Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Doucet.
Whitney , can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It was 2005; I had recently started Freshman Year of High School and saw the flyer hanging on my classroom door. “TALENT SHOW SIGHN UPS THIS WEDNESDAY” My friend said “DO IT”. I was scared, but I signed up anyway. Two weeks later I sang “How do I Live”, (the Leann Rimes version) in front of a live audience for the FIRST TIME EVER. I could feel my heartbeat running down my left arm and my knees felt like they had a mind of their own. “How Do I get through a night without you if I had to live without you, what kind of life would that be” I sang the lyrics and my heartbeat settled and my knees came back from outer space and from that moment on I was hooked.
I sat through everyone’s performance and at the end of the night they called a winner, 3rd place, then 2nd place and finally 1st place. “The winner of the Fitchburg High School Talent Show is… Whitney Doucet” WHAT!?!? Me?!?!
I was so excited to have won, and so shocked at the same time. The day after that I decided to quit Varsity Cross country and put my two feet into something I loved… Singing.
I traveled on a train to Boston each week for voice lessons for many years. During those years I had many opportunities to perform. I joined a band at the age of 16. We raised money to build orphanages in Haiti and when the hurricanes knocked them down, we raised more money. I was a contestant in many talent shows, and at first it seemed like I would sing my heart out and walks away without placing in any of them, and then one day that changed. I Joined New Hampshire Country Music Association and sang in their annual talent search. I won female vocalist of the Year, Female entertainer of the year for a couple years in a row. I was to then compete in a national competition in Tennessee against someone from every state! I won Female entertainer one year, and Female vocalist the other year.
Fast forward through some ups and downs I began singing The National Anthem. It all started at Boston College Football Game, then The Boston Red Sox, The Boston Bruins, NASCAR and then the Patriots. I think singing the National Anthem has to be my all-time favorite thing to do. You can really feel the energy from the crowd buzzing through your body, and that is such a strange feeling!
Then, the most amazing thing happened to me. My friend sent me a text and said “Hey, did you hear about that completion were you can win a chance to sing with Keith Urban?” – SO, I literally ran home, learned the song, and recorded a video of me singing it in my parent’s sun room, and WAITED. Three days went by, and I swear I didn’t breathe during those days. I got home on a Thursday night after work, took a nap and thought, “they would called by now”. I woke up from my nap with a missed call and a voicemail on my phone. “OMG” I thought. My heart stopped and I clicked the voicemail…
“Hi this is so and so from WKLB, we are hoping you can call us back asap at #….”
“MOM!” – no answer
…978… “Hello?” “Hi this is Whitney I Have a missed call from you and a voice mail that says to call you back”
“Oh Hi Whitney! We were just calling to let you know that you are the winner of the “Sing with Keith” competition”
-phone goes dead- “hello?”
Me- “oh my god!”
Hangs up – screams “mom! I won I won I won”
Fast Forward to the best day of my life-meeting Keith Urban was huge. He was so nice and so welcoming. He told me to just take it all in and have fun!
Walking on that stage was the craziest feeling; I can’t find the words to describe it all I can say is it felt like lightening.
A few days later I was on my way to sing the national anthem at Fenway for a Red Sox Game, and I get a phone call from my mom
“Whitney! You got a huge package in the mail! It’s from Keith Urban, can I open it?!”
He sent me a signed guitar that said “Whitney, I had a great show with you, you killed it – Keith Urban”
When I thought things could get any better, about week later, I was on my way to my guitar player’s house to rehears for a show when my phone rings. It was an LA phone number. “Who could this even be?
“Hi Whitney, This is so and so from American Idol, Keith Urbans people wanted me to reach out to you and personally invite you to audition for the show in NYC next week, can you make it?”
Was this real life?!
We made the trip down to NYC. On our ride down, we heard the terrible news that Nicole Kidmans dad passed away the night before and Keith Urban was on the first flight out to Australia. Long story short, I wasn’t given my audition. I was crushed.
Sometimes you have ups, and sometimes you have downs. BUT singing is the only thing that brings me the amazing ups that I’ve experienced and I won’t let the painful let downs stop me from proceeding with my goals and dreams.
Since then, I’ve continued to sing, audition for shows, write and record.
I’ve had songs played on country radio, and plan on releasing new music this year.
It’s amazing to look back and see how such a small little dream of singing at a school talent show can turn into many amazing events in my life.
I’m just excited to see what’s in store for the future!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been struggles, as with anyone with a dream and a plan of action, the word “No” seems to be the greatest obstacle.
I’ve auditioned for TV shows in the past, I’ve heard “no” a lot, BUT it’s just a word, and I don’t take it personally.
I just keep my eye on the prize and continue to plug along.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a country singer, BUT I am NOT from the south. Something that sets me apart from other country signers is I am from New England. My style is Country/pop, Rock.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was dog obsessed. I loved to play outside and play in the dirt. I love doing tricks on my bike and race the neighborhood kids; I was sort of a tomboy but also had a girly side. I wanted to play sports but wasn’t so into the idea of a coach yelling at me – so I never got into them. I always wanted to sing, and would wait for everyone to leave the house before I would sing for hours, and finally grew the courage to ask for singing lessons at age 15.
Contact Info:
- Website: Whitneydoucet.com
- Instagram: @whitdoucet
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitneydoucet
- Twitter: @Whitdoucet
Image Credit:
Justin Mayotte
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