There are some people who say country music is made up of songs about heartbreaks, drunken nights, and hard economic times. But those people have not heard 18-year-old up-and-coming country music artist Rachel Morgan Perry. Rachel describes her acoustic pop country sound as “sweet country,” music that is uplifting, infectious, and full of positive energy. 

“I want my music to be something you can crank up on the radio and enjoy listening to with the windows rolled down in your car,” Rachel says.

“I think there is a lot of darkness and sadness in the world that can sometimes burden people and weigh them down,” Rachel explains. “So in all of my songs I try to include a universal topic dealing with a happiness or lightness that everyone can relate to like love.”  

Rachel began writing songs during her elementary school years growing up in Boulder, Colorado.

“I think ever since I could formulate sentences I have been writing songs,” Rachel said laughing. “I have always had a passion for music and singing.”

It was not until Rachel’s early teen years that she taught herself to play the guitar and piano and began putting instruments to her lyrics and melodies. 

She began playing at coffee shops and small festivals around Colorado, but Rachel knew that singer/songwriter opportunities around the Rockies were scarce. With this knowledge, she decided to finish her last year of high school online instead of graduating with her friends in order to move to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her music.

“I knew Nashville was the place I needed to be,” Rachel says. “After visiting, I fell in love with the richness of the music culture here, and I felt like I had found a home.”

Since her arrival in Nashville, Rachel has built a reputation as a talented songwriter and tireless performer. Since the release of her first solo album, “Once Upon A Time,” she has co-written songs with many well-known and successful songwriters and producers who have had # 1 hits and other major accomplishments in the music industry. These songwriters include Rand Bishop, Irene Kelley, Paul O’Connor, Lisa Shaffer, Chuck Jones, Donna Beauvais, and Ray Hamilton. Rachel is currently working on her soon-to-be-released EP “I’m Somebody,” featuring a duet with CMT country music artist Blaine Larsen.

“I have been so blessed to be able to work with so many of the amazingly talented people I have met so far,” Rachel says.

Rachel has performed at festivals and venues throughout the United States and with numerous well-respected artists such as American Idol finalist Chris Sligh, country music duo Summertown, Brandon Sipes, Andrew Witt, and Christian rock bands LEO and Rough Draft. She is a regular performer at the legendary Bluebird Café in Nashville, Tennessee and recently performed for the U.S. Army’s 101^st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as the troops arrived home from their tour in Afghanistan.

“It was such an honor to play for our troops,” Rachel says. “It’s one of my dreams to be a part of a USO tour in the future. Their sacrifices to protect us at home inspire me, and I just want to give something back by using my songs to help inspire them.”

Rachel has recently become involved with the Christian Ministry Compassion International and is looking forward to planned trip to Columbia, South America later this summer with other country artists to help make an impact on disadvantaged children. She is also scheduled to perform at the 2012 national Ignite Youth Conference in Los Angeles where she will be performing alongside Christian music artists Rebecca St. James and Bethany Dillon.

Rachel’s music has touched many people and she has been honored with awards such as 3^rd place in the national singing competition American Country Star, Tucson Folk Festival First Runner-up, First Place Winner of the Northern Colorado Night of Stars Competition, Telluride Bluegrass Troubadour Festival Honorable Mention, and a Rocky Mountain Folk Festival Honorable Mention. She has been a Featured Artist for the Country Throwdown Tour in Colorado at Fiddler’s Green sponsored by Nashville’s BlueBird Café and her music has been featured on radio stations such as Women of Substance Radio, Jango.com, KLTT 670 AM, and 88.9 KRFC. Rachel’s goal is to reach people with her music in a way that has never been done before and whether she is playing for a crowd of 25 or 25,000, performing her music for people of all ages is a gift she hopes to give to listeners for as long as she is able.