While they may be from two different regions in the United States, there are two young artists who are shaking country music up and making the millennial generation proud too.
They are Sarah Dunn, from the Sarah Dunn Band and SaraBeth.
They have a lot in common, including the fact that both just released their latest works in the past few weeks.
The Sarah Dunn Band released their album “Wild Wild Heart” and SaraBeth released her EP “Full Speed Ahead”
Sarah Dunn Band and SaraBeth thank social media for giving the greatest push in obtaining their “trending” status in the country music scene.
BUT they come from very different walks of life.
Sarah Dunn is from Monett, Missouri, where she grew up on a small farm along with her father and mother.
Musical talent ran in her family as she saw her father perform musically often while she was a little girl. Her great grandfather also played the fiddle.
WATCH: Sarah Dunn Band’s song “You or the Whiskey”
And, it was that musical family that taught her all she knows about music.
Why?
Because that is all the training that she had.
“There was a time in my life that I was working two regular day jobs, and it seemed like there was never enough to make ends meet,” Sarah Dunn said in an interview with RISE NEWS. “This situation made my path difficult but it also made me stronger.”
READ MORE: Up And Coming Country Star Mitchell Tenpenny Is Proving Nashville’s Relevancy
On the other side of the equation, we have, SaraBeth.
Growing up in the suburbs in Dallas, SaraBeth decided to dip into her toes into the country music scene after being pushed by her brother’s success in baseball.
WATCH: SaraBeth’s “Nowhere With You”
“My younger brother got drafted to play for the St. Louis Cardinals, and, being able to see my little brother accomplish this dream by battling all the negative thoughts and comments in his path, that inspired me to follow mine too,” SaraBeth said.
Interestingly, SaraBeth went on to study entrepreneurship at Baylor University.
After that, she went to the epicenter of country music, Nashville to start her career.
And then, success came, and their worlds collided.
READ MORE: New Jersey Girl Lacey Caroline Tries To Break Into Country Music Scene
Sarah Dunn Band and SaraBeth have performed in the same concerts before and have mutual respect for each other.
“Sarah Dunn and her band are absolutely amazing. They are very genuine and those are the types of people that you want to be surrounded in this industry,” SaraBeth said. “We both are in an industry that is usually connected to money, success and ambition, and Sarah Dunn and her band feel like home when you are surrounded by them.”
Sarah Dunn had positive things to say about all the artists hustling in the musical world, including SaraBeth.
“In the society that we live now, it is extremely important to be uplifting to others. I don’t really view them as competition because everything is unique and shines on their own light,” Sarah Dunn said. “There is so much opportunity to grow and help grow each other. We have to celebrate each other. That is a wonderful thing.”
For more about each artist, you can visit:
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in public affairs. You can write for us.
Cover Photo Credit: SaraBeth/ Facebook
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Do People Really Give A Shit About The MLS?
By Jasmin Ouseph
Here’s some breaking news. Sports are a pretty big deal to many people around the world.
Worldwide, football (or soccer, as we Americans have coined it) indisputably ranks as the most popular sport according to numerous sources.
In the United States, however, soccer comes in at a mere fifth place (based off TV ratings and revenue generated by league), preceded by ice hockey, basketball, baseball, and American football.
The premier soccer league in the United States and Canada is Major League Soccer (MLS), sanctioned by the US Soccer Federation, the official governing body of the sport in America.
The mission statement of US Soccer reads, “to make soccer, in all its forms, a preeminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels.”
While gridiron football, baseball, and basketball are the preeminent American sports by general consensus, with others like auto-racing and ice hockey being more regional in their popularity, there isn’t a very defining pattern among the MLS’ viewership.
Among fans of the sport in general, opinions on the MLS specifically are mixed. The league is growing popular with young adults especially.
Kenneth Nti, a student at the University of Florida, believes that the MLS has “grown magnanimously from its birth within the nineties” and has the potential to establish a “soccer platform similar to those in Europe or South America.”
Statistically, at least, the MLS is on the rise.
A lot of that potential comes from the attention of international superstars that settle in the MLS upon retiring from Europe. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard now plays for the LA Galaxy while Premier League and Serie A wonders Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo, respectively, both play for New York City FC.
Others, meanwhile, simply lack an interest in the MLS.
Leon Peter, a student at Nova Southeastern University, finds that although soccer is his favorite sport, he doesn’t pay much attention to the MLS.
“The play is just sloppy, not as clean,” Peter said. “The skill isn’t as apparent.”
It seems others with similar opinions would rather stick to the Premier League, La Liga, and other European tournaments that see more training, more funding, and more resources overall than the MLS does.
The possibility of a home MLS-member club to support would create a great addition to the league’s fan base.
Given the immense popularity of the sport in Latin America, and the rich Latinx presence in South Florida, David Beckham’s supposed proposition for a Miami-based MLS club would likely be met with big interest.
Statistically, at least, the MLS is on the rise.
According to Amy Rosenfeld, a Senior Coordinating Producer for ESPN who oversees all soccer content for the network (including broadcast of the UEFA Champions League, US Soccer games, and MLS), success for the league according to ESPN standards would physically look like higher ratings.
Given that the MLS is barely 20 years old (it was established in 1996, two years after the US first hosted the World Cup), its ratings are looking pretty impressive.
MLS national TV ratings have increased by 18% from the 2014 year average total.
Currently, ESPN2’s broadcasts are averaging 283,000 per game.
With the 2015 MLS Cup match last Sunday, featuring a 2-1 win for the Portland Timbers, ratings were up 4% for ESPN, 40% for Fox Sports and 3% for UniMas.
Soccer is the world’s sport, and it is slowly but surely on its way to becoming a bigger deal in the US.
While European league matches are still drawing on average three times the weekly viewers the MLS gets, that shouldn’t rule out the hope that the MLS will see a growing fan base and greater national interest in the years to come.
Cover Photo Credit: Ryan Knapp/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
Interested in writing about the MLS? Join our team.
Correction: 12-9-2015 1:37 AM EST- A previous version of this article had the wrong final score for the MLS Final. The Portland Timbers won 2-1.
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LIVE COVERAGE: South Florida Students Walk Out En Masse To Demand Gun Control Changes
UPDATED: 7:35 PM EST
At noon today, thousands of students at dozens of South Florida high schools walked out of class in order to protest Americ6’s gun laws.
By our (still ongoing count), close to 30 different schools were involved in the protest in the tri-county area.
We’ll be bringing you coverage of this historic event throughout the day.
Has your school walked out?
Send us pictures and videos of it either via email to [email protected] or via Twitter DM to @OfficialJoelF.
South Florida Schools That Have Walked Out:
(Did your school walk out but you don’t see it on our list? Let us KNOW!)
Omni Middle School (Boca Raton)
-According to a reporter with the Palm Beach Post, dozens of middle schools kids at Omni Middle School in Boca jumped over a fence to protest.
Students at Omni Middle School in Boca Raton jumped a fence and darted out of school to protest for gun reform following #ParklandShooting. They are 11, 12 and 13-year-olds. I repeat – 11, 12, and 13… pic.twitter.com/UmutoFOv5A
— Lulu Ramadan (@luluramadan) February 21, 2018
School For Advanced Studies North Campus
School For Advanced Studies Wolfson Campus
Pembroke Pines Charter High School
we WALKOUT cause we WANT CHANGE #MSDStrong #NationalSchoolWalkout -pembroke pines charter high school pic.twitter.com/jhoHrHG8gU
— tatiana (@TatiRivera_) February 21, 2018
Barbara Goleman
Students at Barbara Goleman took to the streets (@mvphvxsel) pic.twitter.com/sK3Q2Oxz0s
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Miami Arts Charter School
Students at Miami Arts Charter School did 17 minutes of silence for the 17 students and teachers that have lost their lives. Stood outside the school and kids gave their demands to change the school security and safety. We demand a change! #Walkout #DouglasStrong @OfficialJoelF pic.twitter.com/Z5FsNfR2nf
— gabby (@gabxhernandez) February 21, 2018
North Broward Prep
Update: North Broward Prep students were let off-campus today. Parent sent me footage of the kids walking 7.7 miles to Stoneman Douglas High pic.twitter.com/PaZvGu1QIE
— Jerry Iannelli (@jerryiannelli) February 21, 2018
John A. Ferguson High School
We walked out because we are standing in solidarity with the victims of all mass shootings but most specifically our hearts stand with our SoFlo brothers and sisters that we have lost. We are Miami Strong. We are Ferguson Strong. #WalkOut #GunControlNow .@wsvn .@OfficialJoelF pic.twitter.com/rWFrYfkyMS
— gypsy (@actuallygypsy) February 21, 2018
Everglades High School
EVERGLADES HIGH STOPS TRAFFIC @OfficialJoelF pic.twitter.com/pPLXwbrtlQ
— Cynthia (@cyndiazzz) February 21, 2018
Coral Reef Senior High
Students at Coral Reef Senior High gathered during their walkout (@tiff_tiff009) pic.twitter.com/WjLlxaMgLG
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Coconut Creek High
RIGHT NOW: Coconut Creek High students walking 8 miles to Stoneman Douglas High (vid: @hammerhead33065) pic.twitter.com/AmrlBcxhpH
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Miami Lakes Educational Center
Miami Lakes Educational Center students walked out of class to hang orange ribbons on the fence (@GGxmez) pic.twitter.com/KzWYt51E5T
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Miami Design And Architecture High School
Students at Miami’s Design And Architecture High School protest today joining kids in #Miami & #Florida calling out NRA & do-nothing politicians. Awe and admiration for these young leaders. #GunReformNow @juancuba @Emma4Change pic.twitter.com/n1ZypHHpmb
— Jordan Levin (@jordanglevin) February 21, 2018
Miami Beach Senior High
#WeNeedChange #NeverAgain #WeStandWithDouglas MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH STANDS WITH DOUGLAS @mbseniorhigh pic.twitter.com/q6vqxW4ywP
— Tati? (@Tatianaavega) February 21, 2018
Palmetto High
this generation is no longer quiet. from Palmetto High, in Miami. #GunReformNow #Parkland pic.twitter.com/ng9m90codI
— boba ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@analcristical) February 21, 2018
Miami Jackson High
Jackson High School in #Miami standing up with #Parkland #guncontrolnow pic.twitter.com/tZyb6Hlfo3
— Monica Zulueta (@moncaroe) February 21, 2018
Southwest Miami Senior High
@OfficialJoelF southwest miami senior high pic.twitter.com/KZfPZIgZLr
— Hispanic Honey (@honeysamanthuhh) February 21, 2018
Felix Varela Senior High
Felix Varela Senior High walkout (vid: @umshelly) pic.twitter.com/uPAe6W4Nqv
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
G Holmes Braddock High School
@OfficialJoelF pic.twitter.com/1He1JEwGjm
— sel (@alessiasscars) February 21, 2018
Miami Edison
-We received a report from a Miami real estate agent who said he saw students walk out from Edison. Working to get video.
Coral Glades High
#HAPPENING #NOW Students at Coral Glades High have staged a walk out as part of the #NeverAgain movement. The students are walking 4+ miles to #StonemanDouglas in #Parkland. pic.twitter.com/Vld9mOHX9E
— Carlos Suarez (@CarlosWPLG) February 21, 2018
Coral Springs High
Students at Coral Springs High School walk out of their classrooms and form #heart on the field in honor of 17 students killed last week. @CBSMiami #CoralSpringsHighSchool #MarjoryStonemanDouglasHigh #ParklandStrong pic.twitter.com/fXbvSUHM0c
— Lisa Hendry (@LisaHendryCBS4) February 21, 2018
Jose Marti MAST
Jose Marti MAST walk out underway (@melizaalonso_) pic.twitter.com/IWIBhGvrgN
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Miami Killian Senior High
Students walking out at Miami Killian Senior High (@sleptonnn) pic.twitter.com/dURvBdmyE4
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Ronald Reagan High School
@OfficialJoelF pic.twitter.com/XPp2FwglyA
— mariana (@_marianadelrio) February 21, 2018
Mater Academy
Mater Academy students have walked out as the clock struck 12pm (pic: @elitbh) pic.twitter.com/xF77IU4EvV
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
-Students walked out right as the clocked struck 12 PM according to a student.
Cooper City High School
Cooper City High walkout underway (vid: @sarahtkhan) pic.twitter.com/kggrR7Yfsb
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Cypress Bay High School
Students walked out of Cypress Bay High School at 10 AM Wednesday. Photo Credit: @valfuenmayorr/ Twitter
-Students at Cypress Bay walked out at 10 AM with handmade signs.
Champagnat Catholic School
Champagnat Catholic School students marching to Hialeah City Hall (vid: @Itslildx3) pic.twitter.com/rsOv71iFzR
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Hialeah Senior High
Photo Credit: @Nila_bruhh/ Twitter
Photo Credit: @Nila_bruhh/ Twitter
Other Protests:
Florida State University
-Thousands of FSU students are marching to the state capitol.
-Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is attending a protest at the capitol as well.
RIGHT NOW: FSU students gearing up to march to the State Capitol. Tallahassee Mayor @AndrewGillum is present. (vid: @sophiefunster) pic.twitter.com/Uf3WcxCUWu
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 21, 2018
Iowa City, Iowa
Students in Iowa City, Iowa stage a walkout in protest against gun violence. “Not all of us can vote…not all of us do have that say, but we will eventually” #NeverAgain #BanMachineGuns pic.twitter.com/s6sFh97brj
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 21, 2018
Arizona
#LIVE VIDEO: Student walk out at Gilbert High School. Watch live: https://t.co/YLfa6FP2t2 #abc15 pic.twitter.com/6rfpxlVOdv
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) February 21, 2018
This story is from The Miami Monster, a new brand focused on telling the true stories of what life is like for a young person living in South Florida. Be sure to also follow our founder Joel Franco on Twitter to keep up to date with the latest breaking news in the area. You can send news tips to [email protected]
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Trump’s Hardline Cuban Base Seems To Be Sticking With Him
Watch Another Video:
“Meet Miami’s Cuban Confederate”
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