Growing up, country singer Amber Hayes was singing country when country wasn’t cool. She dabbled with the Mickey Mouse Club (not making the final cut) and sang in her local church, but it was her love of traditional country music and entertaining that started her on the path she is on today.

And, it was her love of country superstars Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton and fellow Oklahoman Reba McEntire that she always gravitated to as she was growing up in small town Weleetka, Oklahoma. The three legendary performers would also become her role models as she found herself in Nashville charting her own music career.

“Musically, I feel so connected to Reba McEntire. The older Reba stuff is the type of music I like to do” explains Hayes, who will be performing at the Cancer Challenge Sparkle & Spurs Gala on June 22 in Rogers. “I am more country than Barbara was (as a singer), but she was such an entertainer on stage.” Referring to Mandrell’s singing and dancing, as well as the famous entertainer’s foray into television with her weekly television musical show, “I hope I can relate to my audience and reel them in, instead of just sitting up there on stage singing. And, Dolly and her songwriting, well she is just amazing. All three of those ladies mastered what they do.”

Hayes aspires to do just what Mandrell, Parton and McEntire did as she masters her own art of performing on stage. It was on a stage, at the tender age of five years old, where she realized it was where she truly belonged. “I was competing in the Miss Pride Day pageant and I was so shy, super shy in fact, but the moment I found the stage, I became a different person,” says Hayes. “I remember being on stage and feeling ‘wow.’ I am not so shy after all.”

Like her idols, Hayes has also carefully managed to diversify her talents into other areas of entertainment. It was after receiving sage advice from Mandrell, she learned she needed to figure out what kind of entertainer she wants to become and more importantly learn how to brand herself into the entertainer she dreams of becoming.

Taking the time to figure out what kind of entertainer she is has been time well spent. Hayes has since developed into a well-rounded, up-and-coming national recording artist. The first thing she did was to start writing songs. Something she had never done before. “When I arrived in Nashville, I was told early on I needed to be a songwriter,” says Hayes, because Nashville was moving towards the direction of artists as songwriters.

She is glad she did. The songwriting process is something she enjoys and a skill she is continuingly honing. And, she firmly believes that writing has made her a better artist. She recently co-wrote three original songs that will be featured in the upcoming moving “Cowgirls n Angels,” featuring James Cromwell, Bailee Madison and Jackson Rathbone. She was also asked to sing one of her songs in a dancing scene in the movie. The opportunity to act, or sing in this case, was just another chance to expand her talents to the big screen.

“When you are in that moment on a movie set and looking around, you just can’t believe this is really happening. I am really going to be in this movie and I was just blown away by the actors,” recalls Hayes. “I was singing my song ‘C’Mon’ and they do a line dance and it was just amazing seeing James Cromwell and other famous people dancing to my song.”

She would love the opportunity to do more big screen work in the future, because as an artist she knows she has to look at every opportunity, but music will always be her focus. And, music will no doubt be her main focus next month when Hayes is scheduled to perform for the Cancer Challenge Sparkle and Spurs Gala. She is excited to perform for the first time in Northwest Arkansas.

The Cancer Challenge is equally thrilled to have her perform at their annual fundraising event. “The 19th Annual Cancer Challenge event is the financial engine behind our continued efforts and helping us to further our mission,” says TinaWaggener, executive director of the Cancer Challenge. “We are especially excited about our Sparkle & Spurs Gala at the John Q. Hammons Center. Amber Hayes is a talented singer and songwriter and is quickly making a name for herself as a national recording artist. I have no doubt that our guests will enjoy her down-home country sound.”

Hayes also promises a high energy show. Similar to the ones she recently performed in March for the U.S. troops stationed in Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean. Last year, she enjoyed her busiest touring year ever, performing in China, Japan and Sweden. She also recently finished recording a new, seven-song project with producer Paul Compton, co-writing several of the tracks, including early fan-favorite singles “Me & Loretta” and “Any Day is a Good Day.”

“What you see if what you get… it will be high energy,” says Hayes, as she will no doubt channel some of the influences in her life that have led her to where she is today as an entertainer. “I am the same person off stage as I am on stage when I perform. I try to connect with my audience. I sing what I have been through and I tell a story.”

And, her story is pretty entertaining.

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