Kellie Pickler's career started when she finished sixth on Fox's 'American Idol,' and she has since catapulted to stardom, garnering multiple awards and a slew of hits. During Wednesday night's 41st Annual CMA Awards, it all caught up with Pickler, who gave a tearful performance of 'I Wonder,' a song she wrote about her estranged mother Cynthia Malone, who abandoned her when she was just two years old. Nashville's audience rose to applaud not only Pickler's performance, but her struggle -- and ultimate triumph -- to rise to the top. Watch the touching performance after the jump.
Reader Comments(2 of 3)
Robert Nielsenat 11-09-2007
I am a married father of 4. Three boys a 12 year old daughter. I watched the performance live and again with my daughter on the Internet. Extremely emotional to watch and even more emotional once I knew her story. I wish the best for Kellie and hope her mom knows that her daughter needs her regardless of the past. It sounds like her mom was young, in trouble and desperate in her situation. It sure would be nice to hear something positive come of that relationship.
A touched Father in Illinois!
Dan Friedmanat 11-12-2007
Kellie, I watched your amazing and touching performance over and over, and I was moved to tears every time.
Your presence on stage, your new hair style, your dress and the deeply honest gift of that song to your audience was the most beautiful and powerful perfomance I have ever seen only very rarely in my life.
You're a wonderful artist. Congratulations, and I wish you great success.
Ashleyat 11-12-2007
Kellie i'm sure your mom would be very proud of you even if she let you go when you were a little girl. When i saw your little brother there in the stands, he was cryin' and waving to you. When i saw that tears came out of my eyes. That performance and that song that you wrote was just beautiful. KEEP MOVING FORWORD KELLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As my mom used to say:"DONT GIVE UP ON LOVE, HAVE FAITH RESTART".
Mirillieat 11-11-2007
Lisa, Wow you are a little angry with Kellie for her feelings. Who are you to tell her that her feelings aren't valid? She clearly has abandonment issues. Thank God she had responsible grandparents who were willing to raise her. But that doesn't make up for the fact that she would have liked to have a mother in her life. There was probably some point where despite all that happened her mother could have had something to do with her life and it sounds like she never did. Doesn't Kellie, as the abandoned child, have the right to be upset with her mom? Clearly she has more right because the wrong was done to her than you do to be mad at Kellie for being upset. I am astounded that you could see her performance and have that reaction. Mine was completely different. I cried with her and I am glad she wrote a song that meant something and wasn't mere fluff. If nothing else, it has created discussion like this one.
aseretat 11-12-2007
i think this young lady is fantastic and she's surely come a long way since american idol..my opinion is that if her mother does come back into her life, it'll be a reunion based on financial gain and a life in the celebrity world..it'd be great if kelli could reunite with her mother, but the first sign of the mother wanting money, kelli should kick her to the curb..nuff said!!
Bonat 11-13-2007
I can not believe the comments left by LISA. How insensitive! I have been raising my 2 stepsons for the last 10 years, who were abandoned by their mother so that she "could have a life", her words. The pain these kids go through because of irresponsible parents is terrible. I feel for Kelli. She had grandparents who loved her no matter what, but that can't replace the love of a parent. People like Lisa haven't got the common sense that God gave a goat to think that being hurt on an emotional level is any less painful than any other kind of hurt. On the contrary, it can be 100 times worse because it never goes away. Even if Kelli's Mom came back into her life, it would take a lot of healing and time before, if ever, Kelli could move past being DISCARDED. That is the way these kids feel. Like there was something wrong with them and they weren't lovable or good enough.
Lisa, take some advice, get a heart!!!
Jean Casselat 11-13-2007
Kelli, that was such a great, emotional song - I Wonder. It certainly hit home at our house because one member of our family was abandoned by their Mother when they were a very small child and NEVER returned. The emotional scars never go away. I'm so proud of Kellie for singing that song. Best of luck to her!
SANDRA KINGat 11-16-2007
KELLIE, YOU ARE THE REAL DEAL AND YOUR SINCERITY COMES THROUGH AS CLEAR AS A NAKED WOMAN RUNNING DOWN MAINT STREET. IF NOT FOR YOUR GRANDPA, MORE THAN LIKELY YOU WOULD'T BE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY, OR OR EXPERIENCING THIS GREAT MOMENTUM IN YOUR LIFE. I AM 62 YOA, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER AND I HAD TEN GRANPARENTS AND ONLY CHILD FOR SIX YRS. AND ONLY GIRL FOR THIRTY THREE! I CANNOT IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT GRANDPARENTS. WHAT THEY GIVE IS SO UNDERVALUED. DON'T LET ANYONE CHANGE YOUR VOICE; YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU SING BEST AND EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER CHANGED, EVEN BACKUP IS NEVER THE SAME. YOU HAVE A COLLOQUIAL ACCENT, JUST LIKE DEEP EAST TEXAS AND WHO BACKS YOU UP NEEDS TO BE IN THE SAME MODE. THE BEST SINGERS ARE ALWAYS FROM PENTECOSTAL, SOUTHERN BAPTIST WHITE OR BLACK CHURCHES. FOR GOD SAKES, DON'T GET A DOG AND PONY SHOW GOING; YOU NEED TO REMAIN IN THE SPOTLIGHT. ALL ELSE IS JUST DIVERSION FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SING WITHOUT MUSIC. DON'T GET HUNG UP WITH A BACK UP GROUP YOUR AGE; YOU NEED ABOUT THREE WOMEN FROM ABOUT THIRTY TWO YRS. OF AGE, THAT TRULY HAVE HARMONY THAT YOU CANNOT EVEN DISTINGUISH AND A COUPLE OF GUYS, LIKE JOSH TURNER. HE, IS THE BEST I HAVE EVER HEARD, WHO COULD SING LEAD IN HIS VOCAL RANGE. IT SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW FOR A MAN TO HAVE A VOICE LIKE HIS; FIRST TIME I HEARD ALMOST HAD A WRECK. THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT ARE REMEMBERED AFTER TWENTY YRS., MUCH LESS FIFTY. ELVIS, HANK WMS. SR., DINAH WASHINGTON, RAY CHARLES, PATSY CLINE, MARTY ROBBINS, WAYLON, DON GIBSON. ALMOST EVERYONE FOR GENERATIONS IN MY FAMILY ON TWO SIDES, CAN PLAY SOMETHING, SING, WITH OR WITHOUT MUSIC, ANY KEY YOU WANT. I CAN'T RECALL BEING WRONG WHEN I HEAR A SONG, I KNOW A LASTING NUMBER ONE HIT AND FAR AND FEW BETWEEN. CRAZY, UNFORGETTABLE, HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY, I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU, SINCE I MET YOU BABY, CHUCK BERRY, B B KING, JOPLIN, WAYLON, PAVROTTI, SINATRA, PAUL ANKA, TINA TURNER, JUST OUT OF REACH OF MY TWO EMPTY ARMS, IVORY JOE HUNTER. THEY ARE TIMELESS, MOST NEVER CHANGED THEIR OWN UNIQUE STYLE FOR LONG; IF THEY DID, WAS NEVER AS GOOD AS WAS ORIGINALLY. DON'T FIX ANYTHING THAT ISN'T BROKE. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, BE THANKFUL YOU CAN FEEL EMOTIONS. I JUST ALWAYS WISHED I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO FIX ALL, OR A DUMBER TO NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. BEST MALE SINGER TODAY, MY OPINION IS ALAN JACKSON, HOWEVER HE STILL HASN'T GOT "HIS" SONG, BUT GETTING CLOSER. LORD, I CAN'T FORGET MERLE HAGGARD, MARTY ROBBINS. PERSONALLY, I THINK "THE GREATEST GENERATION", RE SINGERS HAS JUST ABOUT BIT THE DUST. I LOVE ALL TYPES OF MYSIC, INGLESIAS, LIBERACE, DUBUSSEY, THE NUTCRACKER, MOZART, ELLA JAMES, BROOKE BENTON, JACKIE WILSON, MARVIN GAYE. STEVIE WONDER, EVEN JACKSON'S THRILLER, BUT I DON'T LIKE RAP. IT IS LIKE ALICE IN WONDERLAND MUSIC. THERE ARE SINGERS, MUSICIANS AND THEN THERE ARE ENTERTAINERS; YOU CANNOT BE BOTH. JAMIE FOXX DID THE MOST SPECTACULAR ACTING IN "RAY", THE MOVIE THAT I ACTUALLY FORGOT AT TIMES IT WASN'T RAY CHARLES. RAY CHARLES, SINGING "GEORGIA", AT THE END OF THAT MOVIE IS TIMELESS. HE, STAYED TRUE TO HIMSELF WHETHER IN VOGUE, OR NOT AND HE ENDURED. I CANNOT IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT A PIANO, OR NO MUSIC. THE RADIO WAS ON 24-7 IN THE HOUSE, OR AT MY GRANDPA'S GROCERY STORE AND STAION, NEVER TURNED OFF. I STILL RECALL SOMETHING MY GRANDPA SAID WHEN HANK WILLIAMS, SR. FIRST SANG "LOVESICK BLUES". HE SAID, MUSICIANS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO LOVE THEIR JOB; I AGREE.YOUR MUSICAL ABILITY IS 70 % GENETIC, MENTAL ILLNES IS ONLY ABOUT 35%. YOU GOT A BLESSING. YOU CANNOT TEACH ANYONE TO SING, PLAY. I REMEMBER STARTING PIANO LESSONS AND I ALWAYS WITHOUT FAIL, PUT BOOGIE IN BRAHM'S LULLABY, CHANGED THE KEY WHEREEVER I WANTED AND FINALLY SETLLED DOWN AND PLAYED IT THE AWFUL MUSIC BOOK WAY. MY TWO BOYS AND ONE GIRL TOOK PIANO AND I REMEMBER WHEN HE GOT "THE ENTERTAINER" TO PLAY FOR A RECITAL. I WOULD WALK BY, LOOK AT THAT SHEET MUSIC, BARELY GLANCE AT. THEN, ONE DAY I FINALLY SIT DOWN AND MADE MYSELF PLAY IT EXACTLY AS WRITTEN. I MADE MYSELF DO IT ONE TIME AND TURNED RIGHT AROUND AND PLAYED IN ANY AND EVERY POSSIBLE KEY THERE IS. MY VOICE IS MORE LIKE SAMMI SMITH, BRENDA LEE'S AND I SINGWAY BELOW MIDDLE C AND LEAD, WHETHER I WANT TO OR NOT; ENGLISH TEACHER PAUSED ONE DAY IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SAID, " YOU DON'T NEED TO WHISPER BECAUSE WE ALL CANE HEAR EVERY WORD. IT WAS PURE D H IN CHOIR; THE MUSIC TEACHER NEVER KNEW WHERE TO PUT ME. I CAN HARMONIZE FAR BETTER WITH MEN THAN WOMEN. MY FAVORITE MUSIC IS BLUES, NEW ORLEANS, NOT KANSAS CITY BLUES. EVERYTHING I LOVE, EVOLVED FROM THAT, THE THE BEAT THE SOUND, ALL INSTRUMENTS PLAY THEIR VERSION OF THE SAME SONG AND TO ME, BLUES IS FROM THE SOUL, THE ALL OF THE EMOTIONS WE EXPERIENCE. UNLIKE MATH, A SCIENCE, EMOTIONS ARE NOT RATIONAL; CAN'T EXPLAIN "WHY, OR YOUR FEELINGS, THEY JUST ARE. HOWEVER, WITH BLUES TO BE BLUES THE WORDS AND WAY EACH ONE PLAYS THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL WAY, REACHES AS CLOSE TO THE HEART AND SOUL OF HUMAN EMOTION, AS CAN BE REACHED BY BY WORDS, AND MUSIC. I HAVE A GREAT AUNT WHO PLAYED ON A TUB WITH SPOONS SO LONG THAT MY GREAT GRANPA ORDERED HER A BEAUTIFUL ORGAN FROM NEW YORK ALL THE WAY TO TEXAS, IN ABOUT 1901. SHE SAT DOWN AND PLAYED AND NEVER HAD ONE SINGLE LESSON. MY GRANDMOTHER PLAYED AT CHURCH AND NEVER COULD READ A NOTE, IN FACT PLAYED HER CHORDS BACKWARDS, CAME OUT THE SAME....WE PLAYED TOGETHER ALL THE TIME AND I WOULD HAVE TO ASK HER, "WHERE ARE YOU GONG WITH THIS" AND I WOULD MOVE TO THE KEY SHE WOULD BE PLAYING IN AND TELL HER IF SHE WANTED ME TO SING, TO MOVE THE SONG DOWN TO A BELOW MIDDLE C AND SHE COULD ONLK PLAY IN WHATEVER KEY SHE JUST DID IT IN. I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM STILL UP AND LAUGHING ABOUT HOW FUNNY IT WAS IN CHURCH WHEN SHE PLAYED AND SOMEONE WOULD ASK HER IF SHE COULD PLAY IT LOWER OR HIGHER AD SHE WOULD JUST SAY, "I CAN ONLY PLAY IT LIKE THIS; IF YOU WANT DIFFERENT, YOU GONNA HAVE TO GET ANOTHER PIANO PLAYER." IT IS HELL ON PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY READ THE KEY MUSIC WRITTEN IN, I KNOW BECAUSE I PLAY ALL BY EAR OR READ MUSIC, HOWEVER I PLAY WHERE I SING. NOTHING LIKE SOMEONE BEING IN C, KNOWING THE ARE READING IT RIGHT, BUT IT COMING OUT A WRITTEN ON THE BASS SIDE. MOST PEOPLE CAN'T IMAGINE ARGUING ABOUT A PIANO, OR GUITAR, BUT WE DID. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, SOMEONE WOULD JUST SAY,"HEY, I CAN'T SING THERE, MOVE IT. OF COURSE ALL TUNE TO THE PIANO, SO I GOT SO SICK AND TIRED OF HITTING ALL NOTES FOR VIOLIN AND GUITAR. WHERE THE FUN IS, IS WHEN THE MUSICIANS GET TOGETHER. TWO OF THE NEATES THINGS I EVER SAW WERE CHUCK BERRY TRYING TO TEACH ERIC CLAPTON TO PLAY LIKE HE DID AND DID THE SAME THING WITH BBKING. I THINK BOTH OF THEM ABOUT HAD A HEART ATTACK TRYING TO SHOW HIM HOW. CLAPTON, IS REALLY GOOD NOW. IF ANYONE WANTS TO PARTY EACH AND EVERY DAY; MOVE TO LOUISIANA,THEY DON'T NEED A REASON TO CELEBRATE. I THINK NOBODY HAS AS MUCH FUN AS A REAL CAJUN. TEXAS AND LOUISIANA ARE ALMOST LIKE BEING IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY..I KNOW LOUISIANA HASN'T CHANGED ONE INCH IN ALL MY LIFE, AND I WOULDN'T BET ON TEXAS EITHER. EVERYONE THAT WATCHED "IDOL" THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE THE CUTEST AND PRETTIEST, PURE D YOU; KEEP IT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T BUY. ENJOY THE MOMEMT, YOUDESERVE IT! SIGNING OFF WITH, "WHY WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, WHEN TODAY BE SO SWEET." IT IS SO REFRESHING TO SEE SOMEONE WHO ISN'T GETTING BOTOX, A DESIGNER DRESS, IMPLANTS, CAN EXPRESS EMOTION. I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN LIFE.
Michelleat 11-16-2007
You did great We are all are so proud of you .... That song hit alot of people who moms have walk out and never look back ... Bless you Kellie!! Your grandparents are great people the raise you good keep that in your heart and never let no one tell you diffter .... my grandparents raise me i turn out pretty good .... My mother never raise me and i turn out pretty good ... Maybe one day she want to be your mother again but it will be to hard to let her .... this day it hard on me to for give my mother did to me when i was a baby ... Now my mother don't have more time here she dieing of Cancer ... but i have gave her for giving for not being there but not what she did to me .... when i needing a mom ... One day ill be seeing my dad again he died when i was 5 year old .... May god Bless you Kellie Hope you have a great life .... i love your music Keep putting them great songs out there for all of to hear ... love yea !!!!
From a other NC Girl
Michelle S
Tommi Smithat 11-16-2007
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Dharmaat 11-16-2007
she was stunning and brilliant as well as obviously very much the child who was abandoned.. so sorry kelly for your loss of you mom!
Dharmaat 11-16-2007
one other thing she is so much better than the other woman from american idol that they cant stop giving awards to. i dont even remember her name much less her music. but maybe in country that do that.. keep giving awards to women who one cant remember. i seem to only remember those who have a life story that is realistic.
Gerri Wilsonat 11-17-2007
I am a die-hard COUNTRY music fan and I write COUNTRY songs myself. Kellie's song "I Wonder" is beautiful! She will go far and become a huge star! Her preformance on the CMA'S was wonderful and moving! It does not matter that she didn't win the Horizon award! Who cares about that! She is very talented and she is COUNTRY! I hope she stays COUNTRY! I'm sure there is MORE to the WHOLE story of Kellie and her mother that the MEDIA may not know yet and may never tell CORRECTLY! That is Kellie's and her mother's business and they are the ones that have to straighten the matter out, if possible! I, sincerely, hope they do and that everything ends up with BOTH of them being happy with their lives! All of us have sadness and troubles in our lives and ONLY GOD helps us to survive them! I love Kellie and her talent and I hope she remains HER OWN SELF and does not let FAME and FORTUNE and ALL OF THE POLITICS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS change her into someone she doesn't want to become! STAY COUNTRY and FOLLOW YOUR HEART, Kellie! As for the CMA'S, Let's get back to REAL COUNTRY MUSIC and STOP making it POP, ROCK and ALL KINDS OF MUSIC MIXED TOGETHER! All of us COUNTRY music fans are only listening to the REAL COUNTRY MUSIC ARTISTS such as Kellie, Alan Jackson, George Strait, and the other TRUE COUNTRY stars! What happened is Nashville has turned a lot of them into WHATEVER! It is all a bunch of HYPE except for the TRUE COUNTRY ARTISTS! POLITICS and MONEY! Thank God there are still some that can't be BOUGHT or SOLD! These are the artists that TRUE COUNTRY MUSIC FANS LOVE!
Betty Petersat 11-20-2007
I just love your singing and your personality. There is nothing snooty about you and always loved you on American Idol. They picked the wrong one for the American Idol. Personalities always show up and we all think you are such a beautiful singer with a great personality. I wish you a very happy and sucessful life. Betty Peters
Sonyaat 11-22-2007
Kellie, I'm much older than you - but this song really touches me deep down and I tear up when I listen to it. I went through something similar - my own mom left all 5 of her children, and I was the youngest and it happened when I was only 3 years old. I haven't accomplished what you have and I send a warm hug to you for what you have accomplished at such a young age! One thing I have accomplished to do is have 3 beautiful children of my own who I strive to raise to be productive, well rounded and secure, and I can promise you as I am a mother myself and in my 40s, I will never understand how any mother can walk away from a child at any age. I guess we're all different, but unless you feel the pain like you and I and many others do, its hard to understand. Keep your head up, and keep doing what you're doing. I love the song "I wonder" - thank you for sharing it with all of us!