Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted during 2011, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Julie Roberts, submitted to this site on Wednesday 13 July 2011.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Julie Roberts who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Julie Roberts
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 13 July 2011.
‘I’ve had the great blessing of meeting and sharing the stage with Gene Watson on a couple occasions.
He is a legend in country music and I admire him on so many levels.
His vocals have a passion and emotion that is unmatched.
He feels every word that he sings and takes me some place else when I’m listening to him perform’
Thank you, Julie Roberts, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Julie Roberts…
Julie Roberts was born on Thursday 1 February 1979 in Lancaster, South Carolina and began her life performing in pre-school plays; she was also in school choirs and performed a rendition of ‘My Fair Lady’ at a singing summer camp.
Julie Roberts began performing country music as a child. When she was in junior high and high school, Julie Roberts toured with her family, playing at festivals in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
Julie Roberts also performed at area nursing homes, where she developed an appreciation for blues music, and worked at Carowinds, a theme park in Charlotte, North Carolina and Dollywood.
Julie Roberts’ influences included Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell and Tanya Tucker.
Julie Roberts first attended USC Lancaster in her hometown from 1997 until 1999, before graduating from Belmont University in Nashville, with a degree in business administration.
Julie Roberts then began working for Mercury Nashville Records, later becoming assistant to label head Luke Lewis.
During her tenure at Mercury Nashville Records, Julie Roberts began perfecting her singing skills and recorded a demo tape.
In 2004, Julie Roberts signed to Mercury Nashville Records and saw the release, on Tuesday 25 May 2004, of her self-titled debut album, ‘Julie Roberts’ (Mercury Records, 2004), which was produced by Brent Rowan, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Break Down Here’ (written by Jess Brown and Patrick Jason Matthews) (No.18, 2004)
Trace Adkins recorded ‘Break Down Here’ (written by Jess Brown and Patrick Jason Matthews) as ‘I’d Sure Hate To Break Down Here’ and included it on ‘Comin’ On Strong’ (Capitol Nashville Records, 2003); it was not released as a single.
‘The Chance’ (written by Deanna Bryant and Liz Hengber) (No.47, 2004)
‘Wake Up Older’ (written by Lisa Carver) (No.46, 2005)
Julie Roberts’ self-titled debut album, ‘Julie Roberts’ (Mercury Records, 2004), also included the following tracks:
‘You Ain’t Down Home’, which was written by Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021) / Jamie O’Hara had been one half of the 1980s duo, The O’Kanes, the other member being Kieran Kane
Jann Browne recorded ‘You Ain’t Down Home’, which was written by Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021), and included the track on ‘Tell Me Why’ (Curb Records, 1990).
Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021) had been one half of the 1980s duo, The O’Kanes, the other member being Kieran Kane.
‘Pot of Gold’ (written by Frank Rogers and Chris Stapleton)
‘Unlove Me’ (written by Patrick Jason Matthews and Paul Overstreet)
‘Just ‘Cause We Can’ (written by Frank Rogers and Chris Stapleton)
‘If You Had Called Yesterday’ (written by Cory Batten, Kent Blazy and Wendell Mobley)
‘No Way Out’ (written by Marcus Hummon and Darrell Scott)
Suzy Bogguss recorded ‘No Way Out’ (written by Marcus Hummon and Darrell Scott) and included the track on ‘Give Me Some Wheels’ (Liberty Records, 1996); Suzy Bogguss’ version of ‘No Way Out’ reached No.53 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
‘I Can’t Get Over You’ (written by Julie Miller)
‘Rain On A Tin Roof’ (written by Chris Stapleton and Trent Willmon)
Personnel involved in the recording of Julie Roberts’ self-titled debut album, ‘Julie Roberts’ (Mercury Records, 2004), included the following:
Eric Darken (percussion on ‘Just ‘Cause We Can’ and ‘No Way Out’)
Shannon Forrest (drums on all tracks)
Vince Gill (background vocals on ‘Unlove Me’ and ‘The Chance’)
Wes Hightower (background vocals on all tracks, except ‘Break Down Here’ and ‘The Chance’)
David Hungate (bass guitar on all tracks)
Tim Lauer (pump organ on ‘Break Down Here’, accordion on ‘Pot of Gold’; keyboards on ‘If You Had Called Yesterday’ and ‘I Can’t Get Over You’)
Delbert McClinton (background vocals on ‘No Way Out’)
Pat McLaughlin (background vocals on ‘Break Down Here’)
Gordon Mote (keyboards on all tracks)
Al Perkins (steel guitar on ‘Unlove Me’ and ‘I Can’t Get Over You’)
Julie Roberts (lead vocals on all tracks)
Brent Rowan (electric guitar on all tracks; background vocals and hand claps on ‘No Way Out’)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar on all tracks; mandocello on ‘Break Down Here’ and ‘Pot of Gold’)
Julie Roberts’ self-titled debut album, ‘Julie Roberts’ (Mercury Records, 2004), which was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), reached No.9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2004.
On Tuesday 27 June 2006, Julie Roberts saw the release of her second album for Mercury Records, ‘Men & Mascara (Mercury Records, 2006), which included two tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Men & Mascara’ (written by Chris Lindsey, Hillary Lindsey, Marv Green and Aimee Mayo) / this track was released as a single in 2006, but it did not chart
‘Girl Next Door’ (written by Marti Dodson, Pat Buzzard, Kris Misevski, Dak Goodman and Jeremy Martin) / this track was released as a single in 2006, but it did not chart
Julie Roberts’ second album for Mercury Records, ‘Men & Mascara (Mercury Records, 2006), also included the following tracks:
‘Paint & Pillows’ (written by Arlis Albritton, Casey Koesel and Robin Lee Bruce)
‘Smile’ (written by Danny Wells, Tony Mullins and Julie Roberts)
‘Too Damn Young’ (written by Arlis Albritton and Casey Koesel)
‘First To Never Know’ (written by Danny Wells, Tony Mullins and Julie Roberts)
‘Chasin’ Whiskey’ (written by Arlis Albritton and Cliff Cody)
‘A Bridge That’s Burning’ (written by Danny Wells, Tony Mullins and Julie Roberts)
‘Lonely Alone’ (written by Jim Brown and Don Sampson)
‘That Ain’t A Crime’ (written by Chris Stapleton and Carson Chamberlain)
‘Mama, Don’t Cry’ (written by Rivers Rutherford and Hillary Lindsey)
‘All I Want Is You’ (written by Julie Roberts, Roxie Dean and Mickey Jack Cones)
Personnel involved in the recording of Julie Roberts’ second album for Mercury Records, ‘Men & Mascara (Mercury Records, 2006), included the following:
Tom Bukovac and Jeff King (electric guitar)
Mark Casstevens (banjo, acoustic guitar)
Lisa Cochran, Chip Davis, Lisa Gregg, Hillary Lindsey, Marty Slayton and Russell Terrell (background vocals)
Paul Franklin (Dobro, steel guitar, slide guitar)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle, mandolin)
David Hungate and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Paul Liem (drums)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, resonator guitar)
Steve Nathan (keyboards, organ, piano, synthesizer, Wurlitzer)
Julie Roberts (lead vocals)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, drum loops, percussion)
Although not charting a single from Julie Roberts’ second album for Mercury Records, ‘Men & Mascara (Mercury Records, 2006), managed to chart even higher than Julie Roberts’ debut album; it reached No.4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2006, and No.25 on the all-genre Billboard 200 Chart in 2006.
Julie Roberts’ ‘Men & Mascara (Mercury Records, 2006) was released, in the United Kingdom, by Hump Head Country / Wrasse Records.
Julie Roberts made a donation of $124,250 to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital after she, along with contestant Peter Buccellato, won the $100,000 prize in the bonus round on the game show ‘Wheel of Fortune’ on an episode, which aired in February 2007.
John Anderson recorded Julie Roberts’ ‘A Woman Knows’ (co-written with Vicky McGehee and John Rich) and included the track on ‘Easy Money’ (Raybaw / Warner Bros. Records, 2007).
In May 2010, Julie Roberts and Mercury Records parted company.
On Friday 28 January 2011, Julie Roberts was a special guest of Kent Blazy & The For Peace Band at Douglas Corner in Nashville; enjoy a video performance of the Mel McDaniel (Sunday 6 September 1942 – Thursday 31 March 2011) hit, ‘Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On’ (written by Bob McDill)!
Mel McDaniel‘s seventh album for Capitol Records was ‘Let It Roll’ (Capitol Records, 1984) and included ‘Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On’ (written by Bob McDill); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in February / March 1985.
Mel McDaniel
Sunday 6 September 1942 – Thursday 31 March 2011
On Monday 11 May 2011, Julie Roberts issued an official statement stating that she was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS); find out about Julie Roberts’ ‘life beyond music‘.
Julie Roberts’ diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) had taken place in 2006, during the recording sessions for her second album, ‘Men & Mascara (Mercury Records, 2006).
After a five-year hiatus from recording, Julie Roberts saw the release, on Tuesday 7 June 2011, of her new independent album project, and her third album, ‘Alive’ (Ain’t Skeerd Records, 2011), which featured the song, ‘NASCAR Party’ (written by Thom Hardwell, Julie Roberts and Nick Trevisick).
On Monday 23 May 2011, the accompanying video for ‘NASCAR Party’ (written by Thom Hardwell, Julie Roberts and Nick Trevisick) was posted on Julie Roberts’ Official Facebook Page.
Julie Roberts’ third album, ‘Alive’ (Ain’t Skeerd Records, 2011), also included the following tracks:
‘Mama Said Don’t’ (written by Victoria Banks, Rachel Practor and Julie Roberts)
‘Stronger’ (written by Julie Roberts and Don Schiltz)
‘Alive’ (written by Tom Douglas, Steve McEwan and Craig Wiseman)
‘You Got Me’ (written by Jay Knowles and Chris Stapleton)
‘Yesterday’s Blue’ (written by Greg Biek, Chris Roberts and Julie Roberts)
‘Ain’t No Thing’ (written by John Scott Sherrill and Chris Stapleton)
‘One For The Road’ (written by Ira Dean, Anthony Smith and Chris Wallin)
‘Let’s Fight’ (written by Jason Collum, Julie Roberts and Caitlyn Smith)
‘Whiskey & You’ (written by Lee Thomas Miller and Chris Stapleton)
‘Somebody Does’ (written by Victoria Banks, Rachel Practor and Julie Roberts)
‘Carolina From My Soul’ (written by Marcus Hummon, Sara Johns and Darryl Scott)
It was also in May 2011 when Julie Roberts saw the launch of her newly-designed website at julieroberts.com
In November 2011, Julie Roberts saw the release of ‘Who Needs Mistletoe’ (Ain’t Skeerd Records, 2011), an extended play (EP) disc, which included the following tracks:
‘Blue Christmas’ (written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson)
‘Who Needs Mistletoe’ (written by Jason Collum and Julie Roberts)
‘Pretty Paper’ (written by Willie Nelson)
‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, which was written by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram (Thursday 21 November 1907 – Tuesday 1 January 1991)
‘O, Holy Night’ (written by Adolphe Adam)
‘Away In A Manger’ (written by James R. Murray)
‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’
In 2013, Julie Roberts was a Multiple Sclerosis Fitness Challenge Spokesperson and Challenge participant.
At the time, Julie Roberts stated ‘I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005 at the height of an incredibly exciting and critical time in my career as a country music singer.
I felt that accepting and admitting to the world (and the music industry) would mean I’d have to give up my dreams of singing country music. For five years, I didn’t tell anyone about my diagnosis. I continued to make records and tour.
In 2010, I lost my home and everything I owned in the ‘one thousand year flood’ in Nashville. During the difficult rebuilding weeks and months that followed, I had my first physical MS relapse in five years. As devastating as the flood was, I believe God used it to alter my perspective and ultimately save my life. I accepted my diagnosis and found a therapy to manage my disease.
I realized then that God uses people in ways that they might never expect and maybe He wanted to use me to help others with MS, both through my story and my songs.
I have made it my life’s mission to inspire those living with this disease to keep chasing their dreams! I have also made it my goal to do all I can to connect with and raise awareness for organizations set up to help those live with MS.
Not only am I singing / performing around the country but I am speaking most weeks out of the year to MS patients everywhere. This brings so much joy and fulfillment to my soul. I want to do all I can to lift them up, so they can not only live with, but beat this disease.
I am very thankful for all that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has done for my life. If you would like to make a donation to the MS Society, please go to nmss.org
Other wonderful organisations set up to help those living with MS include, but are not limited to, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation at msfocus.org and Multiple Sclerosis Association of America at mymsaa.org‘
It was also in 2013 when Julie Roberts saw the release of her fourth album, ‘Good Wine & Bad Decisions’ (Red River / Relativity Records, 2013), which included the following tracks:
‘Good Wine & Bad Decisions’ (written by Jason Collum and Julie Roberts)
‘He Made A Woman Out of Me’ (written by Fred Burch and Don Hill)
‘Keep Me Up All Night’ (written by Cory Batton, Kent Blazy and Julie Roberts)
‘Gasoline & Matches’ (written by Buddy Miller and Julie Miller)
‘Old Strings’ (written by Jason Collum, Julie Roberts and Mike Ulvila)
‘Arms of Jesus’ (written by Jason Collum and Julie Roberts)
‘I’ll Close My Eyes’ (written by Jason Collum, Ernie Halter and Julie Roberts)
‘Bones’ (written by Paul James Butler and Michael Kiwanuka)
‘If I Were You’ (written by Jason Collum and Julie Roberts)
‘Old Habit’ (written by Jason Collum and Julie Roberts)
‘When It’s Over’ (written by Jason Collum, Matt Ridenour and Julie Roberts)
‘Daddy Doesn’t Pray’ (written by Chris Stapleton)
‘Wrong About You’ (written by Jason Collum, Thom Hardwell and Julie Roberts)
‘I’m Not Getting Any Better At Goodbyes’ (written by Steve Earle)
On Tuesday 18 September 2018, Julie Roberts, with Ken Abraham, saw the release of ‘Beauty in The Breakdown: Choosing To Overcome’, which was published by Thomas Nelson.
About the Book
Country music singer Julie Roberts is no stranger to overcoming hard times through determination, hard work, and strength. Having escaped the emotional residue of her alcoholic father’s actions and insults, Julie moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University and work as a receptionist at Mercury Records – all while secretly pursuing her dream of becoming a singer.
Just as Julie’s dreams were coming true, her life began to unravel. Soon, she was battling debilitating physical illness, the rising waters of Nashville’s hundred-year flood, and a stalled career. Instead of succumbing to despair, Julie proved miraculously resilient – taking the steps she needed to face adversity head on and rebuild her life through her characteristic optimism, hard work, and faith.
In her first book, ‘Beauty in The Breakdown: Choosing To Overcome’, journey with Julie as she walks through the highs and lows of her career, the personal struggles she’s endured, the lessons she’s learned, and her sense of purpose as she rebuilds her singing career and contributes her voice to the work of supporting others with Multiple Sclerosis. Julie’s courage, combined with her joyful personality and love for God, will encourage readers in a uniquely powerful way.
About the Author
Julie Roberts stepped into the national spotlight in 2004 with her country music hit ‘Break Down Here’. Her debut album earned RIAA gold for sales in excess of five hundred thousand copies. The South Carolina native was an undeniable sensation, performing in a wide range of concert and national TV appearances. Multiple honours followed, including an array of nominations from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and the Country Music Television Awards.
In 2010, Julie Roberts took a hiatus from music to recharge her batteries and to confront a number of personal challenges. Today, she is back, singing better than ever.
‘I want to inspire others to never give up on their dreams. I’ve asked God to use me to encourage others. I’ll do that by continuing to share my story, recording new music, and playing shows. That’s where my heart and soul are fulfilled’
On Friday 28 October 2022, Julie Roberts saw the release of ‘Ain’t In No Hurry’ (Julie Roberts Independent Release, 2022), which was produced by Shooter Jennings and Erin Enderlin, and included the following tracks:
‘Ain’t In No Hurry (written by Erin Enderlin, Brent Cobb and Ben Chapman)
‘Don’t Call Me Baby’ (written by Erin Enderlin, Waylon Payne and Mae Estes)
‘Devil’s Pool’, which was written by Julie Roberts, Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), Shooter Jennings and Richard Jason Collum
‘Music City’s Killing Me’ (‘New York City’s Killing Me’) (written by Ray LaMontagne) / this track was a duet with Jamey Johnson
‘All By My Damn Self’ (written by Julie Roberts and Richard Jason Collum)
‘Do Ya’, which was written by Kay Toinette Oslin (Friday 15 May 1942 – Monday 21 December 2020) / the original version of this track was recorded by Kay Toinette Oslin, who included it on ’80’s Ladies’ (RCA Records, 1987); Kay Toinette Oslin’s version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in December 1987
‘(When You Wake Up) In The Bed You Made’ (written by Erin Enderlin, Buddy Lee Owen and Galen Griffin)
‘Easy Street’, which was written by Bobby Emmons and Lincoln Wayne ‘Chips’ Moman (Saturday 12 June 1937 – Monday 13 June 2016)
‘A Little Crazy’s Kinda Nice’ (written by Jason Matthews and Rebecca Lynn Howard) / this track was a duet with Randy Houser
‘Big Moon’ (written by John Doe)
‘The Concept of You’ (written by Michael James Farmer)
‘The King & His Crown’ (written by Julie Roberts, Arlis Albritton and Cliff Cody)
‘The Song Goes With Me’ (written by Julie Roberts, Darrell Clark and Marcus Hummon)
‘I Think You Know’ (written by Jessi Colter)
• Visit Julie Roberts’ official site at julieroberts.com
• Visit National Multiple Sclerosis Society at nationalmssociety.org