Broadway Star Revisits Her Operatic Roots in Oklahoma

"Kelli O'Hara is 'kind of schizophrenic' when it comes to music. A Tony Award-nominated actress, she trained as a opera singer at Oklahoma City University. And as an Elk City, Okla., native, some country influences are just natural. Those varying styles come to a boil in 'They Don't Let You in the Opera (If You're a Country Star),' a track on O'Hara's latest album, Always. 'I grew up on a farm and got an opera degree,' O'Hara said. '... This shows where I come from and show what's ahead of me.' O'Hara will perform the song Saturday in a special fundraising concert at Amarillo Little Theatre, 2019 Civic Circle. The rest of the album is centered more specifically on jazzy interpretations of standards and show tunes, like 'This Nearly Was Mine' (from South Pacific) and 'The Party's Over' (from Bells Are Ringing)." [Source]