Author: Miranda Raye
Hello everyone! My name is Miranda. I’m originally from Ohio, but currently live in Michigan with my husband, Max, and our Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Clover.
My love for country music started from the moment I was born, because my family was a country music family. There are old home videos of me in my baby swing, swinging along to Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton’s “Rockin’ Years.”
Being born in the ’90s, I grew up on artists such as Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, and Martina McBride. But my relatives introduced me to their favorite traditional and outlaw artists too, fueling my love for singers such as Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, and again, Dolly Parton.
When it comes to modern country music, I find myself intrigued by artists such as Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Blake Shelton.
One artist that’s resonated with me throughout my life is Lonestar. Their version of “Walking in Memphis” may be my all-time favorite song. I also grew up loving their #1 hit “What About Now.” Years later, when Max and I were trying to figure out which song we wanted to share our first dance to at our wedding, “What About Now” is the song we chose.
My love for country music and music in general fueled my own love of performing. I grew up singing and dancing in my high school’s show choir and musicals. I also participated in marching and concert band. My primary instrument is the flute, but I play the cymbals as well.
Much like my love for music, my writing journey started at a young age. I was always jotting down little stories or “sequels” that tied back to my favorite books, TV shows, or movies. As I grew older, I wondered if I could turn that passion into a career. I ended up double majoring in Creative Writing and History at the University of Findlay…all while furthering my love for music by playing in my university’s marching and concert bands. Being able to unite my passions for storytelling, researching, and music into my work for Country Rebel has been a dream come true.
My background as a historian means that many of my articles on Country Rebel are history-focused. From throwback performances to in-depth editorials about moments in country music history…that is my bread and butter. I also write many of the lists you see on the website, which allows me to share little-known details about country singers and songs. Those tend to be some of my all-time favorite articles for that reason.
You’ll also see me covering breaking news and current events, all while placing those of-the-moment stories in context with recent and distant history.
I love learning new things about country music, and I love helping Country Rebel’s readers learn new things about their favorite genre!
