Charla Corn

With new Corn Stalkers joining the 'Crop' every day, I decided to stop just assuming that everyone already knows everything about my story and my music.  So in lieu of merely relying on the fancy FLUFF biography on my 'About' page, I decided to dish out the dirt and tell you the REAL story in my blog.  I will serve up a different stage of my life in each post.  If you have been following me for years, you might find out something you never knew before.  Or if you are just discovering my music, WELCOME!  Here's my story!  If you have any questions that you would like me to answer, just comment below.  I’ll start with my childhood today…..

GROWING UP A CORN!

First off I want to answer the always looming question....."Is 'Corn' really your last name?"  That's right kids!  I have been Charla Beth Corn since I came into this world!  It's not a stage name.  Trust me, I would have picked a much cooler name if I had my choice.  However, as the years have gone on, I'm more proud of it every day!  Plus, it's not a name many people forget! 

I was born and raised in the small town, where my folks still reside up in the Texas panhandle, called Farwell, Texas.  Population 1,372.  My parents, Ed and Gwen Corn, still live in the same house where I grew up and have been married for 44 years!  I have 2 super cool brothers and 1 amazing sister!

(Christmas 1980.  Gwen Corn holding me, my sister, Christi, my brother, Clayton and dad Ed Corn.  Little bro, Clint not born yet)

The 'Corn Crop' has grown significately over the years and I will introduce you to everyone in another post. 

As you would imagine, I was a very outgoing kid.  Always testing the limits, climbing trees, falling on glass bottles.  I have too many scars to count.  I recall being grounded and in 'time-out' a majority of my youth.

(Goofing around with cousins and sister at a birthday party, which were always a big to do.)

See?  I can't even find a picture to show you where my mouth is actually closed!

(Swimming at the Mace's pool.  My friends Chelsi, Shiloh, Valerie, me and Shane)

I wasn't very athletic, however, cheerleading was definitely my passion when I hit Junior High and fell into a leadership role that came very natural to me.  You would never guess I was ever head cheerleader with my puffy bangs and red-rimmed glasses!

(My mom, Gwen, and I at one of the many cheerleading camps I attended)

I don't really recall when I actually 'started singing'.  It all must have happened very organically, as I would put on skits at family reunions or sing in church as a part of our Vacation Bible School choir.  I did perform Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All” for my 5^th Grade D.A.R.E. graduation.  I know there is video out there somewhere that I need to track down.  Otherwise, someone might use it for black mail one day!  I guess you could title my first piano recital as my 'big debut' on a stage.  Again with the glasses!

(Proud student of Mrs. Tankersley in Clovis, NM.  She not only taught piano, she taught discipline)

I was active in 1-Act Play and even won Best Actress at Texas State Regionals my senior year.  However, as my high school career was wrapping up, I was searching for a bigger world outside of my small town after losing my best friend to teen suicide.  The most defining moment in my adolescent years.

 I then decided to start competing in area scholarship pageants after being named 'Border Town Days' Queen in our town's annual summer festival. I never knock pageants, because they really did teach me public speaking skills and gave me an outlet to showcase my voice when there weren’t many options at my level.  I also used it as a platform to discuss teen suicide to larger groups and other teens.  It was very therapeutic for me and, to this day, the reason I made it through without professional counseling.  

(Mrs. Amarillo Pageant.  3rd Runner Up and Most Photogenic)

I took general studies at Clovis Community College during my Junior and Senior year and got a year of college behind me before I graduated a completely average student from Farwell High School.  I then received a partial scholarship from a commercial music college just outside of Lubbock.  I am a proud alumnus of South Plains College in Levelland, Texas.  They even asked me to help them with their promo video that is featured on the school's website.  www.southplainscollege.edu

I was able to get some much needed stage experience, take courses in Songwriting, Studio and Sound Production, Voice, Guitar and Bass Classes.

Well, I've gotten you to my college days.  I will pick up here on my next post.  Again, don’t hesitate to ask questions or call me out on things I might have missed.

Love y'all!

Charla Corn