Just two years ago, Carmen Rasmusen sang her way to the finals on "American Idol." But long before millions of American viewers were frantically calling in for their favorite idol, Rasmusen prepared for her music career on the stages of Davis County fairs.
"When I was younger, my parents signed me up to sing in county and state fairs and that really helped me," Rasmusen said. "That got me up on stage, performing and competing in front of other people."
Now after the release of her first CD, "Carmen," Rasmusen is grateful for the extra training she received in the local fairs and musical plays her community offered.
"I was performing as much as I could," Rasmusen said. "My parents said, 'If there's an opportunity to sing then you should get up there.' "
Rasmusen was even performing at family gatherings, an experience where she gained confidence, but one where she dreaded the extra attention.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm glad they made me do this," she said.
In between Nashville trips to promote her career, Rasmusen is happily recording additional songs for her first CD in her home state. And during her writing and recording sessions, she still finds time to perform in local concerts.
"The support (from Davis County) has been great," Rasmusen said. "Your grass-roots support is what's important."
That said, Rasmusen is a bit peeved that among 120 radio stations playing her first track "Photograph," local stations aren't joining the bandwagon.
"I wish my local stations would play it more," she said. "They've been great, but they're just not playing (it) as much as I'd like them too."
In between "American Idol" and recording her first CD, Rasmusen took a break from music and experienced normalcy as a freshman at Brigham Young University. While she was living in the dorms she realized music was her calling, but she said she wouldn't "trade that one year for anything."
"I loved doing homework, staying up late and having fun," she said. "Sometimes it was different, because people would ask for my autograph, but I think for the most part, I got the freshman college experience."
Now focusing on her music career, Rasmusen said someday she may return to college, but if she wants to give music a real shot her days will continue to consist of recording, rehearsing and watching her favorite performers for her own inspiration.
"I bought a copy of Shania Twain's tour video and watched her perform so I can get an idea of what I can say and do on stage," Rasmusen said. "It's not to copy, but to help create my own image. What can I do that's my signature thing?"
One things she knows for sure is after singing a different musical genre each week on "American Idol," she's positive country music is her genre.
"I'm not a pop girl," she said. "Definitely a country singer. I've sung country my whole life."
Visiting Nashville, recording her CD, and performing local concerts puts a lot of pressure and demands on this 19-year-old, but that's where she turns to her past experiences and recalls a poem her sister brought home from school: "If you think you can, you can."
"It's so amazing to watch that actually happen," Rasmusen said. "I think, 'OK, I'm going to hit all my notes and not be nervous. It really happens. I have fun and hit my notes. Your mind is such an amazing thing.' "
Now, Rasmusen is finally getting back on her feet since her "Idol" days.
"It's so easy to focus on the negative," she said. "I've definitely taken awhile and I'm finally to the point that I have a positive look at things. I love where I'm going."
E-mail: Liorg@desnews.com