Sammy Kershaw
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Samuel Paul Kershaw (born February 24, 1958) is an American
country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
artist. He has released 16 studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications among them. More than 25 singles have entered the Top 40 on the '' Billboard''
Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...
charts, including his only number one hit "
She Don't Know She's Beautiful "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" is a song written by Paul Harrison and Bob McDill, and recorded by American country music singer Sammy Kershaw Samuel Paul Kershaw (born February 24, 1958) is an American country music artist. He has released 16 ...
" and 10 more Top 10 hits: "
Cadillac Style "Cadillac Style" is a song written by Mark Petersen, and recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in October 1991 as the lead single from his debut album '' Don't Go Near the Water''. It peaked at number 3 on the co ...
", " Anywhere but Here", " Haunted Heart", "
Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer "Queen of My Double Wide Trailer" is a song written by Dennis Linde, and recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in August 1993 as the third single from his album '' Haunted Heart''. It peaked at No. 7 in the United ...
", "
I Can't Reach Her Anymore "I Can't Reach Her Anymore" is a song written by Mark Petersen and Bruce Theien, and recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in January 1994 as the fourth single from the album '' Haunted Heart''. The song reached ...
", "
National Working Woman's Holiday "National Working Woman's Holiday" is a song written by Roger Murrah, Pat Terry and James Dean Hicks, and recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in June 1994 as the lead-off single from his album '' Feelin' Good T ...
", "
Third Rate Romance "Third Rate Romance" is a song written by Russell Smith, first recorded in Montreal in 1974 by Jesse Winchester and his band the Rhythm Aces, assisted by Smith. It became a hit the following year by the newly re-formed Amazing Rhythm Aces on its ...
", " Meant to Be", " Vidalia", and " Love of My Life". Kershaw tried to enter politics, running as a
Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
candidate for
lieutenant governor of Louisiana The lieutenant governor of Louisiana (french: Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Louisiane) is the second highest state office in Louisiana. The current lieutenant governor is Billy Nungesser, a Republican Party (United States), Republican. The lieuten ...
in 2007 and 2010. In 2007 he finished third in the jungle primary, but Democrat
Mitch Landrieu Mitchell Joseph Landrieu ( ; born August 16, 1960) is an American lawyer and politician who served as Mayor of New Orleans from 2010 to 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana from 2004 ...
won strongly in the general election. In 2010 he carried more parishes than any other candidate, but placed third. He endorsed Republican
Jay Dardenne John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne, Jr. (born February 6, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is serving as commissioner of administration for Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards. A Republican, Dardenne served as ...
, Secretary of State, for the position, who won the general election.


Early life and career

Sammy Kershaw was born in the
Acadiana Acadiana ( French and Louisiana French: ''L'Acadiane''), also known as the Cajun Country (Louisiana French: ''Le Pays Cadjin'', es, País Cajún), is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that has historically contained mu ...
town of Kaplan, located in South Louisiana. He is the third cousin of singers
Rusty Rusty may refer to something covered with rust or with a rust (color). Rusty is also a nickname for people who have red hair, have a rust-hued skin tone, or have the given name Russell. Rusty may also refer to: People *Rusty Anderson (born 1959 ...
and
Doug Kershaw Douglas James Kershaw (born January 24, 1936) is an American fiddle player, singer and songwriter from Louisiana. Active since 1948, he began his career as part of the duo Rusty and Doug, along with his brother, Rusty Kershaw. He had an exten ...
. When he was 11, his grandfather gave him his first
guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
. But his father died that year, so Sammy started to work a variety of day jobs while playing roadhouses at night to support his family. He began performing in Acadiana with Louisiana legend J.B. Pere. At the age of 12, Kershaw was playing in a variety of honky-tonks and beer joints, and when he was 14 he met
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song "He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
, his lifelong idol. Subsequently, he opened shows for Ray Price,
Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. Haggard was born in Oildale, California, toward the end of the Great Depression. His childhood was troubled a ...
, and
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song "He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
while still barely into his teens. When the pressures of growing up fast took their toll in the form of a serious
drug A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via insuffla ...
and alcohol problem, he quit his bad habits in 1988. He took a break from the music world to work as a remodeling supervisor at
Wal-Mart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
.


Musical career

One of Kershaw's demonstration tapes made its way to
Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it is ...
, which released his debut album '' Don't Go Near the Water'' in 1991. This album was certified
platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Platinu ...
by the
RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
, and it produced four hit singles. The lead-off, "
Cadillac Style "Cadillac Style" is a song written by Mark Petersen, and recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in October 1991 as the lead single from his debut album '' Don't Go Near the Water''. It peaked at number 3 on the co ...
", went to No. 3 in late 1991 and early 1992, followed by the
title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may a ...
at No. 12, "
Yard Sale A garage sale (also known as a yard sale, tag sale, moving sale and by many other namesSome rarely used names include "attic sale," "basement sale," "rummage sale," "thrift sale," "patio sale," "lawn sale," and "jumble sale".) is an informal ...
" at No. 17, and " Anywhere but Here" at No. 10. Kershaw was initially reluctant to release "Cadillac Style" because he felt that it was not suitable for his style; however, his co-producer,
Buddy Cannon Buddy Cannon (born April 20, 1947 Lexington, Tennessee) is an American country music songwriter and record producer. Active since the late 1970s, he is known primarily for his work with Willie Nelson and as Kenny Chesney's record producer, for w ...
, convinced him to give the song a chance. Kershaw's often
honky-tonk A honky-tonk (also called honkatonk, honkey-tonk, or tonk) is both a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons and the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano (tack piano) ...
material and singing voice led to critical comparisons to
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song "He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
, and he covered one of Jones's early singles, "What Am I Worth", on his debut as well. Kershaw's second album, '' Haunted Heart'', followed in 1993. Its lead-off single, "
She Don't Know She's Beautiful "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" is a song written by Paul Harrison and Bob McDill, and recorded by American country music singer Sammy Kershaw Samuel Paul Kershaw (born February 24, 1958) is an American country music artist. He has released 16 ...
", became his only Number One hit, in April of that year. Following it were the
title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may a ...
, the
Dennis Linde Dennis Linde (pronounced LIN-dy, March 18, 1943December 22, 2006) was an American music songwriter based in Nashville who has had over 250 of his songs recorded. He is best known for writing the 1972 Elvis Presley hit, "Burning Love". Rarely w ...
–penned "
Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer "Queen of My Double Wide Trailer" is a song written by Dennis Linde, and recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in August 1993 as the third single from his album '' Haunted Heart''. It peaked at No. 7 in the United ...
", and "
I Can't Reach Her Anymore "I Can't Reach Her Anymore" is a song written by Mark Petersen and Bruce Theien, and recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in January 1994 as the fourth single from the album '' Haunted Heart''. The song reached ...
", all of which hit the Top 10 as well. Although Kershaw had been told by others that radio audiences might not identify with the subject matter on "Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer", Kershaw wanted to release the song because he had an experience similar to its story line. Like his debut, ''Haunted Heart'' was a platinum album. In mid-1994, Kershaw also covered the Lynyrd Skynyrd song " I Know a Little" on the tribute album ''
Skynyrd Frynds ''Skynyrd Frynds'' is a tribute album to the American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 1994 on MCA Records. It features cover versions of ten Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, as performed by various country music artists. The album reached #8 o ...
'', which included country music covers of Skynyrd songs. Also in 1994, Kershaw contributed the song " Fire and Rain" to the
AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...
benefit album ''
Red Hot + Country ''Red Hot + Country'' (or ''RH+C'') was the follow-up to ''No Alternative'' in the Red Hot Series of compilation albums, a series produced to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV as well as other related health and social issues. This com ...
'', produced by the
Red Hot Organization Red Hot Organization (RHO) is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture. Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilati ...
. '' Feelin' Good Train'' was Kershaw's third album, released later in 1994. This album also produced four hits, including two consecutive No. 2's in "
National Working Woman's Holiday "National Working Woman's Holiday" is a song written by Roger Murrah, Pat Terry and James Dean Hicks, and recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in June 1994 as the lead-off single from his album '' Feelin' Good T ...
" and "
Third Rate Romance "Third Rate Romance" is a song written by Russell Smith, first recorded in Montreal in 1974 by Jesse Winchester and his band the Rhythm Aces, assisted by Smith. It became a hit the following year by the newly re-formed Amazing Rhythm Aces on its ...
" (the latter a cover of the
Amazing Rhythm Aces Amazing may refer to: Music Performers * The Amazing, a Swedish indie rock band Albums * ''Amazing'' (Banaroo album), 2006 * ''Amazing'' (Elkie Brooks album), 1996 * ''Amazing'' (Marcia Hines album) or the title song, 2014 * ''Amazin'' (Tri ...
hit from 1975), with the No. 27 " Southbound" and No. 18 " If You're Gonna Walk, I'm Gonna Crawl" following in 1995. The album included a duet with George Jones on "Never Bit a Bullet Like This", which had previously been released on Jones's 1993 album ''
High-Tech Redneck ''High-Tech Redneck'' is an album by American country music singer George Jones. It was released in 1993 on the MCA Nashville Records label and went Gold Album, Gold in 1994. Recording By 1993, Jones had recorded two critically acclaimed albums ...
''. ''Feelin' Good Train'' was certified gold. It was followed by a Christmas album, ''
Christmas Time's A-Comin' "Christmas Time's A-Comin'" is a popular Bluegrass music, bluegrass Christmas music, Christmas standard song written by Bell Labs engineer Benjamin F. Logan, Benjamin "Tex" Logan. Originally recorded by Bill Monroe in 1951, the song was covered in ...
'', and Kershaw's first greatest-hits package, ''Greatest Hits, Volume 1'', both in 1995. The latter produced a No. 47 single in "Your Tattoo" (written by Kostas and
Jack Tempchin Jack Tempchin is an American musician and singer-songwriter who wrote the Eagles song "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and co-wrote " Already Gone", "The Girl From Yesterday", "Somebody", and "It's Your World Now". Career During the Eagles' breakup per ...
), the first single of Kershaw's career not to reach the Top 40.


Mid-late 1990s

Kershaw's fourth studio album, the gold-certified '' Politics, Religion and Her'', was issued in 1996. It produced Top 10 hits in " Meant to Be" and " Vidalia", the latter of which Kershaw also considered a risky song, saying, "If radio will play this one more than twice—so people can get the story and learn what a
Vidalia onion A Vidalia onion ( or ) is one of several varieties of sweet onion grown in a production area defined by law of the U.S. state of Georgia since 1986 and the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Varieties include the hybrid Yellow Gr ...
is—it'll be a smash." These songs were followed by " Fit to Be Tied Down" and the
title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may a ...
, both of which hit the Top 30. Also included on ''Politics, Religion and Her'' were covers of
Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...
's "
Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
" and
Sammy Johns Sammy Reginald Johns (February 7, 1946 – January 4, 2013) was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his million-selling 1975 hit single, "Chevy Van (song), Chevy Van". Career Johns was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Johns ...
' " Chevy Van". The same year, Kershaw briefly took ownership of a
NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...
Busch series team (now Xfinity Series). '' Labor of Love'' was issued later in 1997 as his fifth album. Unlike his previous albums, this one was predominantly composed of ballads. It produced a No. 2 (and final US Top 10 hit) in " Love of My Life", and although none of the other three singles (" Matches", " Honky Tonk America" and " One Day Left to Live") reached higher than No. 22, the album was nonetheless certified platinum. His next album, ''
Maybe Not Tonight ''Maybe Not Tonight'' is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in 1999 (see 1999 in country music) on Mercury Records. The first album of his career not to achieve an RIAA certification, it also f ...
'', brought a Top 20 duet with
Lorrie Morgan Loretta Lynn Morgan (born June 27, 1959) is an American country music singer and actress. She is the daughter of George Morgan, widow of Keith Whitley, and ex-wife of Jon Randall and Sammy Kershaw, all of whom are also country music singers. Mor ...
. Kershaw stated that he enjoyed working with Morgan on the song, telling ''
Country Weekly ''Nash Country Weekly'' was an American lifestyle weekly magazine about country artists and their music. It was in circulation between April 1994 and May 2016. The publisher, Cumulus Media, now maintains the site ''Nash Country Daily''. Overvie ...
'' magazine, "I knew our vocals would match up… Plus, we have fun together. We're friends and we have been friends for a long time." "
Maybe Not Tonight ''Maybe Not Tonight'' is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in 1999 (see 1999 in country music) on Mercury Records. The first album of his career not to achieve an RIAA certification, it also f ...
" was commercially less successful than its predecessors, however, and it became the first album of Kershaw's career not to achieve an RIAA certification. Following "Maybe Not Tonight" were the singles " When You Love Someone" and "
Me and Maxine "Me and Maxine" is a song recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in November 1999 as the third single from the album ''Maybe Not Tonight ''Maybe Not Tonight'' is the sixth studio album by American country music ...
", both of which peaked in the thirties. "
Louisiana Hot Sauce The Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce is a brand of hot sauce manufactured in New Iberia, Louisiana by Summit Hill Foods. Bruce Foods was the previous owner and manufacturer of the brand, and sold it to Summit Hill Foods (formerly Southeastern Mi ...
", the final release from ''
Maybe Not Tonight ''Maybe Not Tonight'' is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in 1999 (see 1999 in country music) on Mercury Records. The first album of his career not to achieve an RIAA certification, it also f ...
'', was also the first single of his career not to enter the charts. In 2000, Kershaw released an album of
cover song In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
s, ''
Covers the Hits ''Covers the Hits'' is an album released in 2000 by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It is composed of ten cover songs, most of which were reprised from various tribute albums to which Kershaw contributed. Some of the material had been ...
''. This album comprised 10 cover songs that Kershaw had recorded in his career. Some of the songs on it, such as the single "Third Rate Romance", were previously found on Kershaw's studio albums, while others came from various tribute albums (such as ''Skynyrd Frynds'') to which he had contributed. ''Covers the Hits'' also included a rendition of
Dr. Hook Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (shortened to Dr. Hook in 1975) is an American rock band, formed in Union City, New Jersey. The band had commercial success in the 1970s with hit singles "Sylvia's Mother", " The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (both 1972) ...
's "Little Bit More", a previously unreleased cover which Kershaw had recorded during the sessions for ''Labor of Love''.


2000s

By 2001, Kershaw and Morgan had married. The two recorded a vocal duet album in 2001 entitled ''
I Finally Found Someone "I Finally Found Someone" is a song by American singer Barbra Streisand and Canadian singer Bryan Adams. The power ballad was part of the soundtrack of Streisand's 1996 self-directed movie '' The Mirror Has Two Faces'' and was nominated for an O ...
'' (the
title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may a ...
being a cover of the
Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...
/
Bryan Adams Bryan Guy Adams (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and mor ...
duet). This album was less successful commercially, with its only Top 40 hit being the No. 39 "He Drinks Tequila". Shortly afterward, a second 'greatest hits' package was released, and Kershaw left Mercury's roster. In 2003, Kershaw signed to
Audium Entertainment Entertainment One Ltd., trading as eOne, is an American-owned Canadian multinational entertainment company. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the company is primarily involved in the acquisition, distribution, and production of films and television se ...
to release the album '' I Want My Money Back''. This album produced a No. 33-peaking in its
title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may a ...
, but the second single "I've Never Been Anywhere" fell short of the Top 40. The third and final single, "Beer, Bait & Ammo" (which failed to chart), was previously recorded and written by
Kevin Fowler Kevin Fowler (born May 11, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter. He has released five studio albums, and has charted four singles on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, including the top 40 hit "Pound Sign (#?*!)". In addition, he wr ...
on his 2000 debut album of the same name, and would later be recorded by
Mark Chesnutt Mark Nelson Chesnutt (born September 6, 1963) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Between 1990 and 1999, he had his greatest chart success recording for Universal Music Group Nashville's MCA and Decca branches, with a total of ei ...
on his 2004 album '' Savin' the Honky Tonk''. After Audium closed its Nashville division, Kershaw signed to
Category 5 Records Category 5 Records was an independent record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 2005, the label included eight different country music artists in its roster. The label was owned by Raymond Termini and was disestablished in 2009. His ...
, then a newly established independent label, in 2006. His first release for the label and first chart single in three years, "Tennessee Girl", fell three spaces short of the Top 40 that year. It was the first release from his 2006 album ''
Honky Tonk Boots ''Honky Tonk Boots'' is an album released in 2006 by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. His only release for the Category 5 Records album, it was also his first studio release since 2003's '' I Want My Money Back''. The album's lead-off s ...
''. The album's only other single, a cover of
Mel McDaniel Melvin Huston McDaniel (September 6, 1942 – March 31, 2011) was an American country music artist. Many of his top hits were released in the 1980s, including " Louisiana Saturday Night", " Big Ole Brew", " Stand Up", " Baby's Got Her Blue Jea ...
's Number One hit "
Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" is a song written by Bob McDill and recorded by American country music artist Mel McDaniel. It was released in October 1984 as the lead-off single from his album ''Let It Roll''. It was a number-one hit on the U.S. ' ...
", failed to chart, and financial difficulties caused the label to close in 2007. In 2008, Sammy Kershaw was inducted into The
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame (LMHOF) is a non-profit hall of fame based in Baton Rouge, the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana, that seeks to honor and preserve the state's music culture and heritage and to promote education about the state ...
in honor of his career achievements and was also inducted into the Louisiana Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame in 2010. Kershaw's first single in two years, "
Real People ''Real People'' is an American reality television series that originally aired on NBC from 1979 to 1984, Wednesdays from 8 pm to 9pm Eastern Time. Its initial episodes aired live in the Eastern and Central time zones. ''Real People'' featured "r ...
", was released in late 2008 in the Boomerville/Big Hit label. However, the single failed to chart. His tenth studio album, '' Better Than I Used to Be'', was released on August 31, 2010.


Political activity

Kershaw had become increasingly interested in politics. On June 13, 2007, he announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor of Louisiana in the October 20
jungle primary A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for the same elected office run against each other at once, regardless of the political party. Partisan elections are, on the other hand, segregated by political party ...
. The position was held by the incumbent
Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...
,
Mitch Landrieu Mitchell Joseph Landrieu ( ; born August 16, 1960) is an American lawyer and politician who served as Mayor of New Orleans from 2010 to 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana from 2004 ...
. Kershaw also faced a second Republican candidate, State Representative Gary Beard of
Baton Rouge Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-sma ...
, an
engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...
first elected to the State House in a 2001
special election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-larges ...
. Kershaw finished second with 30 percent of the vote, but Landrieu won re-election with a majority on the first ballot. Watching his state embroiled in the Gulf Oil Spill in April 2010, Kershaw, a Lafayette resident, became the official spokesperson for Protect Our Coastline, a non-profit dedicated to providing relief to the fishermen and shrimpers affected most by the spill. On August 28, 2010, Kershaw announced his second bid for lieutenant governor in the October 2
special election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-larges ...
to replace Mitch Landrieu, who left office in May after being elected
mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
of
New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster.
; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...
. Kershaw's intraparty rivals included state Republican chair Roger F. Villere Jr. of Metairie,
St. Tammany Parish St. Tammany Parish (french: Paroisse de Saint-Tammany) is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana named after Tamanend, the legendary Lenape Chief of Chiefs and the "Patron Saint of America." At the 2020 census, the population was 2 ...
president Kevin Davis of Slidell, and Secretary of State
Jay Dardenne John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne, Jr. (born February 6, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is serving as commissioner of administration for Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards. A Republican, Dardenne served as ...
of Baton Rouge. Kershaw polled 19 percent and carried 31 of the 64 parishes (more than any other candidate). But he finished third in overall votes behind Dardenne and
Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...
Caroline Fayard. Kershaw endorsed fellow Republican Dardenne in the runoff election, joining him at campaign events, and giving Dardenne a "bear hug" at his victory celebration. In the 2011 race for lieutenant governor, Kershaw endorsed Dardenne's opponent, fellow Republican
Billy Nungesser William Harold Nungesser (born January 10, 1959) is an American politician serving as the 54th lieutenant governor of Louisiana. A Republican, Nungesser is also the former president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission, having been re-elected to ...
. Dardenne ultimately defeated Nungesser 53%-47%.


2010s

Kershaw continues touring throughout the year with his band, as well as performances with his often sold-out acoustic "Roots and Boots" tour, featuring himself onstage with other artists including
Aaron Tippin Aaron Dupree Tippin (born July 3, 1958) is an American country music singer, songwriter and record producer. Initially a songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music, he gained a recording contract with RCA Nashville in 1990. His debut single, "You've Got to ...
,
Joe Diffie Joe Logan Diffie (December 28, 1958 – March 29, 2020) was an American country music singer and songwriter. After working as a demo (music), demo singer in the mid 1980s, he signed with Epic Records' Nashville division in 1990. Between then and ...
,
Pam Tillis Pamela Yvonne Tillis (born July 24, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis and ex-wife of songwriter Bob DiPiero. Tillis recorded unsuccessful ...
,
Darryl Worley Darryl Wade Worley (born October 31, 1964) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to DreamWorks Records Nashville in 1999, Worley released four albums for the label: ''Hard Rain Don't Last'' (2000), '' I Miss My Friend'' (20 ...
,
Collin Raye Floyd Elliot Wray (born August 22, 1960) is an American country music singer, known professionally as Collin Raye, and previously as Bubba Wray. Under the latter name, he recorded as a member of the band The Wrays between 1983 and 1987. He made ...
, and others.


Discography

;Studio albums * '' Don't Go Near the Water'' (1991) * ''Business Is Pleasure'' (1992) * '' Haunted Heart'' (1993) * '' Feelin' Good Train'' (1994) * ''
Christmas Time's A-Comin' "Christmas Time's A-Comin'" is a popular Bluegrass music, bluegrass Christmas music, Christmas standard song written by Bell Labs engineer Benjamin F. Logan, Benjamin "Tex" Logan. Originally recorded by Bill Monroe in 1951, the song was covered in ...
'' (1994) * '' Politics, Religion and Her'' (1996) * '' Labor of Love'' (1997) * ''
Maybe Not Tonight ''Maybe Not Tonight'' is the sixth studio album by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. It was released in 1999 (see 1999 in country music) on Mercury Records. The first album of his career not to achieve an RIAA certification, it also f ...
'' (1999) * ''
I Finally Found Someone "I Finally Found Someone" is a song by American singer Barbra Streisand and Canadian singer Bryan Adams. The power ballad was part of the soundtrack of Streisand's 1996 self-directed movie '' The Mirror Has Two Faces'' and was nominated for an O ...
'' (2001) * '' I Want My Money Back'' (2003) * ''
Honky Tonk Boots ''Honky Tonk Boots'' is an album released in 2006 by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw. His only release for the Category 5 Records album, it was also his first studio release since 2003's '' I Want My Money Back''. The album's lead-off s ...
'' (2006) * '' Better Than I Used to Be'' (2010) * ''A Sammy Klaus Christmas'' (2012) * ''All in the Same Boat'' (2013) * ''Do You Know Me: A Tribute to George Jones'' (2014) * ''I Won't Back Down'' (2015) * ''The Blues Got Me'' (2016) * ''Swamp Poppin'' (2017)


References


External links


The Official Sammy Kershaw website''NashvillePost.com'' story on bankruptcy filing, Feb. 2007Sammy Kershaw candidate website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kershaw, Sammy 1958 births Living people People from Kaplan, Louisiana American country singer-songwriters American male singer-songwriters Cajun people Louisiana Republicans Mercury Records artists Singer-songwriters from Louisiana MNRK Music Group artists Country musicians from Louisiana