Sara Evans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sara Evans
Evans in 2024
Born	Sara Lynn Evans (1971-02-05) February 5, 1971 (age 54) Boonville, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter record producer author actress
Years active	1997–present
Spouse(s)	Craig Schelske ​ ​ (m. 1993; div. 2007)​ Jay Barker ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	Country
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	RCA Nashville Born to Fly Melody Place

Sara Lynn Evans (born February 5, 1971) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is also a record producer, author, and actress. Sara Evans has had five songs reach the number one spot on the Billboard country songs chart. She has sold over six million albums. Many of her other songs have also been very popular, reaching the top ten or top twenty on the country charts. She has won awards from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.

Evans grew up in New Franklin, Missouri. She started performing with her family in a band called The Evans Family Band. They played music throughout her childhood. Later, Sara and her older brother Matt formed their own band. In 1991, they moved to Nashville to start a country music career. In Nashville, Sara met her first husband, Craig Schelske. She later signed a recording contract with RCA Records. Her first album, Three Chords and the Truth, came out in 1997. Her second album, No Place That Far (1998), had a song of the same name that became a number one hit.

Sara Evans became very successful in the 2000s. Her albums Born to Fly (2000), Restless (2003), and Real Fine Place (2005) each sold over one million copies. These albums included popular number one songs like "Born to Fly", "Suds in the Bucket", and "A Real Fine Place to Start". In 2006, Evans was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. She later took a break from recording music to focus on her family. She released a Greatest Hits album in 2008. In 2011, she returned with her album Stronger. It featured the number one song "A Little Bit Stronger". After her album Slow Me Down (2014), Evans started her own record label. Her first album on her new label, Words, was released in 2017.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Sara Lynn Evans was born in Boonville, Missouri, on February 5, 1971. She grew up on a farm in New Franklin, Missouri. Her parents were Pat and Jack Evans. She was one of seven children. Her family discovered she loved to sing when she was young. Her mother encouraged her and her siblings to form a band. They called themselves The Evans Family Band. Sara started singing lead vocals in the band when she was six years old. She also learned to play guitar, mandolin, and drums.

When Sara was eight, she was hit by a car. She was seriously injured and had to stay in the hospital for six weeks. Doctors helped her leg heal. This experience was very difficult for her.

In 1983, Sara's parents divorced. Her mother remarried in 1985, and the family moved to a tobacco farm. The Evans Family Band continued to perform. When she was about ten, Sara recorded a song. She even traveled to Nashville to promote it at Fan Fair. After high school, Sara went to college to study music. But she soon realized she wanted to focus on a country music career. She saved money from a waitressing job. In 1991, she moved to Nashville with her brother Matt.

In Nashville, Sara worked as a waitress. She met her first husband there. They moved to Oregon for a few years, where Sara performed as Sara Evans & North Santiam. They married and later returned to Nashville. Sara found work singing demo songs, which are sample recordings for other artists. A songwriter named Harlan Howard heard her sing. He was very impressed by her traditional country style. He helped her get an audition with RCA Records. Sara sang three songs for RCA executives. The same day, she was offered a recording contract. She signed a deal to make seven albums with the label.

Sara Evans's Music Career

First Albums and Early Hits

Pete Anderson produced Evans's first album.

After signing her contract, Sara Evans quit her waitressing job. She worked with producer Pete Anderson on her first album. In July 1997, her debut album, Three Chords and the Truth, was released. The album had a traditional country sound and received good reviews from critics. However, it did not sell many copies. Its songs did not become big hits on country radio. Sara felt disappointed because radio stations said her music was "too country."

To have more success, Sara recorded her next album. She wanted it to sound more modern but still be true to her style. This album was No Place That Far, released in October 1998. It became much more popular. The song "No Place That Far" became her first number one hit on the Billboard country chart. This success helped her career grow.

Becoming a Big Star

Sara Evans was inspired to make changes in her career. She worked with producer Paul Worley and musician Matt Chamberlain. In October 2000, her third album, Born to Fly, was released. This album was a huge success. It sold over two million copies in the United States. Critics praised her confidence and control over her music. Born to Fly reached number six on the Billboard country albums chart.

Four songs from Born to Fly became singles. The song "Born to Fly" reached number one on the country charts. Other popular songs included "I Could Not Ask for More" and "I Keep Looking". In 2001, Sara received many nominations for awards. She won Music Video of the Year for "Born to Fly." She also joined other famous female singers on the Girls Night Out Tour.

In August 2003, her fourth album, Restless, came out. Sara continued to work with Paul Worley. This album also sold over one million copies. The song "Suds in the Bucket" became her third number one song on the Billboard country chart. Sara was nominated for more awards in 2003 and 2004. She also toured with Brad Paisley.

In 2005, Sara released "A Real Fine Place to Start". It became her fourth number one song. This song was the title track for her fifth album, Real Fine Place, released in October 2005. This album was her first to reach number one on the Billboard country albums chart. It also sold over one million copies. The album included the hit song "Cheatin'", which reached the top ten. Sara also won the Top Female Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music.

Taking a Break and Coming Back Stronger

Evans in concert, 2008

By 2006, Sara Evans was at the peak of her career. She was headlining her own tours and performing often. In August 2006, she joined the TV show Dancing with the Stars. She moved her family to Beverly Hills for the show. However, her marriage was going through a difficult time. The stress caused her to feel very worried and anxious. She decided to leave the show to focus on her children and personal life.

Sara's divorce received a lot of media attention. These personal events delayed her plans for new music. However, she did release a Greatest Hits album in 2007. It included some new songs. One of these new songs, "As If", reached number 11 on the country charts. In 2008, she performed with the pop band Maroon 5 on CMT Crossroads. She also released a Christmas music album called I'll Be Home for Christmas in 2009.

In 2010, Sara Evans wrote a book called The Sweet By and By with author Rachel Hauck. She also returned to music in 2011. She worked with producer Nathan Chapman. Sara found the song "A Little Bit Stronger", which became a number one hit in 2011. It stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks. This song was on her sixth album, Stronger. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard country albums chart. It later sold enough copies to be certified gold.

Evans performing on Walmart Soundcheck, 2011

In 2011, Sara toured with Rascal Flatts. "A Little Bit Stronger" was nominated for Single of the Year. Sara was also nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

Sara released her seventh album, Slow Me Down, in March 2014. The song "Slow Me Down" reached the top 20 on the country charts. The album itself reached number two on the Country Albums list. In October 2014, Sara appeared on the TV show Nashville, playing herself. She also released a Christmas album called At Christmas in November 2014. In August 2015, she performed with the rock band REO Speedwagon on CMT Crossroads.

New Record Label and Recent Music

In 2016, Sara Evans left RCA Records, where she had been for her whole career. She decided to start her own record label called Born to Fly Records. This allowed her to have more control over her music. In July 2017, she released Words, her ninth studio album, on her new label. All 14 songs on the album were written or co-written by female songwriters. The album was praised by critics and reached number four on the Billboard country albums chart.

In 2019, Sara worked with her son and daughter on an album called The Barker Family Band. They sang together and performed covers of famous songs. In May 2020, Sara released her tenth album, Copy That. This album was a collection of classic country and pop cover songs. In September 2020, Sara released a book about her life and career called Born to Fly: A Memoir.

In 2023, Sara Evans appeared on The Masked Singer as "Mustang." She also announced that she was working on a new album with a more traditional country sound. In 2023, she signed with Melody Place Records. She also became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country music show. Her newest album, Unbroke, was released in June 2024. It talks about her marriage and how she and her husband worked through challenges. Sara also started her own podcast called Diving in Deep with Sara Evans in spring 2024.

Musical Style and Voice

Evans performing for the military in 2012

Sara Evans has used different styles of country music in her songs. When she first started, her music had a traditional country sound. Later, with albums like Born to Fly, her music became more modern. She also explored pop and rock-inspired sounds in her later music. After leaving her record label, she felt free to try even more styles. She has said that she doesn't feel like she has to stick to just one type of music anymore. For her newest album, Unbroke, she wanted to return to more traditional country sounds.

Many people have praised Sara Evans's powerful voice. Critics describe her voice as clear and strong. They also note that her singing has a unique sound that is easy to recognize.

Personal Life

Family Life

Sara Evans married Craig Schelske in 1993. They had three children: a son named Avery Jack (born 1999), and two daughters named Olivia Margaret (born 2003) and Audrey Elizabeth (born 2004). Sara's children are also musical. Avery plays guitar in her touring band, and Olivia sings. Her son Avery also tours with Thomas Rhett's band. In April 2025, Sara announced she was going to be a grandmother through her daughter Audrey.

In 2006, Sara Evans filed for divorce from Craig Schelske. It was a difficult time for her and her family. The divorce was finalized in September 2007.

Through her marriage counselor, Sara met her second husband, Jay Barker. He was a former football player and a radio host. They started dating in 2007 and married on June 14, 2008. Jay also had four children from a previous marriage, so together they had seven children. They worked to blend their families. The family lived in Mountain Brook, Alabama, and later moved back to Nashville in 2019.

In 2022, Sara and Jay faced some challenges in their marriage. They had separated, but in March 2024, Sara shared that they had reconciled. She explained that they had been in therapy together and separately to work on their relationship. Sara stressed that her decision to stay with Jay was personal and not meant as advice for others.

Challenges and Advocacy

Sara Evans has experienced times of intense stress and worry in her life. She has found strength in her Christian faith and has worked with a pastor to help her through difficult periods.

In December 2012, Sara was in a private plane that had a serious malfunction. The plane flew in a very dangerous way, but the pilots were able to make an emergency landing safely.

Sara Evans is a spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association. She speaks out about this topic because a close friend suffered from an eating disorder. She wants to help others and raise awareness about body image issues. She also hosted a charity event called Fashion for Every Body. Sara has also shown support for certain political ideas and causes.

Discography

Studio albums

• Three Chords and the Truth (1997)
• No Place That Far (1998)
• Born to Fly (2000)
• Restless (2003)
• Real Fine Place (2005)
• Stronger (2011)
• Slow Me Down (2014)
• At Christmas (2014)
• Words (2017)
• Copy That (2020)
• Unbroke (2024)

Awards and Nominations

Sara Evans has won several awards for her music. This includes one award from the Academy of Country Music and one from the Country Music Association.

Film and TV Appearances

Books Written by Sara Evans

• You'll Always Be My Baby (with Tony Martin and Tom Shapiro) (2006)
• Sweet By and By (with Rachel Hauck) (2010)
• Softly and Tenderly (with Rachel Hauck) (2011)
• Love Lifted Me (with Rachel Hauck) (2012)
• Born to Fly: A Memoir (2020)

See also

In Spanish: Sara Evans para niños