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Michelle Wright
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Key Information
Michelle Wright (born July 1, 1961) is a Canadian country music artist. She won the Canadian Country Music Association's Fans' Choice Award twice (1993 and 1995). In 2011, Wright was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Wright's primary success has been in her native Canada, where she has charted more than twenty-five singles, including six Number One hits: "Take It Like a Man", "One Time Around", "Guitar Talk", "One Good Man", "Nobody's Girl" and "Crank My Tractor". She also had chart success in the United States in the 1990s, landing in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts with "Take It Like a Man" at No. 10, "He Would Be Sixteen" at No. 31 and "New Kind of Love" at No. 32.
Career
[edit]Early life
[edit]Michelle Wright was born on July 1, 1961, in Chatham, Ontario. Wright grew up in the small nearby town of Merlin where her parents were both local music performers. By 1980, when Wright was in college studying counseling for the mentally disadvantaged, she joined a local band with whom she performed until 1983.
That year Wright started her own band.[1] She performed with her own band until 1988.[1] In 1985, while performing with her band, Wright signed a record deal with Savannah Records. The next year she released her debut single, "I Want to Count on You", which peaked at No. 48 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
Wright's debut album, Do Right by Me, was issued in 1988 and produced seven more singles, including Wright's cover of the 1974 Andy Kim hit, "Rock Me Gently", which reached No. 7 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. The album's success in Canada led to a record contract with Arista Nashville. Wright became one of the label's flagship artists.[2]
1990–1993: Breakthrough success
[edit]In April 1990, Wright's first American single, "New Kind of Love", was issued and became her first "Top Five" hit in Canada, in addition to peaking at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in the United States. Her second album, Michelle Wright, was released in July 1990. To support the album, Wright was added as an opening act to Kenny Rogers 1991 tour.[3] The album became a success in Canada.
That year, 1990, Wright was awarded Female Artist of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association. The following year she was awarded Album of the Year for Michelle Wright, Single of the Year for "New Kind of Love", and Female Artist of the Year again by the Canadian Country Music Association.[4]
Due to the success of her album Michelle Wright and single "New Kind of Love," Wright relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1991 to spend more time advancing her career.[2] When in Nashville, Wright began to record her third album, Now and Then, released in May 1992. The album's first single, "Take It Like a Man", became an instant hit, reaching No. 1 in Canada on the RPM Country Tracks chart and No. 10 in the United States on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. In Canada, the song also crossed over to the adult contemporary charts, peaking at No. 18. The song received the Single of the Year award from the Canadian Country Music Association in late 1992.
In 1993, the album earned Wright the award for Top New Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music. She appeared on the CBS television special, Women of Country, where she performed "Take It Like a Man" and the Mary Chapin Carpenter song, "The Hard Way," with several other artists including Carpenter. Now and Then went on to produce six more singles, including the Canadian number one hits "One Time Around" and "Guitar Talk". The album also contained the single, "He Would Be Sixteen", which reached No. 31 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and No. 3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. It was awarded Single of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association in 1993. Also in 1993, Wright won the Fans' Choice Award from Canadian Country Music Association, which she would also win in 1995.
1994–1999: Further success
[edit]In 1994, Wright released the first single from her upcoming album, "One Good Man", which became her fourth number one single in Canada; but it didn't reach the top 40 in the United States. Wright's fourth album, The Reasons Why, was released in September 1994 in Canada. Plans for the album to be released in the United States were delayed and eventually cancelled.[5] The album was also released in Europe after Wright completed a successful tour in mid-1994.[6] In early 1995, Wright embarked on a 40-city tour in Canada, which at that time was the most extensive tour in the history of country music in Canada.[2]
In August 1996, Wright released her fifth album, For Me It's You, following the release of the first single, "Nobody's Girl", which reached No. 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks and No. 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The album marked Wright's first album to be released in the American market in four years.[7] The album went on to be successful in Canada, producing three Top Five singles in "Crank My Tractor", "The Answer Is Yes", and "What Love Looks Like". The album was not a success in the United States. In a 1997 interview with Jam!, Wright admitted that she was "very disappointed" and "not happy with what [U.S. radio] did with this album".[8]
During 1997, Wright was awarded the C.F. Martin Humanitarian Award by the Canadian Country Music Association for her international work with the Special Olympics; her successful fundraising efforts for St. Joseph's Hospital in Chatham, Ontario, the hospital where she was born; and her support for the Manitoba flood relief fund.[2]
In 1999, U.S. radio welcomed Wright back when her 1997 duet with pianist Jim Brickman was released to radio. The song, "Your Love", failed at country radio, but gave Wright her only American adult contemporary hit when the song peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.[2] Despite the song's success at AC radio, it would be Wright's last charting single in the United States.
In October 1999, Wright's first greatest hits album, The Greatest Hits Collection, was released in Canada. The album included two new songs, "I Surrender" and "When I Found You", both of which were Top Ten hits on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. In 2000, Arista Nashville released the American version of her 1999 greatest hits album in the United States. The album contained a different track list than the Canadian version. The album was Wright's final release with Arista Nashville.
2000–present: Success today
[edit]In 2002, Wright was transferred to RCA Records/ViK. Recordings. That year she released her sixth studio album, Shut Up and Kiss Me, in June 2002. The album showed Wright in a more pop-driven styled than her previous work.[9] Wright co-wrote eight of the album's twelve songs, and recorded songs by successful songwriters such as Shelly Peiken, who wrote pop singer Christina Aguilera's 1999 hit, "What a Girl Wants".[9] Shut Up and Kiss Me also contained a more pop-oriented version of her 2000 single, "I Surrender." This version had been used for the song's music video and pop radio release.
In 2004, Wright started her annual Christmas tour, Dreaming of a Wright Christmas. A year later Wright signed with Icon Records and in October 2005, she released her first Christmas album, A Wright Christmas in Canada. The album featured covers of eleven Christmas songs and one new song, "I Know Santa's Been Here", written by Canadian country singer Patricia Conroy. The song was issued as the album's first single in December 2005. A Wright Christmas was released digitally in the United States 2007 and Europe in 2008.
In June 2006, Wright returned to country music by releasing her first new album in four years, Everything and More in Canada. In 2007, Everything and More was made available digitally in United States.
In 2011, Savannah Music Canada released Wright's first live album, The Wright Songs: An Acoustic Evening with Michelle Wright. The album features seventeen tracks, including singles and unreleased album cuts.
Wright released a new single, "Another Good Day," to Canadian country radio on April 24, 2012. She released a new single entitled "Strong" to radio in April 2013. Wright's first album of original material in seven years, Strong, was released on July 9, 2013.
In 2015, Wright signed with Chuck Thompson, President of the Nashville-based Thompson Entertainment Group, for management.
In 2018, she signed with Navigator Records and the label released her first brand new music since the release of Strong. "Lovin' This Day" and "Attitude Is Everything" were released as singles with an "old-school" A side song and a B side song configuration across all digital platforms on the Navigator Records label.
For 2019, Navigator released Wright's recording of the holiday classic "Silver Bells," produced by fellow Canadian Bob Funk, to launch the A Wright Christmas: 2019 with concert dates across Alberta and Ontario.
Michelle's newest album, titled "Milestone" was released on August 26, 2022. The album features nine new tracks, followed by a new recording of her 1992 hit, "Take it Like A Man"
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Induction
[edit]In 2011, Wright was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame at a special gala dinner and award ceremony in Hamilton, Ontario. Wright, the year's artist inductee, was recognized for her outstanding contributions to Canada's country music landscape. Wright has been acknowledged within the collections of the National Music Centre in Calgary, Alberta since 2014.
Other work
[edit]Wright appeared as a country music star in an episode in Season 4 of the Canadian TV series Due South. The episode, entitled "Mountie Sings the Blues," deals with the Mountie's efforts to protect Wright's character, Tracy Jenkins, from a stalker. She sings "Nobody's Girl" at the conclusion of the episode.
Discography
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Michelle Wright – Biography". CMT.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2004. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Michelle Wright: Biography". Michelle Wright. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
- ^ Friedlander, Mira (August 18, 1991). "Kenny's opening act". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ Cox, Wendy (September 16, 1991). "Michelle Wright sweeps Country Music Awards". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ "The Time Is Wright for Arista Singer". Billboard. July 13, 1996. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ^ Currie, Harry (July 7, 1994). "Going places Wright's career gets further boost with European tour". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ Tarradell, Mario. "Country COMEBACKS: Michelle Wright finds the going rough". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ "Michelle Wright gets in the act". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ a b "Country's Wright couldn't resist the pull of pop". Toronto Star. June 27, 2002. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
External links
[edit]
Michelle Wright
View on GrokipediaEarly life and background
Upbringing and family
Michelle Wright was born on July 1, 1961, in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, and raised in the nearby small town of Merlin, a rural farming community that shaped her early years.[5][6] Growing up on her family's grain farm, she experienced a quintessential rural Ontario childhood, surrounded by agricultural life and the close-knit dynamics of a small town near the U.S. border, which also exposed her to influences like Motown music from nearby Detroit.[7][8] Her mother and stepfather were both active in the local country music scene, performing regularly at venues such as the Legion and Moose Lodge, which immersed Wright in music from a very young age. Her stepfather was a performer in a country and western group, often donning rhinestone-studded suits for shows, while her mother was a professional country singer who played bass and had sung with the group Reflections for over a decade.[7][9] The family home served as a hub for musical activity, with rehearsals held in the garage amid a collection of instruments, and Wright's earliest memories include singing along in the car during family drives or watching her parents prepare for performances.[7][9] Her brother also contributed to the household's musical environment by playing guitar, fostering a collaborative family band dynamic that made music an integral part of daily life.[7] During her early school years, Wright's exposure to her parents' performances extended to personal milestones, such as joining them on stage as a child and participating in a Grade 7 school talent show together, which highlighted the central role music played in her upbringing. This rural, music-filled childhood not only sparked her interest in country music but also provided a supportive foundation that influenced her path toward professional pursuits in her late teens.[6][7]Musical beginnings
Influenced by her parents, who were local country music performers in rural Ontario, Michelle Wright developed an early interest in music that shaped her professional path.[7] Around 1980, while attending college, Wright joined a local band, marking her initial foray into live performances.[5] She continued performing with various groups for the next few years before forming her own band in 1983.[10] At age 19, she began appearing in Canadian clubs, honing her skills as a frontwoman on the country circuit. In 1986, Wright signed with the independent label Savannah Records, a pivotal step toward a recording career.[11] Her debut single, "I Want to Count on You," followed in 1986 and peaked at No. 48 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.[5] This led to her first album, Do Right by Me, released in 1988, which featured a cover of Andy Kim's "Rock Me Gently" as its lead single; the track reached No. 7 on the same chart.[12][13]Career
Early recordings (1980s)
In 1985, Michelle Wright signed a recording deal with the independent Canadian label Savannah Records, marking the beginning of her professional output as a solo artist. This agreement allowed her to release her debut single, "I Want to Count on You," in 1986, though it achieved modest chart performance, peaking at number 48 on the RPM Country Tracks chart. Building on this foundation, Wright expanded her work with Savannah through the production and release of her first full-length album, Do Right by Me, in the summer of 1988. The album, produced in collaboration with Savannah president and Wright's manager Brian Ferriman, featured a mix of original material and covers, including a rendition of Andy Kim's "Rock Me Gently." It reached number 38 on the RPM Country Albums chart and was certified gold in Canada for sales exceeding 50,000 units.[6][3][6] The album spawned several singles that contributed to Wright's growing domestic recognition, including "The Rhythm of Romance" as a pre-release track, "New Fool at an Old Game," "I Wish I Were Only Lonely" (peaking at number 7 on RPM Country Tracks), and "Rock Me Gently" (also number 7). These releases, totaling seven charting singles from the project, received significant airplay on Canadian country radio and helped establish Wright's vocal style blending traditional country with pop influences. Despite this success within Canada, the album's reach remained primarily national, with limited promotion and distribution preventing substantial U.S. exposure during this period. Wright focused on building her audience through rigorous domestic efforts, including extensive touring in Canadian clubs where she performed six nights a week—a grueling schedule that honed her live presence but highlighted the challenges of breaking into larger markets without major-label support.[6][3][14] By the late 1980s, the momentum from Do Right by Me positioned Wright for broader opportunities, leading to a transitional deal with Arista Nashville in 1989. This shift from the indie Savannah label to a major U.S. imprint prepared her for international appeal, though her 1980s output remained rooted in the Canadian country scene, emphasizing steady, if modest, chart gains and fanbase development over immediate crossover hits.[3][6][14]Breakthrough and peak years (1990–1999)
In 1990, Michelle Wright released her self-titled album on Arista Nashville, marking her major-label debut in the United States and solidifying her rising profile in country music.[15] The album featured the single "New Kind of Love," which peaked at No. 4 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada and reached No. 32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming her first significant crossover success south of the border. This release built on her earlier Canadian work and helped establish her as a prominent voice in the genre, with the album's blend of heartfelt ballads and upbeat tracks earning critical notice for her versatile vocal style.[6] Encouraged by this momentum, Wright relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1991 to further her career in the heart of country music.[6] Her first project from the new base was the 1992 album Now and Then, which produced multiple hits, including "Take It Like a Man," co-written by Tony Haselden and released as the lead single. The track topped the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada and climbed to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the U.S., representing her highest American peak to date. Other singles from the album, such as "He Would Be Sixteen" (No. 31 U.S.) and "One Time Around" (No. 43 U.S.), contributed to its strong performance, with the record showcasing Wright's ability to blend traditional country elements with contemporary production. Wright's momentum continued with The Reasons Why in 1994, featuring the lead single "One Good Man," which hit No. 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada but only reached No. 57 in the U.S. The 1996 album For Me It's You included another Canadian chart-topper, "Nobody's Girl," which peaked at No. 1 on RPM Country Tracks yet stalled at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Overall, Wright achieved three Top 40 entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart during the decade—"Take It Like a Man" (No. 10), "He Would Be Sixteen" (No. 31), and "New Kind of Love" (No. 32)—highlighting her breakthrough international appeal, though her American chart traction began to wane by the mid-1990s amid shifting industry trends. Her peak popularity in Canada was underscored by winning the Canadian Country Music Association's Fans' Choice Award in both 1993 and 1995, reflecting strong fan support during this prolific period.Later career (2000–present)
In the early 2000s, Wright released her sixth studio album, Shut Up and Kiss Me, on RCA Records/ViK Recordings in 2002, which featured a mix of contemporary country tracks including the title song that became a minor hit on Canadian radio.[16] Three years later, she issued her first holiday collection, A Wright Christmas, on October 25, 2005, via Icon Records, blending classic carols like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with originals to appeal to seasonal audiences.[17] This album saw a remastered re-release in 2024 as A Wright Christmas & More, expanded with three new tracks and available digitally to reach modern listeners.[18] Following these releases, Wright experienced a period of reduced output during the late 2000s, as she navigated shifts in the music industry and focused on select performances amid a more fragmented country market. She returned with her eighth studio album, Strong, on July 9, 2013, through Savannah Records, an independent effort that emphasized personal resilience with tracks like the title song reflecting her career longevity.[19] In 2018, she signed with Navigator Records, marking a pivot to targeted single releases such as "Lovin' This Day" and "Attitude Is Everything," distributed primarily through digital platforms to sustain her connection with fans.[20] Wright's 2022 album Milestone, released on August 26 via BFD / Audium Nashville, celebrated 40 years in the music industry with introspective songs like "Small Town" and collaborations highlighting her evolved sound.[21] In 2023, she released the live album The Wright Songs: An Acoustic Evening on December 8 via BFD/Audium Nashville.[3] This project underscored her adaptation to digital distribution and a stronger emphasis on Canadian markets, where she has maintained a dedicated following built on earlier successes. By 2025, she continued active touring, co-headlining The Great Canadian Roadtrip with Doc Walker and Jason McCoy, a cross-country series of shows blending country classics and new material to engage regional audiences amid streaming-era challenges.[22]Personal life
Marriage and family
Michelle Wright met her future husband, Marco Convertino, in 2001 at the Bluebird Café in Nashville, where they were introduced by Jimmy Olander of the country band Diamond Rio. Their immediate connection blossomed quickly, leading to an engagement on Christmas Day that same year.[23][24] The couple married on April 20, 2002, in a ceremony that marked the first marriage for both.[25][23] Their relationship has been shaped by shared interests in music and overlapping social circles within the Nashville country scene.[23] The pair has built a close-knit life together without children, focusing on mutual support and companionship over more than two decades.[25] Wright's marriage has influenced her songwriting, notably inspiring the 2023 single "Everything to Me" from her album Milestone, which she co-wrote as a heartfelt tribute to Convertino and the transformative power of their love.[23] The couple resides long-term in Nashville, Tennessee, a location that aligns with Wright's ongoing music career.[26]Residence and lifestyle
Michelle Wright relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1991 to pursue opportunities in the American country music industry, a move that marked a significant shift from her Canadian upbringing. She has since made Nashville her permanent home, where she resides with her husband, Marco Convertino, whom she married in 2002; this partnership has served as a stable foundation for her personal life. Their residence in the city reflects a balance between professional commitments and a quieter domestic setting. Wright maintains strong ties to her Canadian roots despite her long-term residence in the United States, frequently returning for performances and initiatives that connect her to her heritage. Her involvement in philanthropy underscores this connection, as she serves as an ambassador for World Vision, including a 2002 trip to Zambia to support child sponsorship programs.[27] This work highlights her commitment to community causes, particularly those aiding families and children on a global scale. Outside of her musical pursuits, Wright enjoys personal interests centered on relationships and community engagement, such as spending time with close friends in social settings, which she credits with enriching her daily life in Nashville. Her lifestyle emphasizes work-life balance, blending her professional world with meaningful personal connections and charitable efforts that align with her values.Awards and honors
Canadian Country Music Association awards
Michelle Wright has been a dominant figure in Canadian country music, earning 16 CCMA Awards throughout her career, which underscore her significant impact during the 1990s peak of her popularity.[18] These honors reflect her success with hit songs like "Take It Like a Man" and "He Would Be Sixteen," which not only topped charts but also secured category wins at the CCMA Awards.[28] Her CCMA accolades began prominently in the early 1990s. In 1991, Wright won three awards, including Album of the Year for her self-titled album, Single of the Year for "New Kind of Love," and Female Artist of the Year, marking a breakthrough after receiving 14 nominations that year.[6] By 1992, she claimed Single of the Year for "Take It Like a Man," the lead track from her album Now and Then, which became her signature hit and propelled her international profile.[28][6] The mid-1990s solidified her status with multiple wins in major categories. In 1993, Wright received the Fans' Choice Award—also known as the Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year—and Single of the Year for "He Would Be Sixteen," alongside Female Artist of the Year.[29][5] She repeated the Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year win in 1995, while also earning Female Artist of the Year that year and hosting the CCMA Awards broadcast.[29] These victories highlighted her widespread fan appeal and artistic excellence during a decade when she received numerous Entertainer of the Year nominations.[30]| Year | Category | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Album of the Year | Win (Michelle Wright)[6] |
| 1991 | Single of the Year | Win ("New Kind of Love")[6] |
| 1991 | Female Artist of the Year | Win[6] |
| 1992 | Single of the Year | Win ("Take It Like a Man")[28] |
| 1993 | Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year | Win[29] |
| 1993 | Single of the Year | Win ("He Would Be Sixteen")[5] |
| 1993 | Female Artist of the Year | Win[29] |
| 1995 | Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year | Win[29] |
| 1995 | Female Artist of the Year | Win[29] |
Juno Awards and other recognitions
Michelle Wright has earned significant recognition through the Juno Awards, including two wins for Country Female Vocalist of the Year in 1993 and 1995.[32] She received additional nominations in this category in 1997, 1998, and 2001, highlighting her consistent prominence in Canadian country music.[32] In 2003, Wright was nominated for Country Recording of the Year for her single "Shut Up and Kiss Me," further underscoring her songwriting and recording achievements.[32] Beyond the Junos, Wright gained international acclaim with her 1993 win for Top New Female Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards, marking her as a standout emerging talent in the U.S. country scene.[33] This honor complemented her domestic successes, such as multiple Canadian Country Music Association awards, affirming her broad appeal across North America.[34] Wright also received a SOCAN Award in 2001 for her co-written song "I Surrender," recognizing it as one of the most performed Canadian compositions of the year.[35] Her international breakthrough included chart success in the U.S., where singles like "Take It Like a Man" reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, while achieving gold certification in Canada for its commercial impact.[34]Hall of Fame induction
In 2011, Michelle Wright was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, honoring her three decades of contributions to the genre, including international hits and numerous accolades that established her as a leading figure in Canadian country music.[36][3] The induction, announced in June, recognized her role in bridging Canadian and American country scenes through albums like Do Right by Me and songs such as "Take It Like a Man."[37] This honor capped a career marked by prior Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) wins, affirming her enduring influence.[34] The induction ceremony took place on September 11, 2011, during a gala event in Hamilton, Ontario, as part of the CCMA Awards weekend at Copps Coliseum.[38] Wright shared the honor with producer and television host Bill Langstroth, highlighting a blend of performance and production legacies in Canadian country.[38] The event featured tributes from peers, including a special performance medley of her hits by Terri Clark, Victoria Banks, and Katie Love Hess during the CCMA Awards broadcast the following day.[39] Wright also performed at the preceding FanFest, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.[38] The induction solidified Wright's legacy as a trailblazer for women in Canadian country music, where she earned multiple Female Artist of the Year awards in the 1990s and helped elevate female voices amid a male-dominated field.[34] Compared to other inductees like Langstroth, whose contributions were behind-the-scenes, Wright's recognition underscored her frontline impact as a performer with global reach.[38] Post-induction, it spurred increased touring, including her 2012 Songs from the Halls Tour, which celebrated Hall of Fame inductees and brought her music to audiences across Canada, reinforcing her ongoing cultural significance.[40][41]Discography
Studio albums
Michelle Wright's studio albums span over three decades, showcasing her growth as a country artist from her Canadian roots to international recognition. Her debut marked a breakthrough in her home country, while subsequent releases on major labels like Arista Nashville expanded her audience in the United States, blending heartfelt storytelling with evolving production styles that shifted from classic country arrangements to more polished, contemporary sounds incorporating pop sensibilities. Key albums often featured collaborations with producers who helped refine her signature husky vocal delivery and themes of love, resilience, and everyday life. Her first album, Do Right by Me, was released in 1988 by Savannah Records and produced by Steve Bogard and Rick Giles. It became a major success in Canada, yielding seven chart singles and selling over 40,000 copies, establishing Wright's presence in the domestic country scene with traditional country tracks focused on personal relationships.[3] In 1990, Wright issued her self-titled sophomore album on Arista Nashville, again produced by Bogard and Giles, marking her entry into the U.S. market. The record achieved gold certification in Canada and included hits that highlighted her crossover appeal, with songs exploring romance and emotional depth in a style that bridged traditional and emerging contemporary country elements.[3][34] Now and Then, released in 1992 on Arista Nashville and produced by Bogard and Giles, represented a commercial peak, certified double platinum in Canada by Music Canada in 1993. The album produced six singles and earned Wright 12 awards, including recognition for its blend of nostalgic covers and original material that leaned into upbeat, radio-friendly country with subtle pop production.[3][42] The 1994 release The Reasons Why on Arista Nashville involved multiple producers, including Steve Bogard and Mike Klute, Val Garay, and John Guess. It continued Wright's exploration of introspective themes like heartbreak and self-discovery, maintaining a balance between country authenticity and broader accessibility.[3] For Me It's You, issued in 1996 by Arista Nashville, featured production from Jim Scherer, Tim DuBois, John Guess, Monty Powell, and Val Garay. The album delved deeper into personal narratives, with tracks that showcased a maturing sound incorporating smoother, more contemporary arrangements while retaining country roots.[3] After a hiatus, Wright returned with Shut Up and Kiss Me in 2002 on BMG Canada/RCA/ViK Recordings, produced by Russ DeSalvo, Steven Drake, Eric Silver, and Peter Zizzo. This release marked a bolder, more pop-infused direction in her evolving style, emphasizing empowering anthems and romantic energy.[3] Everything and More, released in 2006 on Icon Records and produced by Tony Haselden and Russ Zavitson, featured tracks blending country and pop elements with themes of love and life; it was re-released on May 17, 2024, by BFD/Audium Nashville.[3] A Wright Christmas, her first holiday album, was independently released in 2005 on Icon Records and produced by Tony Haselden and Russ Zavitson; remastered in 2024 by BFD/Audium Nashville with three new original songs added as A Wright Christmas & More on October 18, 2024. It captured festive themes with Wright's warm vocals, blending classic covers and seasonal originals in a traditional country framework.[3][43] Strong, released in 2013 on Savannah Records and produced by Jason Barry, Danick Dupelle, and Eric Silver, reflected a return to introspective songwriting after personal challenges, with themes of perseverance delivered in a resilient, modern country style; it was reissued in 2024 by BFD/Audium Nashville.[3] Wright's most recent studio effort, Milestone (2022, BFD/Audium Nashville), was produced by Bob Funk and included nine new songs alongside re-recorded classics, celebrating her career with reflective tracks on life and legacy in a contemporary country vein.[3]| Album | Release Date | Label | Key Producers | Notable Reception |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do Right by Me | 1988 | Savannah Records | Steve Bogard, Rick Giles | 7 Canadian chart singles; 40,000+ copies sold[3] |
| Michelle Wright | 1990 | Arista Nashville | Steve Bogard, Rick Giles | Gold in Canada[3][34] |
| Now and Then | 1992 | Arista Nashville | Steve Bogard, Rick Giles | 2× Platinum in Canada; 6 singles; 12 awards[3][42] |
| The Reasons Why | 1994 | Arista Nashville | Steve Bogard & Mike Klute, Val Garay, John Guess | Strong chart presence in Canada and U.S.[3] |
| For Me It's You | 1996 | Arista Nashville | Jim Scherer, Tim DuBois, John Guess, Monty Powell, Val Garay | Emphasized personal themes[3] |
| Shut Up and Kiss Me | 2002 | BMG Canada/RCA/ViK | Russ DeSalvo, Steven Drake, Eric Silver, Peter Zizzo | Marked pop-country shift[3] |
| Everything and More | 2006 (re-released 2024) | Icon Records (BFD/Audium 2024) | Tony Haselden, Russ Zavitson | Blended country and pop elements[3] |
| A Wright Christmas | 2005 (remastered 2024 as A Wright Christmas & More) | Icon Records (BFD/Audium 2024) | Tony Haselden, Russ Zavitson | Holiday classics with new originals in 2024 edition[3][43] |
| Strong | 2013 (reissued 2024) | Savannah Records (BFD/Audium 2024) | Jason Barry, Danick Dupelle, Eric Silver | Themes of resilience[3] |
| Milestone | 2022 | BFD/Audium Nashville | Bob Funk | Career retrospective with new material[3] |
Singles and chart performance
Michelle Wright has achieved significant success as a singles artist primarily in Canada, where she has released over 25 country singles on the RPM Country Tracks chart, including six number-one hits that solidified her status as a leading figure in the genre.[43] Several of her singles also earned gold certifications in Canada for sales and airplay, reflecting their enduring popularity on radio.[44] In the United States, her crossover appeal was more limited, with 10 entries on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking in the top 10 only once.[29] Her breakthrough singles came from the 1992 album Now and Then, starting with "Take It Like a Man," which topped the RPM Country Tracks chart and reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Follow-up releases from the same album, such as "One Time Around" and "Guitar Talk," also hit number one in Canada, while "He Would Be Sixteen" peaked at number three there and number 31 in the U.S. Later hits included "One Good Man" from the 1994 album The Reasons Why, which reached number one in Canada, and "Nobody's Girl" from the 1996 album For Me It's You, another Canadian chart-topper. "Crank My Tractor," also from For Me It's You, became her sixth and final number-one single on RPM Country Tracks in 1996. These tracks not only drove album sales but also showcased Wright's versatile style, blending heartfelt ballads with uptempo country anthems.| Single | Year | Canada RPM Country Tracks Peak | U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take It Like a Man | 1992 | 1 | 10 |
| One Time Around | 1992 | 1 | 43 |
| Guitar Talk | 1993 | 1 | - |
| He Would Be Sixteen | 1992 | 3 | 31 |
| One Good Man | 1994 | 1 | 57 |
| Nobody's Girl | 1996 | 1 | 50 |
| Crank My Tractor | 1996 | 1 | - |