WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — When Melissa Lawson earned a spot on NBC’s “Nashville Star,” she started with two strikes against her.
At 32, the Arlington, Texas, mother of five was the oldest participant on the country music singing competition. And despite having lost 70 pounds, she still tipped the scales at more than 200 pounds.
Lawson was secure in her talent, but she couldn’t help but worry about how her weight would affect the voting.
“I was very concerned about that,” she said. “Then again, there’s nothing I can do about it. I was already on track and losing weight when I heard about the audition. Then during the show, it was harder to stay on track, mostly because I could not control the food. I couldn’t just order what I wanted or what I needed, I had to work around whatever was brought to us for the meals and that created a challenge.” She still managed to lose about a pound a week — and win the competition, which gives her a recording contract and a chance to live out her dreams.
Lawson was relaxed and funny when she called from Nashville recently following a whirlwind of activity surrounding her win, which included a trip to China to sing at the Great Wall as part of NBC’s “Today” show.
“I don’t want the moment to go by and I’ve not been right in there, so I’m trying to really hang on to each one, but the ‘wow factor’ is pretty big right now.” Like “Wow, my single is at the top of the iTunes country chart.” Like, “Wow, I’m singing on the Grand Ole Opry tonight and Vince Gill will be there.” Like, “Wow, 5 million people voted for the winner of ‘Nashville Star,’ ” and I edged out fan-favorite Tex-Mex balladeer Gabe Garcia.”
Lawson’s first single, “What if It All Goes Right,” hit No. 49 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart before falling off. The song, produced by John Rich, showcases a mature voice that’s smooth as silk, with a richness reminiscent of Trisha Yearwood. She sings effortlessly, and she says having more experience helped secure her place at the top of the heap of 20-somethings on the show.
“I remember being that age and being so moldable. Not that I’m not flexible now, but I just know if someone tried to carve a piece out of me, it wouldn’t happen. I just am who I am. I’ve had a lot of moments in my life where I’ve let people put me down and I let what they’ve said hurt me. Not that the words don’t sting anymore, they still do, but I don’t feel like I have to defend myself as much as I did back then.
“There’s definitely stuff floating around the message boards, you know, they say someone else should have won, and I just read those things and I think I can’t please everybody.” Lawson’s all-male support group includes her dad, her husband and five sons, and they made all the difference both on and off the show, she said. “I remember one day my husband was watching the hometown visits on ‘American Idol,’ and I already knew I’d made it onto the show, and he said, ‘This could be you.’ “
