"Opening Act" by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

OK, girls and boys, a little Country this morning: This Ivy Leaguer was relatively unknown in Country music circles when she was invited to open the 1990 CMA Awards show. At first she was hesitant to perform her tongue-in-cheek composition about starting out as a professional musician for fear of offending the audience. She received a resounding standing ovation. The song has never been recorded. Artist? Song? Answer: "Opening Act" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. She was well-known among folkies but this was her Country breakthrough. One of the many outstanding artists I discovered on Ralph Emery's "Nashville Now" on TNN. The performance is on YouTube but, for some reason, she never recorded the song. I love her "This Shirt"! Check out "Family Hands" and "Downtown Train" from her folkie days on the "Hometown Girl" album. My dear childhood friend Dr. Alberto "Papa Dios" Rodriguez met her when they were both students at Brown University. A few years ago we saw her together with Shawn Colvin at Hoyt Sherman in Des Moines. Memorable concert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuK-1_gsrdk

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