Mary Sarah (born July 7, 1995) is a country music singer and songwriter.


Early years

Mary Sarah Gross was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 7, 1995 to Richard and Patricia Gross. She has one sister, Emilee Elizabeth, born in 1993, and a brother, Christopher Thomas, born in 1989. Christopher has had a liver transplant and is a type 1 diabetic. For this reason, she is a spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and for Caiden's Hope, raising awareness for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) for families with children in financial needs due to extended illness for the premature babies

Singing career

Mary Sarah began performing in church at the age of 8, and began to appear on radio stations and at several regional Opry Theaters. In 2007, at the age of 12, she toured the U.S. for six months as a featured lead vocalist and dancer in Kidz Bop, an 18-song rock concert produced by Razor & Tie Records and Vee Corporation production. Mary Sarah was signed to the Osbrink Talent Agency in Los Angeles at age 11 and remained on their roster until she was 14, when she returned to Texas and continued to perform in local and regional Opry Theaters, Town Squares and at charity fundraisers refining her vocal and guitar skills.

In January 2011, Mary Sarah received an invitation to meet The Oak Ridge Boys after Joe Bonsall viewed her video of performing "Don't Stop Believing" at the Sugar Land, TX Idol competition. After visiting with them backstage before the show at the Galveston Grand Opera House for a sold out show, Joe and Duane Allen invited her onstage to sing Connie Francis' iconic classic "Where the Boys Are"; Mary Sarah subsequently re-recorded the song with Neil Sedaka, on the album "Bridges" featuring a duet with the song's co-author. Mary Sarah herself credits the support and love of The Oak Ridge Boys for helping her career move forward The Oak Ridge Boys also appear on the album "Bridges" singing with Mary Sarah on their former hit "Dream On"

In 2011, she hosted a four part series for the 2011 season of "OPRY on the Square – Country Now and Then" in Sugarland Town Square.

Mary Sarah won second place in the Teen Category of the 2011 International Songwriting Competition, for her self-penned song "A New Crush."

In December, 2011, the Houston Texans held a vote-in contest to see who would sing the National Anthem for their annual Home for the Holidays game. Mary Sarah was the winner over 7 other finalists. Her anthem sparked controversy as Carolina Panther Jeremy Shockey was upset that the Houston Texans players were, in his opinion, not respecting the rendition of Mary Sarah's anthem.

In April 2014, Mary Sarah made her Ryman Auditorium debut on the Opry Country Classics night appearing with Lynn Anderson and The Oakridge Boys on a night honoring the late Ray Price

On June 4, 2014, Mary Sarah was named among the best dressed for the CMT Awards show after a last minute add to walk the Red Carpet with luminaries Jason Aldean Carrie Underwood Cassadee Pope Brooklyn Decker Lady Antebellum and many more, in spite of not having a music video spinning on the channel. E!online called her "Flirty and Fit"

On July 8, 2014, Mary Sarah released the album entitled "Bridges" - Mary Sarah and Friends, via independent music label Cleopatra Records which featured duets with Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, the late Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, Lynn Anderson, The Oakridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Big & Rich, Vince Gill, Neil Sedaka, and Freddy Powers.

On July 29, 2014, Mary Sarah appeared on Mike Huckabee's television program on Fox News with the Governor playing bass in accompaniment as they performed the Vietnam Era "The Fightin' Side Of Me" live on the show in support of the album release "Bridges" to high critical acclaim. ,

The Voice (2016)

On February 29, 2016, she auditioned on season 10 of The Voice when she sang the Connie Francis song "Where the Boys Are". All four coaches – Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Pharrell Williams – turned their chairs for her, and she chose Shelton as her coach. She defeated Justin Whisnant in the battles. In the knockout rounds, she beat Brittany Kennell.

– Studio version of performance reached the top 10 on iTunes

Order Air Date Round Song Original Artist Result
1.5 February 29 Blind Audition "Where the Boys Are" Connie Francis All Four Chairs
Joined Team Blake
7.2 March 15 Battle Rounds "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (vs. Justin Whisnant) Conway Twitty feat. Loretta Lynn Saved By Coach
12.2 April 4 Knockout Rounds "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" (vs. Brittany Kennell) Loretta Lynn
14.9 April 11 Live Playoffs (Top 24) "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden" Lynn Anderson Saved By Public Vote
17.1 April 18 Live Top 12 "So Small" Carrie Underwood
19.5 April 25 Live Top 11 "Johnny and June" Heidi Newfield
21.7 May 2 Live Top 10 "Stand By Your Man" Tammy Wynette
23.2 May 9 Live Top 9 "My Church" Maren Morris
25.7 May 16 Live Semifinals (Top 8) "I Told You So" Carrie Underwood Middle 3
26.1 May 17 Semifinals Instant Save "Something in the Water" Eliminated
Non-Competition Performances: Order Collaborator(s) Song Original Artist
16.3 Katie Basden
Paxton Ingram
Joe Maye
Adam Wakefield
Justin Whisnant "Hey Brother" Avicii
18.2 Paxton Ingram and Adam Wakefield "I Love a Rainy Night" Eddie Rabbitt
25.2 Bryan Bautista "Break Free" Ariana Grande
28.12 Adam Wakefield
Nick Hagelin
Justin Whisnant "Gimme Some Lovin'" Spencer Davis Group

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales

US Heatseeker
Bridges

Release date: July 8, 2014
Label: Cleopatra
Formats: CD, music download

28

US: 2,400

Singles

Year Single Peak

positions
US
Country

2016 "Stand by Your Man" 36
"My Church" 35
"I Told You So" 29