Kellie Pickler has had many show-stopping moments throughout her country music career and during her time on American Idol, but perhaps none as memorable as her CMA Award debut performance of “I Wonder.”
The captivating showcase, which took place in 2007, has lived on as one of the most powerful and emotional performances in the history of Country Music’s Biggest Night.
Luckily, fans can relive the stunning and raw debut thanks to the internet. But Music Mayhem is here to remind folks why Pickler has always remained as one of the most transparent and honest artists in country music, who unapologetically lets her guard down when it comes to singing songs about her personal life.
Re-Live Kellie Pickler’s Emotional Performance Of “I Wonder” Below
Kimberly Paisley Introduced Picker’s Performance At The Time
In this clip, Kellie Pickler, who was nominated for the Horizon Award (now known as New Artist of the Year), receives an introduction from actress and wife of Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
“I first met Kellie Pickler when she was out with Brad on the Check Her For Ticks and You’re Dead tour. That’s what I called it,” Kimberly said before adding, “I soon found out that there’s a serious side to this fun-loving young woman. When she sings this next song that she co-wrote, you can tell she’s singing her story straight from the heart. Nominated tonight for the Horizon award, here’s a small-town girl made good, Miss Kellie Pickler.”
Pickler Poured Her Heart And Soul Into The Performance
Stepping out on a dim-lit stage and wearing a blazing red gown, Pickler had the audience’s full attention. From the get-go, she threw her heart and soul into the song lyrics while backed by a grand piano player, a string quartet, and an acoustic guitarist.
“Forgiveness is such a simple word / But it’s so hard to do / When you’ve been hurt,” Pickler, overcome with emotion, sang the bridge of the song.
As she continued to sing, she couldn’t help but let her tears flow.
“Oh, I hear the weather’s nice in California / And just in case you’re wondering about me / From now on I won’t be in Carolina / Your little girl is off / Your little girl is off / Your little girl is off,” she sang before speaking the words while weeping. “I’m in Tennessee.”
Song Appears On Kellie Pickler’s Debut Album, Small Town Girl
Released as the second single from Pickler’s debut album, Small Town Girl, “I Wonder” became a success, reaching the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. But for Pickler, the song and its lyrics are deeply personal.
She co-wrote the ballad with Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, and Karyn Rochelle about the mother, Cynthia Morton, who abandoned her at the tender age of two years old. Malone left the American Idol alum to be raised by her grandparents, and by the time she made her CMA Award debut, Pickler and her mom had not spoken in over a decade.
Song Helped Her Coped With The Pain Of Loss Of Her Mother
Despite the heavy subject content of “I Wonder,” Pickler has shared that penning the song has helped her deal with the pain she went through in the absence of her mother.
“The song has not only really helped me because writing it and performing it every night has been kind of like therapy for me, but I think it’s really helped a lot of other people that might be going through similar circumstances,” Pickler previously told ABC.
As for sharing her story in song under the limelight, Pickler told PEOPLE at the time, “Growing up watching the CMAs as a girl and seeing all of my favorite country music singers up there, it was such an unbelievable experience to share that same stage with them, the people who I grew up watching perform. I looked down and George Strait was sitting in the front row and I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ It was such a beautiful moment for my soul and my heart.”
Check out Pickler’s stunning performance of “I Wonder” in the video above.
