A country singer who took a “dream” trip to Tennessee to record an album is hoping for chart success with her latest single.
Arlene swapped Northfield for Nashville to pursue her dream, and has just released a cover of George Jones and Emmylou Harris’s 1980s hit All Fall Down.
The former air stewardess is hoping it will be a hit with country music fans after her last song Right Time, Right Place – written by the New Seekers’ Marty Kristian – reached number two in the British and Irish Hotdisc Charts.
Arlene grew up with legends Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Tammy Wynette playing in her home but never dreamed of following in their footsteps until her husband and son gave her singing lessons one Christmas.
She began taking lessons with respected Orcadian country singer Ruby Rendall, and from there her career took off.
“Ruby is a legend in her own right – that’s where all of this started,” Arlene said.
“I was in a duo for nine years with Doug Stewart. We were doing all sorts of music from the 1950s to present day, pop, country, traditional Scottish.
“We played at quite a few golf clubs and did a lot of charity work at afternoon tea dances.
“The last thing we did was a cruise ship for two months in 2017.”
The pair – who also appeared on Britain’s Got Talent twice – sang on the ship twice a day, seven days a week but decided to go their separate ways when they returned to the north-east.
But her time on the ship had fuelled her love of country music even more, with guests telling her she was “very suited to the genre.”
She began working on her first EP in 2018 and then went on the Ruby Rendall and Friends tour.
“I got the bug and I made another EP when I came back,” Arlene said. “I then sent it out to various companies and I got a call back from a gentleman who is now my manager.
After hearing the song, Lee Williams, owner and founder of CMR Nashville Radio, asked her to fly out for a recording session.
Arlene said it had been an “amazing” experience, and hopes for success with All Fall Down.
She said: “Nashville was absolutely amazing, the best experience of my life.
“Any musicians thinking about heading there to record an album – do it. It takes you to another level.
“It was a dream to be there and experience all of it. I want to go back and do more.”
