Shelby Dressel
Encyclopedia
Shelby Kathleen Dressel is an American Country
Singer-Songwriter
from Avon Park, Florida
, who made the top 50 on the ninth season of American Idol
. In describing Dressel's ambitions, Rachel Pleasant Chambliss of Lakeland, Florida's
"The Ledger
" wrote, "At 19, Shelby Dressel still has a lot of things to figure out. Singing isn't one of them. She's been singing her whole life, and there's not a single doubt in her mind that singing is what she wants to do for a living." Dressel was born with an undeveloped 7th cranial nerve, leaving the right side of her face paralyzed. Overcoming this medical condition, Dressel had a successful initial audition for American Idol
in Orlando, Florida
. In spite of her elimination from the show, Dressel's "beautiful voice" had an immediate impact on the Idol
judges and on Simon Cowell
in particular.
in Sebring, Florida
before she left Florida to head to Hollywood for the filming of American Idol
. She was raised on a dairy farm in Avon Park, Florida
. Her father, Gary Dressel, is an agriculture
instructor; and her mother is Kathleen Dressel. Her parents divorced when Dressel was young. She has 11 siblings. Her father, Gary, sings and plays the guitar
, so music was a part of Dressel's life since childhood. Other musical members of her family include: some of her brothers who play the acoustic guitar
; an aunt who plays the piano
; and a maternal grandfather who played both the piano
and the fiddle
. In middle school, Dressel took up the sport of golf
and continued that through high school. She also played soccer throughout high school. Dressel attended Avon Park High School
, where she graduated in 2009. She was 2nd runner-up for the spot of homecoming queen. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at South Florida Community College
During an interview with Ocala Style Magazine, Dressel mentioned that she is still at college working on an Associate's Degree
(otherwise known as Associate of the Arts), as she continues to pursue her music career. On August 21, 2010, an interview aired on WFHT
1390am, with co-hosts Liz and Lin. During that broadcast, Dressel stated she is enrolling in an online schooling program to earn her degree, due to the possibility of her future relocation.
Talent Contest in Orlando, Florida
. Her first time singing in front of an crowd, Dressel, an eighth-grade student at the time, was able to win first place. Dressel returned to the talent contest. On one occasion, she was suffering from laryngitis
, but still took herself to the stage for her performance. Her father, Gary, said, “She made it through that performance, and it was a struggle. It was the most exciting thing that ever happened to her or me.” She won the FFA's Talent Contest in 2003 and 2005. Dressel performed at a 4th of July
celebration in her home town in 2009. Also in 2009, Dressel began to teach herself how to play the guitar with the aide of a tutorial book. After only practicing for 2 months with the guitar guide, she was able to play guitar during a performance at the Colgate Country Showdown
. At the Showdown, the Shelby Dressel Band performed "Not the Waiting Kind", which is written by Dressel and was later re-titled "Not Worth the Wait." They placed 5th in the competition. While in 10th grade, Dressel and her friend Logan Palmer tried out for the TV show Can You Duet
in Nashville, Tennessee, performing the Dixie Chicks
song "Long Time Gone
". Dressel considers Martina McBride
, Sara Evans
, and Reba McEntire
musical influences in her life. Dressel also was exposed to a lot of Outlaw Country
in her youth, as a result of her father's musical interests. Dressel considers her biggest musical influence to be Miranda Lambert
. In an interview with Dave Schlenker, Dressel described her music style, saying, "I would say Miranda Lambert is the closest I can get to describing my sound. She sings more like Texas-outlaw-type country, which isn't necessarily what I do. It's not rock. It's not pop. It's country. Country is what I do, that's my background."
, located in Avon Park, Florida
. She has been singing there since she was 7 years of age. Her pastor, Tiger Gullett, said she is not like other girls with a good voice, "She's just a good 'ol country girl." Gullett said, "She sings from her soul." She's part of a singing group at the church and also helps with mentoring and volunteering. Dressel sang her first solo number at church when she was in fourth grade. Jim Lanier, the music director of the church stated, "She has the most precious voice; everybody loves to hear her sing. She's always a favorite at church. She sang from the heart."
. Elders is the drummer and provides percussion. Flowers plays acoustic guitar and provides backup harmonies. Pastor Dave is the bass player. Cook plays both the electric and acoustic guitar, while McDonald plays both guitars as well as the mandolin
and harmonica
. The band is managed by Wesley Cook. He said when Dressel began singing, she could be compared to a little version of Tanya Tucker
. The band placed 5th at the Colgate Country Showdown
in 2009, where they performed Dressel's original song, "Not the Waiting Kind," later renamed "Not Worth the Wait." The band performs some songs written by Dressel, including "The End", "Not Worth the Wait," "Coming Back Around", and "Hear It From Me."
pre-interview, Dressel said, "I wasn't able to smile correctly or use the right side of my face." On expressing the impact the condition had on her growing up, Dressel told Leigh Howard, "I had no idea that there was no one else like me. I live in a small town. My friends and family hardly notice that there's anything different about me." When talking with Ryan Seacrest
prior to her audition performance for season 9 of American Idol, Dressel said the condition made her a "little uncomfortable" but that "when it comes to chasing your dreams and going after what you want, to set that to the side and do it." When she was a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres show, which aired February 23, 2010, Dressel told DeGeneres that, "It's just something that you are more acceptable to when you know it your whole life." The weekend of June 5, 2010, Dressel made a surprising visit to Evans, Georgia, to meet up with a young girl who has the same condition. The girl's family had seen Dressel's American Idol
appearance and personally invited her to spend the weekend at their home, hoping that Dressel would offer their daughter inspiration. Dressel and her manager drove 8-hours to make the surprise visit, and spent the day at their home. This was the first time Dressel had met someone with the same condition, however since her American Idol
showing, Dressel has received lots of emails from people who suffer from facial paralysis. Dressel said, "Facial paralysis doesn't affect anyone's intelligence or talents." Courage to Smile, a support group for people with facial paralysis and their families, credits Dressel as an inspiration for their formation.
of American Idol at the Orlando, Florida
auditions. Family and friends attempted to have her audition a year earlier, to no avail. Her aunt eventually persuaded her to audition by taping a newspaper article mentioning the Orlando audition times to the refrigerator. During her audition, Dressel sang the song "Turn Me On
" by Norah Jones
which aired on January 20, 2010. In the middle of the audition, she had a moment where she forgot her lyrics and showed the four judges her down-to-earth side. Dressel said, "I was kind of surprised they were letting me sing so long. I started second-guessing myself." She received four yeses from the judges and moved on to Hollywood Week. Although not televised by Fox
, Dressel's first round song during Hollywood Week was " A Little Past Little Rock
", which is originally sung by Lee Ann Womack
. The following step of Hollywood Week was the group round. For the group round performance, Dressel was a member of the group called the Suffragettes. Shelby's groupmates included Audri Vargas, and Kelsey Laverack/Rey who later appeared on The Voice. The group performed Alicia Keys
song "Superwoman
". For Dressel's third song for the week, she had a little difficulty remembering her lyrics during her practice; however she was able to present a Boston
song, " More Than A Feeling
", with no problems. She made it to the top 50 contestants for the show, but was sent home when they made cuts for the top 24 Idol selection, which aired on Fox
on February 16, 2010. Simon Cowell
deemed it a "mistake" that Dressel was sent home.
in Nashville, Tennessee
during the weekend of July 17, 2010. She advanced to the second round of auditions based on her performance of Natalie Grant
's "In Better Hands Now."
. On February 16, 2010, she was the 7th ranked search at Google.com, and actually had more searches for her name than any contestant in the top 24 ranking. At that time, Dressel's official website had over 10,000 visitors in less than 24 hours. She is receiving lots of fan emails. Fan clubs have been established on the social networking website Facebook
, with thousands of members, and Dressel's personal Facebook
page is hit with hundreds of friend requests daily. Fans have also frequented Youtube
to watch videos from her various performances, which are uploaded by fans. Dressel created her own YouTube channel and in the months to follow a fan YouTube channel also emerged, which received over 300 subscribers after only a few weeks. Her American Idol
audition has had over 50,000 viewers, with multiple videos being uploaded to Youtube. The videos of her performance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show have netted over 6,000 views. A personal video, with a performance of Miranda Lambert's
song "White Liar
" has had over 900 views in less than three months. When Dressel returned to her hometown, the radio station WWOJ 99.1 FM
, invited her for an "on-air" interview. In an interview with the News-Sun, following her dismissal on Idol
, Dressel said, "It will be cool to see where it goes from here." When pondering her return to her hometown, she said, "It'll be fun getting to play for everybody back home because they've seen somebody from their town go to Hollywood and be on national television. It will be cool to see how everybody will react."
, the new co-host, Ellen DeGeneres
, was quick to invite Dressel to her show, the Ellen DeGeneres Show . While judging on Idol, DeGeneres
aid to Dressel, "I love your voice and I love your confidence." On her show, DeGeneres
said, "There's a girl named Shelby who I thought was really amazing," when she told her guests and viewers of Dressel's scheduled appearance. On February 23, 2010, Dressel appeared on Ellen, once again singing Boston's
"More Than a Feeling
." When she finished the song, the audience gave her a standing ovation. She also wrote a new song, "Coming Back Around", based on her experiences in Hollywood. Dressel told DeGeneres
that she is contemplating on trying out for American Idol
next season, but wanted to let things cool down because of American Idol's busy schedule process. When reflecting on her Idol experience, Dressel said,"Walking away from it, I've gained a lot of knowledge, like working with different people, being under that kind of pressure and being around cameras all the time. You have to be camera-ready all the time unless you want to look rough on TV. Looking back, I definitely learned a lot."
, Dressel performed in a welcome home concert on March 6, 2010 at Witham Chevrolet in Avon Park, Florida
. After her return home concert, Dressel performed later that evening at Duffer's Sports Grille, in Sebring, Florida
. Dressel also performed at the CTE Annual Hoedown, located at the Cracker Trail Elementary School in Sebring, Florida
, on March 25, 2010. Dressel was a scheduled performer at the Sebring International Raceway for the annual 12 Hours of Sebring
. Dressel appeared with well-known country singer, Sammy Kershaw
, and other acts, including: Blackwater, the Dank Hanks Band, and One Night Rodeo; at the KIX Country Fest. The Country Fest, presented by WIKX
92.9FM County, was held at the Charlotte County
Fairgrounds in Port Charlotte, Florida
on April 25, 2010. Besides performing her original songs, Dressel also performed the Lady Antebellum
song, "American Honey
", and the Carrie Underwood
song, "Cowboy Casanova
." The Moose Lodge, in Sebring, Florida
scheduled Dressel for numerous performance in April and May 2010. To commemorate South Florida Community College (SFCC)
Class of 2010, Dressel sang a special song for the graduates on May 6, 2010 at the SFCC
Theatre for the Performing Arts. The song, titled "Graduation Road", was written especially for the service by Doug Andrews and David Hale, staff members of the college. Dressel, along with Fran Cosmo
(the former lead singer of Boston
), and Gibson Cage appeared together at the Four Points Sheraton Château Élan, in Sebring, Florida
on May 30, 2010. Dressel once again performed with the Dank Hanks Band on June 12, 2010, at Tanqueray's, in Orlando, Florida
. Dressel made a return to Duffer's Sports Grille, in Sebring, Florida
, on July 1, 2010, with a performance accompanied by her brother, Scott Dressel. Dressel,her brother Scott, and Dave McDonald were scheduled for future appearances at Duffer's Sports Grille throughout the Summer of 2010. The Main Street Tap Room in Avon Park, Florida
hosted an event on August 28, 2010, featuring Dressel along with Noise After Nine; Dressel's band mates, Ryan Cook and Matt Flowers are also members of the band Noise After Nine. Dressel is scheduled to perform at the 3rd Annual Oktoberfest in her hometown on October 16, 2010.
Resident with Habitat for Humanity, raising $6,390 for the project. March 11, 2010, Dressel sang for a Meals on Wheels
event at the Palms of Sebring
. Dressel performed on March 26, 2010 at Avon Park High School
, in Avon Park, Florida
, for Relay For Life
, where she sang the national anthem
.
On April 6, 2010, Dressel was at Highlands County Courthouse
in Sebring, Florida
for Heartland For Children, which promotes child abuse awareness. The event was in observation of child abuse awareness month. Dressel performed at an event benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Highlands County
on April 16, 2010. The Theatre for the Performing Arts at South Florida Community College
held the 16th annual D.A.R.E. Day Celebration on April 27, 2010. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. At the D.A.R.E. Celebration, Dressel performed Taylor Swift's
song "You Belong With Me
." The 5th grade spectators were welcomed by Dressel to sing along during the performance. Dressel also sang a few songs at a benefit on May 22, 2010, where proceeds were directed to help save birds effected by the April 20, 2010, oil well blowout, which is known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
. She was welcomed to attend the function by an 8-year-old fan from Lake Placid, Florida
, via email, and surprised the young fan during a radio interview with 106.9 The Bull
, accepting the invitation. Dressel performed on June 25, 2010 for the Jacob Casey Foundation's 3rd Annual Casey Classic, which was held at the Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian in Ocala, Florida
. Dressel is scheduled to perform at a benefit concert on November 13, 2010, in Martinez, Georgia, to support the Augusta Christian's Senior Mission Trip.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
Singer-Songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
, who made the top 50 on the ninth season of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. In describing Dressel's ambitions, Rachel Pleasant Chambliss of Lakeland, Florida's
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
"The Ledger
The Ledger
The Ledger is a daily newspaper serving Lakeland, Florida and the Polk County area. It is owned by The New York Times Company. Jerome Ferson became publisher of the newspaper on July 30, 2007....
" wrote, "At 19, Shelby Dressel still has a lot of things to figure out. Singing isn't one of them. She's been singing her whole life, and there's not a single doubt in her mind that singing is what she wants to do for a living." Dressel was born with an undeveloped 7th cranial nerve, leaving the right side of her face paralyzed. Overcoming this medical condition, Dressel had a successful initial audition for American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. In spite of her elimination from the show, Dressel's "beautiful voice" had an immediate impact on the Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
judges and on Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
in particular.
Early life
Dressel was a waitress at Bob EvansBob Evans Restaurants
Bob Evans Farms, Inc. is a food service, processing, and retail company based in Columbus, Ohio. The company is named after its founder, Bob Evans . It operates two family dining restaurant chains in the United States, Bob Evans Restaurants and Mimi's Cafe...
in Sebring, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
before she left Florida to head to Hollywood for the filming of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. She was raised on a dairy farm in Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
. Her father, Gary Dressel, is an agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
instructor; and her mother is Kathleen Dressel. Her parents divorced when Dressel was young. She has 11 siblings. Her father, Gary, sings and plays the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, so music was a part of Dressel's life since childhood. Other musical members of her family include: some of her brothers who play the acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
; an aunt who plays the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
; and a maternal grandfather who played both the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and the fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
. In middle school, Dressel took up the sport of golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and continued that through high school. She also played soccer throughout high school. Dressel attended Avon Park High School
Avon Park High School
Avon Park High School, is located in Avon Park, Florida. It is a four year high school with a total student enrollment of 1164.-Fight Song:Fight on for Avon ParkWe will cheer you on your wayFight on for Avon ParkWe will cheer you as you play...
, where she graduated in 2009. She was 2nd runner-up for the spot of homecoming queen. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at South Florida Community College
South Florida Community College
South Florida Community College , serving more than 19,000 area residents annually, has campuses and centers in Highlands, DeSoto and Hardee counties, Fla. The Highlands Campus, on , is located two miles south of Avon Park, Florida. It is bounded on the north by Lake Lelia, to the south by Lake...
During an interview with Ocala Style Magazine, Dressel mentioned that she is still at college working on an Associate's Degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
(otherwise known as Associate of the Arts), as she continues to pursue her music career. On August 21, 2010, an interview aired on WFHT
WFHT
WFHT is a radio station licensed to Avon Park, Florida. WFHT operates with 1kW daytime & 77 watts at night.WFHT became the first of six stations in Highlands County to broadcast live over the Internet at , and the first to video stream live when it broadcasts its debate weeks over the Internet at...
1390am, with co-hosts Liz and Lin. During that broadcast, Dressel stated she is enrolling in an online schooling program to earn her degree, due to the possibility of her future relocation.
Music Early On
“Music is just my passion. It’s so therapeutic. It gets you out of any kind of stress or tension or anything like that, and I just love it," Dressel said. Dressel performed at the Future Farmer's of AmericaNational FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
Talent Contest in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Her first time singing in front of an crowd, Dressel, an eighth-grade student at the time, was able to win first place. Dressel returned to the talent contest. On one occasion, she was suffering from laryngitis
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds . Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause....
, but still took herself to the stage for her performance. Her father, Gary, said, “She made it through that performance, and it was a struggle. It was the most exciting thing that ever happened to her or me.” She won the FFA's Talent Contest in 2003 and 2005. Dressel performed at a 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebration in her home town in 2009. Also in 2009, Dressel began to teach herself how to play the guitar with the aide of a tutorial book. After only practicing for 2 months with the guitar guide, she was able to play guitar during a performance at the Colgate Country Showdown
Colgate Country Showdown
Currently in its 30th year, the Country Showdown is an annual talent contest to find undiscovered country music singers across the United States. As many as 100,000 acts compete in the Country Showdown annually, which is considered to be the largest country music talent competition in...
. At the Showdown, the Shelby Dressel Band performed "Not the Waiting Kind", which is written by Dressel and was later re-titled "Not Worth the Wait." They placed 5th in the competition. While in 10th grade, Dressel and her friend Logan Palmer tried out for the TV show Can You Duet
Can You Duet
Can You Duet is an American reality-competition show airing on CMT. The show is produced by FremantleMedia, the same company that produced American Idol.The show premiered on April 14, 2008 and the first season ended on June 13, 2008....
in Nashville, Tennessee, performing the Dixie Chicks
Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
song "Long Time Gone
Long Time Gone
"Long Time Gone" is a country song by Darrell Scott, published on the 2000 album Real Time which Scott recorded together with Tim O'Brien.-Content:...
". Dressel considers Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
, Sara Evans
Sara Evans
Sara Lynn Evans is an American country singer and songwriter.Evans was one of the few traditional-styled singers to emerge from Nashville in the late 1990s, according to Allmusic. Since emerging in the late 1990s, Evans has made five No. 1 Country hits and Gold and Platinum-certified albums by...
, and Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
musical influences in her life. Dressel also was exposed to a lot of Outlaw Country
Outlaw country
Outlaw country is a subgenre of country music, most popular during the late 1960s and the 1970s , sometimes referred to as the outlaw movement or simply outlaw music...
in her youth, as a result of her father's musical interests. Dressel considers her biggest musical influence to be Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert is an American country music artist who gained fame as a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star, where she finished in third place and later signed to Epic Records. Lambert made her debut with the release of "Me and Charlie Talking", the first single from her 2005 debut...
. In an interview with Dave Schlenker, Dressel described her music style, saying, "I would say Miranda Lambert is the closest I can get to describing my sound. She sings more like Texas-outlaw-type country, which isn't necessarily what I do. It's not rock. It's not pop. It's country. Country is what I do, that's my background."
Dedication to Church
A big dedication in her life is to her church, the Union Congregational ChurchUnion Congregational Church (Avon Park, Florida)
The Union Congregational Church, also known as Union Evangelical Church, is an historic Carpenter Gothic style United Church of Christ church building located at 105 North Forest Avenue in Avon Park, Florida....
, located in Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
. She has been singing there since she was 7 years of age. Her pastor, Tiger Gullett, said she is not like other girls with a good voice, "She's just a good 'ol country girl." Gullett said, "She sings from her soul." She's part of a singing group at the church and also helps with mentoring and volunteering. Dressel sang her first solo number at church when she was in fourth grade. Jim Lanier, the music director of the church stated, "She has the most precious voice; everybody loves to hear her sing. She's always a favorite at church. She sang from the heart."
Shelby Dressel Band
Dressel's passion for music drove her to form a band, the Shelby Dressel Band. The band members include: Shelby Dressel, Chad Elders, Matt Flowers, David Hale (known as Pastor Dave), Ryan Cook, and Dave McDonald. Dressel is the lead vocalist and plays the acoustic guitarAcoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
. Elders is the drummer and provides percussion. Flowers plays acoustic guitar and provides backup harmonies. Pastor Dave is the bass player. Cook plays both the electric and acoustic guitar, while McDonald plays both guitars as well as the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
. The band is managed by Wesley Cook. He said when Dressel began singing, she could be compared to a little version of Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
. The band placed 5th at the Colgate Country Showdown
Colgate Country Showdown
Currently in its 30th year, the Country Showdown is an annual talent contest to find undiscovered country music singers across the United States. As many as 100,000 acts compete in the Country Showdown annually, which is considered to be the largest country music talent competition in...
in 2009, where they performed Dressel's original song, "Not the Waiting Kind," later renamed "Not Worth the Wait." The band performs some songs written by Dressel, including "The End", "Not Worth the Wait," "Coming Back Around", and "Hear It From Me."
Facial Paralysis
Dressel was born with an undeveloped 7th cranial nerve, leaving the right side of her face paralyzed. The condition is known as congenital right facial paralysis. During her American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
pre-interview, Dressel said, "I wasn't able to smile correctly or use the right side of my face." On expressing the impact the condition had on her growing up, Dressel told Leigh Howard, "I had no idea that there was no one else like me. I live in a small town. My friends and family hardly notice that there's anything different about me." When talking with Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
prior to her audition performance for season 9 of American Idol, Dressel said the condition made her a "little uncomfortable" but that "when it comes to chasing your dreams and going after what you want, to set that to the side and do it." When she was a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres show, which aired February 23, 2010, Dressel told DeGeneres that, "It's just something that you are more acceptable to when you know it your whole life." The weekend of June 5, 2010, Dressel made a surprising visit to Evans, Georgia, to meet up with a young girl who has the same condition. The girl's family had seen Dressel's American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
appearance and personally invited her to spend the weekend at their home, hoping that Dressel would offer their daughter inspiration. Dressel and her manager drove 8-hours to make the surprise visit, and spent the day at their home. This was the first time Dressel had met someone with the same condition, however since her American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
showing, Dressel has received lots of emails from people who suffer from facial paralysis. Dressel said, "Facial paralysis doesn't affect anyone's intelligence or talents." Courage to Smile, a support group for people with facial paralysis and their families, credits Dressel as an inspiration for their formation.
Season 9
Dressel auditioned for Season 9American Idol (season 9)
The ninth season of American Idol premiered on January 12, 2010 and concluded on May 26, 2010 on Fox. Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi all returned as judges, and Ellen DeGeneres permanently replaced Paula Abdul as the fourth judge. Idol Gives Back also returned for the season and was...
of American Idol at the Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
auditions. Family and friends attempted to have her audition a year earlier, to no avail. Her aunt eventually persuaded her to audition by taping a newspaper article mentioning the Orlando audition times to the refrigerator. During her audition, Dressel sang the song "Turn Me On
Turn Me On (Norah Jones song)
"Turn Me On" is a song by John D. Loudermilk that was first recorded by Mark Dinning in 1961. Other notable versions are by Nellie Rutherford and Nina Simone.Norah Jones released her version as the last single of her debut album Come Away with Me....
" by Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
which aired on January 20, 2010. In the middle of the audition, she had a moment where she forgot her lyrics and showed the four judges her down-to-earth side. Dressel said, "I was kind of surprised they were letting me sing so long. I started second-guessing myself." She received four yeses from the judges and moved on to Hollywood Week. Although not televised by Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, Dressel's first round song during Hollywood Week was " A Little Past Little Rock
A Little Past Little Rock
"A Little Past Little Rock" is the title of a song written by Brett Jones, Tony Lane, Jess Brown, and recorded by American country artist Lee Ann Womack. It was released as the lead-off single to her second studio album, Some Things I Know. The song peaked at #2 on the U.S...
", which is originally sung by Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love....
. The following step of Hollywood Week was the group round. For the group round performance, Dressel was a member of the group called the Suffragettes. Shelby's groupmates included Audri Vargas, and Kelsey Laverack/Rey who later appeared on The Voice. The group performed Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
song "Superwoman
Superwoman
Superwoman is the name given to several fictional characters published over the years by DC Comics, most of them being, like the popular Supergirl, a woman with powers similar to those of DC's highly popular Superman. The name "Superwoman" was originally copyrighted by Detective Comics in an effort...
". For Dressel's third song for the week, she had a little difficulty remembering her lyrics during her practice; however she was able to present a Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
song, " More Than A Feeling
More Than a Feeling
"More Than a Feeling" is a song by the rock band Boston, released as the lead single from their self-titled debut album on Epic Records in September 1976, with "Smokin'" on the flipside. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100...
", with no problems. She made it to the top 50 contestants for the show, but was sent home when they made cuts for the top 24 Idol selection, which aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
on February 16, 2010. Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
deemed it a "mistake" that Dressel was sent home.
Season 10
Dressel auditioned for American Idol's tenth seasonAmerican Idol (season 10)
The tenth season of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2011 and concluded on May 25, 2011, on Fox. The show underwent a number of changes from season nine, including the reduction of the judging panel to its original number of just three judges , a returning executive producer, a new music...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
during the weekend of July 17, 2010. She advanced to the second round of auditions based on her performance of Natalie Grant
Natalie Grant
Natalie Grant is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. Her work has gained prominence, including four consecutive Dove Awards for best female artist, and with her signature song, Held...
's "In Better Hands Now."
Immediate Attention
Dressel caught the attention of many after her performances on season 9 of American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. On February 16, 2010, she was the 7th ranked search at Google.com, and actually had more searches for her name than any contestant in the top 24 ranking. At that time, Dressel's official website had over 10,000 visitors in less than 24 hours. She is receiving lots of fan emails. Fan clubs have been established on the social networking website Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, with thousands of members, and Dressel's personal Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page is hit with hundreds of friend requests daily. Fans have also frequented Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
to watch videos from her various performances, which are uploaded by fans. Dressel created her own YouTube channel and in the months to follow a fan YouTube channel also emerged, which received over 300 subscribers after only a few weeks. Her American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
audition has had over 50,000 viewers, with multiple videos being uploaded to Youtube. The videos of her performance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show have netted over 6,000 views. A personal video, with a performance of Miranda Lambert's
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert is an American country music artist who gained fame as a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star, where she finished in third place and later signed to Epic Records. Lambert made her debut with the release of "Me and Charlie Talking", the first single from her 2005 debut...
song "White Liar
White Liar
"White Liar" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Miranda Lambert. It was released as the second single to her third studio album, Revolution. Lambert performed "White Liar" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on October 6, 2009, and on the 2009 CMA Awards on...
" has had over 900 views in less than three months. When Dressel returned to her hometown, the radio station WWOJ 99.1 FM
WWOJ
WWOJ is a commercial radio station in Avon Park, Florida, broadcasting to the Sebring area. The stations is known as "OJ 99.1". The station's format is Country music, and the station consistently achieves the highest Arbitron ratings for the Sebring radio market.WWOJ signed on at 106.3 FM in 1982;...
, invited her for an "on-air" interview. In an interview with the News-Sun, following her dismissal on Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, Dressel said, "It will be cool to see where it goes from here." When pondering her return to her hometown, she said, "It'll be fun getting to play for everybody back home because they've seen somebody from their town go to Hollywood and be on national television. It will be cool to see how everybody will react."
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
After her dismissal from season 9 of American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, the new co-host, Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
, was quick to invite Dressel to her show, the Ellen DeGeneres Show . While judging on Idol, DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
aid to Dressel, "I love your voice and I love your confidence." On her show, DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
said, "There's a girl named Shelby who I thought was really amazing," when she told her guests and viewers of Dressel's scheduled appearance. On February 23, 2010, Dressel appeared on Ellen, once again singing Boston's
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
"More Than a Feeling
More Than a Feeling
"More Than a Feeling" is a song by the rock band Boston, released as the lead single from their self-titled debut album on Epic Records in September 1976, with "Smokin'" on the flipside. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100...
." When she finished the song, the audience gave her a standing ovation. She also wrote a new song, "Coming Back Around", based on her experiences in Hollywood. Dressel told DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
that she is contemplating on trying out for American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
next season, but wanted to let things cool down because of American Idol's busy schedule process. When reflecting on her Idol experience, Dressel said,"Walking away from it, I've gained a lot of knowledge, like working with different people, being under that kind of pressure and being around cameras all the time. You have to be camera-ready all the time unless you want to look rough on TV. Looking back, I definitely learned a lot."
Performances
Dressel performs her original songs, including: "Not Worth the Wait," "Hear It From Me," "The End," and "Coming Back Around." After her journey on season 9 of American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, Dressel performed in a welcome home concert on March 6, 2010 at Witham Chevrolet in Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
. After her return home concert, Dressel performed later that evening at Duffer's Sports Grille, in Sebring, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
. Dressel also performed at the CTE Annual Hoedown, located at the Cracker Trail Elementary School in Sebring, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
, on March 25, 2010. Dressel was a scheduled performer at the Sebring International Raceway for the annual 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
. Dressel appeared with well-known country singer, Sammy Kershaw
Sammy Kershaw
Samuel Paul "Sammy" Kershaw is an American country music artist. A third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw and ex-husband of Lorrie Morgan, he has been active in country music since 1991. He has released ten studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications...
, and other acts, including: Blackwater, the Dank Hanks Band, and One Night Rodeo; at the KIX Country Fest. The Country Fest, presented by WIKX
WIKX
WIKX is a commercial radio station located in Charlotte Harbor, Florida, broadcasting to the Southwest Florida area on 92.9 FM. WIKX airs a country music format branded as "Kix Country".-External links:*...
92.9FM County, was held at the Charlotte County
Charlotte County, Florida
Charlotte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 141,627. In 2005, the population of the MSA was 154,030.The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county was 152,814...
Fairgrounds in Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 46,451 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
on April 25, 2010. Besides performing her original songs, Dressel also performed the Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum is an American country pop music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The trio is composed of Charles Kelley , Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott .The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone", before signing to Capitol...
song, "American Honey
American Honey
"American Honey" is the title of a song written by Cary Barlowe, Hillary Lindsey and Shane Stevens. It was recorded by the American country music group Lady Antebellum, who released it on January 11, 2010 as the second single from its second studio album, Need You Now...
", and the Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
song, "Cowboy Casanova
Cowboy Casanova
"Cowboy Casanova" is a country song by American recording artist Carrie Underwood. The song was written by Mike Elizondo, Brett James and co-written by Underwood herself. It was released on September 14, 2009 by Arista Nashville as the lead single from her third studio album, Play On...
." The Moose Lodge, in Sebring, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
scheduled Dressel for numerous performance in April and May 2010. To commemorate South Florida Community College (SFCC)
South Florida Community College
South Florida Community College , serving more than 19,000 area residents annually, has campuses and centers in Highlands, DeSoto and Hardee counties, Fla. The Highlands Campus, on , is located two miles south of Avon Park, Florida. It is bounded on the north by Lake Lelia, to the south by Lake...
Class of 2010, Dressel sang a special song for the graduates on May 6, 2010 at the SFCC
South Florida Community College
South Florida Community College , serving more than 19,000 area residents annually, has campuses and centers in Highlands, DeSoto and Hardee counties, Fla. The Highlands Campus, on , is located two miles south of Avon Park, Florida. It is bounded on the north by Lake Lelia, to the south by Lake...
Theatre for the Performing Arts. The song, titled "Graduation Road", was written especially for the service by Doug Andrews and David Hale, staff members of the college. Dressel, along with Fran Cosmo
Fran Cosmo
Fran Cosmo is an American musician best known as a former lead singer of the band Boston.-Music career:Cosmo was first featured on guitarist Barry Goudreau's self titled solo album in 1980, a prelude to the formation of Orion the Hunter in 1983...
(the former lead singer of Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
), and Gibson Cage appeared together at the Four Points Sheraton Château Élan, in Sebring, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
on May 30, 2010. Dressel once again performed with the Dank Hanks Band on June 12, 2010, at Tanqueray's, in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Dressel made a return to Duffer's Sports Grille, in Sebring, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
, on July 1, 2010, with a performance accompanied by her brother, Scott Dressel. Dressel,her brother Scott, and Dave McDonald were scheduled for future appearances at Duffer's Sports Grille throughout the Summer of 2010. The Main Street Tap Room in Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
hosted an event on August 28, 2010, featuring Dressel along with Noise After Nine; Dressel's band mates, Ryan Cook and Matt Flowers are also members of the band Noise After Nine. Dressel is scheduled to perform at the 3rd Annual Oktoberfest in her hometown on October 16, 2010.
Charity work
Dressel has performed at many events for a variety of charities. The Shelby Dressel Band put on a concert to raise money for an Avon ParkAvon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
Resident with Habitat for Humanity, raising $6,390 for the project. March 11, 2010, Dressel sang for a Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels are programs that deliver meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. The name is often used generically to refer to home-delivered meals programs, not all of which are actually named "Meals on Wheels"...
event at the Palms of Sebring
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
. Dressel performed on March 26, 2010 at Avon Park High School
Avon Park High School
Avon Park High School, is located in Avon Park, Florida. It is a four year high school with a total student enrollment of 1164.-Fight Song:Fight on for Avon ParkWe will cheer you on your wayFight on for Avon ParkWe will cheer you as you play...
, in Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population in 2009 at 8,824. It is the oldest city in Highlands County, and was named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.-History:...
, for Relay For Life
Relay For Life
Relay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...
, where she sang the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
.
On April 6, 2010, Dressel was at Highlands County Courthouse
Highlands County Courthouse
The Highlands County Courthouse is a historic U.S. courthouse in Sebring, Florida. It is located at 430 South Commerce Avenue. On August 14, 1989, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-External links:...
in Sebring, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District...
for Heartland For Children, which promotes child abuse awareness. The event was in observation of child abuse awareness month. Dressel performed at an event benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Highlands County
Highlands County, Florida
Highlands County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the population was 97,346. Its county seat is Sebring, Florida. The county comprises the Sebring, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
on April 16, 2010. The Theatre for the Performing Arts at South Florida Community College
South Florida Community College
South Florida Community College , serving more than 19,000 area residents annually, has campuses and centers in Highlands, DeSoto and Hardee counties, Fla. The Highlands Campus, on , is located two miles south of Avon Park, Florida. It is bounded on the north by Lake Lelia, to the south by Lake...
held the 16th annual D.A.R.E. Day Celebration on April 27, 2010. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. At the D.A.R.E. Celebration, Dressel performed Taylor Swift's
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
song "You Belong With Me
You Belong with Me
"You Belong with Me" is a country pop song performed by American recording artist Taylor Swift. The song was co-written by Swift and Liz Rose and produced by Nathan Chapman with Swift's aid. It was released on April 21, 2009, by Big Machine Records as the third single from Swift's second studio...
." The 5th grade spectators were welcomed by Dressel to sing along during the performance. Dressel also sang a few songs at a benefit on May 22, 2010, where proceeds were directed to help save birds effected by the April 20, 2010, oil well blowout, which is known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
. She was welcomed to attend the function by an 8-year-old fan from Lake Placid, Florida
Lake Placid, Florida
Lake Placid is a town in Highlands County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the town's population as 1,878 on 1 July 2007...
, via email, and surprised the young fan during a radio interview with 106.9 The Bull
WZZS
WZZS is a 6,000-Watt FM radio station, located in the Florida Heartland. The station is licensed to the city of Zolfo Springs, in rural Hardee County. Its coverage area includes Hardee, DeSoto and Highlands Counties; serving the communities of Wauchula, Zolfo Springs, Arcadia, Sebring, Avon Park...
, accepting the invitation. Dressel performed on June 25, 2010 for the Jacob Casey Foundation's 3rd Annual Casey Classic, which was held at the Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
. Dressel is scheduled to perform at a benefit concert on November 13, 2010, in Martinez, Georgia, to support the Augusta Christian's Senior Mission Trip.
External links
- Official Website
- Shelby Dressel at FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Shelby Dressel at TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- The Official Shelby Dressel Channel at YoutubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Shelby Dressel at ReverbNation.comReverbNation.comReverbNation.com is a web site, launched in 2006, that focuses on the independent music industry. It aims to provide a central site for musicians, producers, and venues to collaborate and communicate.-Innovations:...
- Shelby Dressel at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....