Teen Singer on the Rise

Sarah McMullen Makes her Move in the Music World

© Ashlea Ramey

Aug 30, 2009

For Kansas teenager Sarah McMullen, balancing school, friends and performing may not always be easy, but it is leading to a promising career. In an e-mail interview with Suite101.com, she discusses her path to fame.

A Singer's Beginning

McMullen is one of the lucky aspirant singers with strong family support. Her grandparents Jerre and Barbara Haskew are musicians: Jerre is a member of the Tennessee bluegrass band Cumberland Trio, while Barbara, a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, writes songs.

“They both encouraged me to start writing and singing and the first songs I recorded were written by them,” McMullen.

With her family’s encouragement, McMullen entered Radio Disney’s Hannah Montana contest when she was in the fifth grade, and to her delight, won two years in a row.

“After the first Radio Disney contest, I just walked off the stage and knew that's what I wanted to do,” she enthuses.

After winning the contest, McMullen decided to concentrate even more of her energy on performing. In February 2009, she and her mother, Bonnie, spent eight weeks in Los Angeles, where she worked on her music and auditioned for the TV pilot season.

While there, McMullen recorded two original songs, “Twisted” and “How Do I Break Free,” which she co-wrote with Jonathan George and Anthony Mazza. She also performed with Mazza’s band at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood.

In the midst of recording and taking voice lessons, McMullen managed to find time to film a role in the upcoming movie Last Ounce of Courage, and she says that she wants to do more acting.

“It just happens that the singing opportunity took hold of me, so hopefully singing and acting will both just lead me in the right direction,” she explains.

Life as a Teenager and a Pop Star

Since returning to Kansas, McMullen has returned to “normal” teen life. However, her career hasn’t taken a backseat. She sings and writes her music, and also takes tap and voice lessons. When she has a long weekend, she even flies out to Los Angeles. Her workload may seem intense, but McMullen is determined to persevere.

“There are some nights where I'd really like to go to this party or that dance but I need to stay home and write. But I know that in the end it will pay off!” she says.

The payoff came in August 2009, when fans voted “How Do I Break Free” to the number one spot on TweenPopRadio.com.

“The fact that all my friends and fans are voting and supporting me and my original songs means so much. It also shows me that all of this hard work has paid off," she enthuses. "It's such a great experience to be at the top of the voting list and I am so grateful for everyone who voted, especially since there is so much talent on www.tweenpopradio.com!”

However, not all of McMullen’s peers are as encouraging as the voters.

“You always have a few who say that you have changed or that you are this or that, but what can you do?” she shrugs.

Despite the occasional catty comment, McMullen is determined to take the high road. In a world where pop starlets are constantly accused of diva antics, McMullen says that she wants to be seen as a “friendly, energetic, bubbly 14- year- old who is nice to everyone she meets.”

Hopefully, that philosophy can guide McMullen to a successful career.

“My plans for the future are just to keep on keepin' on and to continue to write, record, act and do what I love so much,” she says. “It’s an incredible journey and I can't believe I'm lucky enough to be going on it!”

At 14, Sarah McMullen is a rising teen singer.

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