Julie Roberts Biography / Pictures

Julie Roberts (born February 1, 1979) is an American country music singer. Signed to Mercury Nashville in 2004, Roberts made her debut that year with the single "Break Down Here", a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts and the first track from her self-titled debut album. A second album for Mercury, Men & Mascara, followed in 2006. This album produced two non-charting singles in its title track and a cover of Saving Jane's "Girl Next Door".

Biography

Julie was born in Lancaster, South Carolina, in 1979. Julie Roberts began her life performing in pre-school plays. She also was in school choirs and performed in a rendition of "My Fair Lady" at a singing summer camp. Roberts began performing country music as a child. When she was in junior high and high school, she toured with her family, playing at festivals in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. She 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. She also worked with 60 and 70 year-old men performing at nursing homes. Her influences include Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell and Tanya Tucker.

Julie Roberts first attended USC Lancaster in her hometown from 1997 to 1999 before graduating from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, with a degree in business administration. Roberts began working for Mercury Nashville Records, later becoming assistant to label head Luke Lewis. During her tenure there, she began perfecting her singing skills and recorded a demo tape. Producer Brent Rowan liked what he heard and invited Lewis to hear the tape.

Lewis liked what he heard, but it was only after he asked for the singer's identity that he learned it was Roberts. Roberts was signed to Mercury Records and began work on her debut album. Her debut album Julie Roberts was released May 25, 2004. She released her first single "Break Down Here" that same year. "Break Down Here" was a success for Roberts, going to #18 on the Country charts, breaking the Top 20, making the song a Country hit for Roberts. The song also reached #1 on the Country Music Single Sales Chart when it was released. Her followup singles, however, both failed to make Top 40.

On June 27, 2006, Julie released a second album, Men & Mascara. She released two more singles: first the title track, then a cover of Saving Jane's hit "Girl Next Door". Neither single charted.

Julie 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 in February 2007.