age of two and won her first talent contest in Baker, Louisiana at the age of nine singing "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart". She told her mother about the show after hearing about it from her grandmother.^[3] By then, she had already been writing songs on a plastic guitar and performed at SeaWorld and a Republican Convention.^[2] James relocated to Warner Robins, Georgia in 2000.^[1] At age fifteen, she made weekly trips to Nashville to hone her songwriting.^[3] She had auditioned and was turned down by almost all the country labels in Nashville, with one label head offering a development deal instead.^[4]

James was introduced to Karla Wallace of independent label Yellow Dog Records at seventeen who helped her with her songwriting and singing. One of her songs, "Gypsy Girl", written with two writers from Yellow Dog had been pitched to American Idol contestant and winner, Carrie Underwood, who put it on hold for her record, made it into the hands of record executive David Massey who brought her to the attention of L.A. Reid. She auditioned for Reid singing her song, "My Cowboy", produced by John Rich. James soon inked a contract with Mercury Records.^[5] Originally thinking that she would be producing a country record, James was instead told to record a pop album by record executives.^[6] She also claimed to have been asked to sound like pop singer Britney Spears.^[7] She described the recording process as "intense" as the label sent her to work with hip-hop producers who asked her to sound less country despite her desire to make country music.^[6] She described herself in an interview as "a country girl at heart," having grown up listening to the genre, preferring it to pop.^[4] Her debut album, Jessie James was released in August 2009, debuting at number twenty-three on the Billboard 200. The music on the album was a fusion between country and pop music, with more emphasis placed on the latter as dictated by her label. The album also featured writing credits from James and seasoned pop songwriter Kara Dioguardi and Mitch Allan among others.^[4] The album received a mixed reception from critics, Allmusic received the album positively, but found that despite being marketed as such and featuring some country influenced production, the music on the album was far cry from country music.^[8] Slant thought that the album only superficially pulled together influences from pop, country and hip-hop while failing to pander to any of those audiences.^[9] Its first single, "Wanted", produced by Allan had been released in April and peaked at number forty on the Billboard Hot 100. She later performed in the Middle East with singer Kid Rock and comedian Carlos Mencia for US troops stationed overseas.^[2]

James began working on her second album, Sweet American Dreams,^[10] in 2010, initially planned to be released in late summer.^[11] The album was to be of the same country-pop sound as her debut, with James being given more leeway by Mercury in incorporating country sounds.^[4] First single, "Boys in the Summer" released in June, was a minor country success but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Having struggled with accepting her career path as a pop singer, James told her label in the midst of preparations for her album that she did not want to be a pop artist and wanted to record country music.^[7] After negotiations, David Massey, the record executive who had brought James to LA Reid, asked Mark Wright from Show Dog-Universal Music, which had facilitated the country release of "Boys in the Summer" in November, to help Mercury/IDJ launch James in the country genre.^[12] James then began recording in April 2011.^[10] "When You Say My Name" was produced by Wright and released on January 31, 2012. "Military Man" was released on May 22, 2012.

Musical style and influences[link]

James co-wrote the majority of the songs on her debut album.^[3] The album is of a country pop fusion genre, revealing her taste for not only country music, but pop and soul music as well.^[3] The beat for "Blue Jeans" was a recording of James stepping, as she was in the step team in school.^[13] Initially, she faced opposition for her soul music inspired vocal runs when trying to get signed in Nashville.^[3] She has listed Christina Aguilera, Bobbie Gentry, Janis Joplin, Shelby Lynne, and Shania Twain as influences.^[3][14] Initially, she also stated that she wanted a career similar to those of Gentry and Twain, who were signed to pop labels but found crossover success in both country and pop music.^[3]

Personal life[link]

James is currently engaged to Eric Decker,^[15][16] who is a starting wide receiver for the Denver Broncos^[17] of the National Football League as of April 1, 2012.

Discography[link]

Jessie James in December 2009.

Studio albums[link]

Singles[link]

• ^A Current single.

Music videos[link]

Other appearances[link]

2010: "Come Undone" (My Darkest Days featuring Jessie James)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jessie James

• Official website
• Jessie James on Tumblr
• Jessie James's channel on YouTube