About Me
Wife and mother to nine children, singer/songwriter Marie Bellet puts a unique twist on the typical ideal of today’s modern country artists. Her impeccable songwriting skills and dynamic vocals come from an honest place within that will touch your heart and soul with their real-life meanings.Never one to boast her numerous talents, Marie remains humble and true to the essence of her character and passion for music.Marie hails from the Midwestern university town of Champaign, Illinois where she grew up with five sisters, and two brothers. Her love for the “warmth and confusion†of life in a large family would later come in use for her.Marie attended Rice University in Houston, where she first discovered her love for singing country music. After finishing college with a degree in Economics from Swarthmore College, she went on to earn her MBA at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.While working MBA jobs in the health care industry, Marie sang demos, including duets with country music star Alan Jackson, lent her talents as a back-up vocalist, and recorded jingles on her off-hours.In 1987, shortly after being married, Marie and her husband Bill moved to Singapore, and then Spain before returning to the United States four years later with three young children. As Marie’s family continued to flourish, she began writing songs about life as a housewife and mother in a world that “no longer values these roles.â€Those experiences inspired Marie to release her first album, “What I Wanted To Say†in 1997. The album featured a collection of songs that debuted Marie’s talents as a singer/songwriter.Her sophomore album, “Ordinary Time†released in 2000 focused on the temptations of a culture that constantly encourages women to “have it all.†Songs such as “I Live Next To A Highway,†“I Am The Wife Of A Busy Man,†and “I’ve Got An Idle Mind†hit home with their heartfelt messages of a society that measures success upon earthly possessions.Returning to her roots, “Lighten Up,†released in 2003, is a collection of story songs and personal reflections filled with upbeat reminders teaching us to forgive one another and learn how to love. “Lighten Up,†the albums title track, is an up-tempo bluegrass-flavored tune that features exceptional pickin’ sprinkled with a touch of spunk from Marie while the tender “Lay It On Down,†a song that tells the story of letting our worries and troubles go, showcases a very delicate side of Marie.Coinciding with the birth of her ninth child, Marie’s latest release, “A New Springtime†offers the listener a magical journey into the world of Marie. This time around Marie gives us hope and courage to address the issues that we face in our everyday lives. “A New Springtime†the title track is a beautiful song that teaches us to renew ourselves, and learn from the mistakes we’ve made. The clever tune, “I Can Only Do So Much†features glorious vocals from Marie.Marie offers a different vision of what it means to be a “fulfilled†woman;"My witness is really just to show up with my kids at the grocery store. For me, that is where the culture war is fought, surrounded by glossy magazines that promise happiness if you shed pounds and obligations. My writing began mostly as an alternative to rearranging the furniture. It has become my way to encourage those who want to rebel against the self-centered misery of our time. To make sacrifices for marriage and children is not stupidity or victimization. It is the noblest thing we do."Marie admits that life at home as a mother can be frustrating at times. In fact, that is what her music is all about; the struggle and the value of that struggle.“My music is about the drama of everyday life, staying in love, and going through the day’s routine, one more time, with feeling!! I want to tell other mothers that they are not crazy or alone. If my music can do that, it will all be worthwhile."(Biography courtesy of Christian Scalise)
