An Olive Hill vocalist’s recent trip to Nashville, Tenn. was full of surprises.

Sherri Lynn Rakes would have been happy with winning the 2009 Entertainer Indi-Association Emerald Female Artist/Writer award, which she was nominated for. She instead won the E.I.A. Platinum Female Artist/Writer award.

“I’m so overwhelmed,” she said as she giggled. “I wasn’t expecting to win the platinum award!” Sherri Lynn was blown away by her other achievements while visiting the Music City.

Rakes was born and raised in Ashland. “The country out here is beautiful,” she said. “I’ve been lots of places but I just always thought it was nice here and the people are friendly. I always wanted to buy a house in Olive Hill.” She and her husband, Joe, bought a home three years ago on Strawberry Drive. Sherri Lynn received a letter from E.I.A CEO Cliff Ayers, who has worked with such artists as Buddy Holly and Marie Osmond. The letter stated Sherri Lynn had been nominated for the 2009 Diamond Female Vocalist of the Year Award.

She and some family members bought tickets to the awards show, which was taped at John A’s, two blocks from the Grand Ole Opry and Opryland Hotel. She was asked to sing a song for the crowd. She chose "It’s a Little Too Late" by Tanya Tucker.

“She does it all,” Ayers said. “Very smart lady. A lot of times people are talented but they don’t have personality. She does. She sold me.”

Sherri Lynn also performed at Nashville Palace three nights in a row. She received a $5,000 recording and promotion contract, consisting of two songs picked from the master tracks of Emerald Recordings. Her songs will be included on a compilation CD. The CD will be promoted and sent to radio stations worldwide. Her video will be televised on Record Row Review, which is hosted by Ayers and aired in Nashville, among other cities. Sherri Lynn co-hosted two episodes of Record Row Review during her visit to Nashville. “I travel worldwide and sing,” Ayers said. “I do interviews with stars like Loretta Lynn. Then we insert them into the show to make it interesting.” Because Sherri Lynn likes good music, Ayers said he offered her another opportunity. “Cliff Ayers offered me the job at the Big Band Hall of Fame, in front of everybody,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it.” Ayers is organizing an American Big Band Hall of Fame talent search, in which five bands will be chosen to be inducted into the hall of fame. “We are going to try to get out a lot of the talent at colleges that play big band music at proms,” Ayers said. “That kind of music was popular 40 years ago. Now, out of the top 10 songs, there are only two that are decent. It’s just ridiculous. Kids don’t know what’s good music. It’s a really sad situation.” While in Nashville, Sherri Lynn recorded some background vocals for country artist Joe Diffie. A co-writer of the song was working on a greatest hits compilation while Sherri Lynn and other award contestants toured the Jean Breeden Recording Studio. “Rick Blaylock was in there doing some fill in on background vocals for 'Prop Me up Beside the Jukebox When I Die',” she said. “He said they were redoing his greatest hits album and he wanted me to do some background vocals on it. It was a great experience. I just couldn’t believe I was singing on one of Joe Diffie’s songs!” She plans to return to Nashville to record more backup vocals for Blaylock. Sherri Lynn also plans to go on tour with Chuck Kesilman, who won the 2009 Entertainer Indi-Association Gold Male Artist/Writer award.

Kesilman has been a “one man show” since his singing partner, Jolene Humphries, passed away. He has interviewed many people to take her place but had not found the right person until he met Sherri Lynn. “That wasn’t even my intention,” Kesilman said. “When I heard Sherri sing, I asked her. I think God was looking down. I don’t know but it all felt right.”

Sherri Lynn will start singing with Kessilman at the Municipal Auditorium in Tree Port, La.

“I’ll be singing where Elvis sang! I’m so excited,” she said. Kesilman expects Sherri Lynn to be very well received by all his fans, as well as the local media. “If you’re good then people will toot your horn for you,” he said. “I saw people tooting their horns in Nashville and that kind of bothered me. She didn’t strike me that way. She was humble. She knows she’s good. She let other people toot her horn and I was impressed.” As Sherri Lynn discussed her experience with the Journal-Times outside a local fast food restaurant some people who recognized her approached her. “Hi, Sherri!” their voices echoed. “We want your autograph! When you get too big you won’t remember us.” “Oh, I’ll remember you,” she said. “Y’all was my neighbors!” Kesilman said the attention Sherri Lynn has received so far is nothing compared to what’s to come. “They should have been asking for her autograph a long time ago,” he said. “She certainly deserves this, without a doubt.”