Local singer lands Dollywood gig
Local songstress Naomi Morrison will be performing this year as part of the musical entertainment at Dollywood, “the Entertainment Capital of the Smokies.”
Morrison, who hails from Viola, will be the lead singer at Dollywood’s Back Porch Theater with the Woods Brothers Band and will be performing from May 10 to Sept. 27.
Well known locally as the lead singer of the Mountain Melodies, Naomi auditioned for the Dollywood spot Jan. 30 when she and her dad, David, brother, Luke, and friend, Ben, spent the day in Nashville with about 200 other hopefuls. Naomi, who was a bit reluctant at first, was understandably elated by the end of the day when Dollywood representatives hired her on the spot.
“They were crazy about her,” said proud dad David.
Naomi, who just celebrated her 18th birthday Friday, has been involved in music and performance for much of her life, performing both solo and as part of the Mountain Melodies along with her father and brother Luke for the past seven years. The second oldest of six children born to David and Karen Morrison, Naomi is also very much involved in the community. She is a volunteer at River Park Hospital and is a member of the board for Families in Crisis. She is currently in her second semester at Motlow State Community College.
Her extensive performance history includes 52 appearances in the show “Always Patsy Cline” at theaters around the state including Woodbury, Sevierville, Shelbyville, Maryville and Brownsville.
She has won numerous awards for her singing both with the Mountain Melodies and on her own. The group won Best of Show at the Arnold Air Force Base talent show, and Naomi won first in adult vocals. She placed first at the Lafayette, Tenn., Hillbilly Days female vocalist category in 2003. Also in 2003 she won second at the Smithville Jamboree for gospel singing, and placed third in folk singing. She performed the National Anthem at the Warren County A&L Fair to open the Trace Adkins concert last year.
Music has been a big part of this talented young lady’s life, and no doubt the Dollywood spot will serve as yet another step as she continues to climb the ladder to potential country music stardom.
Still, more than anything, it’s obvious Naomi performs for the sheer love of singing.
“I thoroughly enjoy performing to an audience and singing good traditional country music,” she said.
Not only is she a seasoned performer, but she is also an aficionado with a broad knowledge of country music history and its artists. She has, alone and with the Mountain Melodies, performed on many stages around the state, including some legendary Music City venues such as Tootsies, the Wild Horse Saloon, Nashville Palace, WSM Opry Spotlight, Ryman Plaza, Ernest Tubb Record Shop at the Nashville Airport, Broken Spoke and the Bluebird Cafe.
If you haven’t made the trip to Dollywood yet, this would be the summer to make your way up to Pigeon Forge and check out this gifted singer with the powerful voice who makes her home right here in Warren County.
Naomi and the Mountain Melodies can be contacted at [email protected] or at (931) 273-4093.