Fist City by Shelly Fairchild & Shamir

Here is a little story about why I recorded FIST CITY:

I was scheduled to record 4 songs at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with the Blackbird Academy students and as I was driving to the studio for my second day of tracking, I got a text message that Loretta had passed. I’m really close to her granddaughter, Tayla Lynn, and my heart sank. Not only because we had lost the Queen of Country Music, but because my friend had just lost her Memaw. I know what that feels like and my heart was broken. It seemed only fitting that we kick off the session that day by playing a Loretta song. I’ve always loved the humor and attitude in the song FIST CITY and so that’s the one we landed on. And, as it always does, playing a LORETTA LYNN song just brought a whole new life to the recording session and we were able to continue on with the rest of the day. Loretta Lynn’s music changed the face of country music for women. She wrote about what she was living…and she did NOT apologize. If there was no LORETTA LYNN, there probably wouldn’t be any of the other female artists unapologetically singing and writing their truths. She changed the game. She set new rules. And I love her for who she is to me as a singer and a songwriter. SO many of us love her for that, and I am honored to have met her and to know her family.

Adding Shamir to the song was actually suggested by Slim, our fearless leader at Kill Rock Stars. Slim called me and said, “you know, Shamir is having a really hard time with the loss of Loretta as well as you are and what would you think about adding Shamir to the recording?” Slim asked Shamir and Shamir said YES and I was THRILLED to be able to work with such an interesting and talented artist. I love and respect Shamir and I am honored to be debuting on Kill Rock Stars with this our tribute to The Queen of Country Music, MS LORETTA LYNN! – Shelly Fairchild
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"The music of Loretta Lynn has always been a source of comfort. My love of country first began when I got my first radio when I was 9 years old. Every Sunday morning my local country station would play classic country and oldies, of course Loretta's music was frequently played. Then someone down the line Coal Miner's Daughter became a comfort movie of mine. I've seen it at least a dozen times. Slim saw my tweet about the movie being a comfort film of mine and told me Shelly started the Fist City cover. I was more than happy to be a part of it. The cherry on top of it all was being able to shoot in Hurricane Mills, It was incredible to see all her awards and collectibles." – shamir

Born and raised in Mississippi, Shelly Fairchild’s Sony Nashville debut album ‘RIDE’ spawned a top 40 hit with the spellbounding “You Don’t Lie Here Anymore”. Rolling Stone spotlighted her as one of "10 Artists You Need To Know". She writes songs for TV & Film, and has sung BGV's for Martina McBride, Eric Church, Jason Aldean and more. She is a regular on the Grand Ole Opry

shellyfairchild.com