‘The Voice’ finalist to headline concert tour

Fresh off a top-nine appearance on NBC's “The Voice,” she kicked off the Straight Shot tour in mid-January and will tour at least nine states until the tour concludes in June.

The Atoka, Oklahoma, native said her “overnight success” required more than a decade of determination, hard work, strength and determination.

"I started the process with NBC's 'The Voice' over a year ago," said Rainer, who now resides in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Producers approached the 33-year-old artist and invited her to audition for season 24.

“The Voice” is a singing competition that features blind auditions and competitive performances from budding musicians who are mentored and coached by established artists.

“I had never considered doing a show like that, it just wasn't my thing. I was on tour, grinding. I thought, 'I don't have time for that,' but I said, 'What do I have to lose?' Sure, I'll throw my hat in the ring. I’ll audition and see what happens.’” What happened could be written in a country song. A hard-working artist auditions for a national television series and ends up on a team led by a country music legend who hails from the same area as Rainer, southeastern Oklahoma.

In preparation for her audition, Rainer selected “Fancy,” written by Bobbie Gentry and performed by Oklahoma native and Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba McEntire, as her audition song.

“This was before they announced that Reba was going to be the new coach, so I had no idea Reba was even in the photo when I chose that song,” she said.

A few months later, Rainer had the surreal experience of singing the song in front of the country music icon and the coaching panel. She experienced a four-chair shift, meaning every coach wanted her on her team.

“I found myself in Los Angeles auditioning in front of the queen of country music herself, and I ended up on the first Team Reba and made it all the way to the top nine last season.”

Rainer, a Chickasaw citizen, said she was humbled by the experience and feels the timing was fortuitous.

“She really embraced me because she saw very quickly that my whole mission was to shine a spotlight on southeastern Oklahoma and represent my tribe. We kind of linked arms on that, and she was very quick to acknowledge my roots in southeastern Oklahoma and mention that frequently. Being from Oklahoma is a spiritual thing. It's not like any other culture. We Okies are proud of where we come from and we love to shine a light on where we come from.”

Rainer also had the opportunity to highlight his Chickasaw heritage and the Chickasaw Nation before a national audience during a December 11 episode when well wishes were shared from Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, Lt. Governor Chris Anoatubby and a group of Chickasaws during the broadcast.

“That video was a surprise to me. The producers obviously did some research and created that opportunity for me to hear the Governor. I was being filmed when I first saw it and my excitement at that moment was completely genuine. I felt overwhelmed, very proud and very touched that my tribe surrounded me in that way and supported what I am doing,” she said.

Her Chickasaw family also comforted her after she was eliminated in the semifinal round.

“I was going through the comments on my Facebook post, (and) there was one comment that caught my attention and immediately made me burst into tears. They had written in Chickasaw: “We are Chickasaw and we are still here” (Chikasha Poyakat ilayya’sha katihma),” explained an emotional Rainer.

The comment meant so much to her that her family had the phrase made for her hang on her wall as a Christmas gift.

“I can hang that on my wall: ‘We are Chickasaw and we are still here.’ Just knowing that my tribe still has my back is everything.”

Rainer said her Chickasaw heritage comes from her mother.

“We did the research and discovered that we have a very rich history, and I have family members who were on the Trail of Tears, and I have a very tenacious spirit by nature. “I have a very brave spirit.”

She connects that tenacity to her Chickasa heritage.

“I'm not a woman who can be told she can't do something and every time I look back on our heritage and our history, if I were to prick my finger, the blood that comes out is DNA that I can trace back to the Way of the Tears, even before that. We have the story literally running through our veins and that gives me chills and I feel very connected to it. "I'm very proud of it."

 

Straight Shot Tour

Headlining his own tour is a heady experience for Rainer, who plays multiple instruments and plans a wide variety of shows.

“I'm doing some shows where it's an intimate acoustic experience and other shows I bring my full band and we do the full production. But let me tell you something, this Straight Shot tour is a chance for me to hug my fans.”

His fans, Spitfire Nation, reflect Rainer's determined and positive attitude.

“I've been in this business for 10 years and I've slept on the hair salon floor going to concerts. I have slept in my car. You'd be surprised at the things I've done to get a job. “So to now be in a position where my career is funding the ability to hire a team and we can dream on a larger scale is mind-blowing.”

Music has been a constant in Rainer's life since he was born. His father plays bluegrass and his mother is a pianist and singing teacher.

“Whenever there was an instrument in the house, or if we went to a friend's house and they had a guitar in the corner, that's where you would find me. “I just gravitated toward instruments and making music.”

He said that an eight-track digital recorder that he could plug into his guitar and a microphone and record was the best gift he received as a teenager.

“I learned how to overdub and create, and that sparked my passion for recording and creating records.”

Rainer is known for her stage character, the Woman in Black. Dressed in all black from head to toe and wearing sunglasses, she credits a performance in the Chickasaw Princess Pageant with her impetus to perform in dark tones. Her mother told her not to wear them, but she rejected her and wore them anyway.

“I put that hat on. I put on those glasses and I feel invincible. “I hope to be a symbol of how strong we are not only as women, but also as Oklahomans, as Chickasaws, and this is my way of visually representing strength.”

For more information on Rainer's Straight Shot tour, visit JordanRainerOfficial. com.

Country artist Jordan Rainer.