O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center - Operated and Managed by The Whitefish Theatre Company

She’s the daughter of Country Music legend Mel Tillis and multi-media artist Doris Tillis. A singer/songwriter whose compositions have been covered in Country, R&amp;B, Bluegrass and Rock. An actor with a long list of film, TV and stage credits. Pam Tillis sidestepped any notions of nepotism and other “isms” that women in show business often face and carved out her own unique space as an entertainer.
Tillis’ 1991 debut country album, Put Yourself In My Place, went gold and yielded two No. 1 and two Top 5 singles. Her next three albums –&nbsp;Homeward Looking Angel,&nbsp;Sweetheart’s Dance&nbsp;and&nbsp;Greatest Hits, were all certified platinum. She achieved six No. 1 songs during the ‘90s Country explosion, including “Shake the Sugar Tree,” “Mi Vida Loca,” “When You Walk In The Room,” “In Between Dances,” “Don’t Tell Me What To Do,” and her signature song, “Maybe It Was Memphis.”
“It’s a hard thing to put your finger on,” she says, describing the enduring appeal of “Memphis.” “It’s a great melody and a cinematic lyric. It’s romantic, but it rocks. And it’s a great vocal vehicle.” Not only did Country fans agree, so have several aspiring artists. Contestants on both American Idol&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Voice&nbsp;have used the song to showcase their talents.
“In many ways this part of my career is more fun because it feels like the pressure’s off,” says the CMA Female Vocalist Winner. “I feel much more relaxed and I can just enjoy the journey a little bit more.”
Tillis is currently finding a lot of satisfaction mentoring young performers and artists, including those in her all-female acoustic trio, The Rose Rustlers (Haley Sullivan and Carson McKee). “I love mentoring,” she says. “I find myself working with so many Millennial musicians now. They’re accomplished players; none of them need help in the talent department. I’m just trying to pass on some of the things I’ve learned from 30 years of touring and how to navigate a very tough industry.”
&nbsp;As Tillis stops to count her blessings, she reflects on the bonds she’s made from teaming up with some other female veterans of Country Music, including her fellow ‘90s chart toppers Lorrie Morgan, Suzy Bogguss and Terri Clark. Morgan and Tillis have recorded and toured together as “Grits and Glamour,” and Bogguss and Clark frequently tour with Tillis under the banner “Chicks With Hits,” swapping songs and stories, as only legends-in-the-making can. “I’ve made lifelong friends from these tours,” she says. “It’s the kind of camaraderie I couldn’t find when I was the only gal on the bill with a bunch of male artists.”
The Grammy winner and Grand Ole Opry&nbsp;member’s talents extend far beyond her recording career – she’s an accomplished actor with an impressive list of credits, including the films&nbsp;The Thing Called Love&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Neon Highway; the Broadway production of&nbsp;Smokey Joe’s Café; and TV shows&nbsp;LA Law,&nbsp;Diagnosis: Murder,&nbsp;Promised Land,&nbsp;Drag Race,&nbsp;Nashville, and&nbsp;Fairwood. “I definitely thrive on variety,” says Tillis, who’s even stepped behind the camera to direct half a dozen music videos.
Tillis’ latest album, 2020’s Looking For A Feeling, finds her doubling down on one of her first loves – songwriting. She wrote seven of the 11 tracks. Some of her most formative musical years were in the late ‘70s – and the album reflects that ‘70s Country Rock flavor. The many threads of her influences were loosely woven together by hit Country writer/producer Jimmy Ritchey (Mark Chesnutt, Jake Owen) on some tunes and Nashville rocker/producer Joe Pisapia (k.d. lang, Guster) on others.

Local Event: Big Sky Troubadours Legends Series: Pam Tillis

Flathead County

Whitefish

Montana

Big Sky Troubadours Legends Series: Pam Tillis

She’s the daughter of Country Music legend Mel Tillis and multi-media artist Doris Tillis. A singer/songwriter whose...

Slow Burn Records

Join Big Sky Troubadours at Slow Burn Records for Shop Talk, an intimate, in-store interview series where music, stories, and community come together. Set against the surrounding collection of vinyl in the coolest record shop around, Shop Talk invites artists and creatives to share their journeys, influences, and behind-the-scenes insights.
June 19th join us at 11am for a special conversation with Pam Tillis. Expect candid storytelling, deep dives, and a closer look at the experiences that have shaped her work. Whether you're a longtime fan or just curious, this is a chance to connect with artists in a way you won’t get anywhere else.
This event will have limited space available--to secure a spot, please RSVP at <a href="https://www.bigskytroubadours.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.bigskytroubadours.com</a>. Come early, bring your questions, dig through some records, and settle in for a real conversation at Slow Burn Records.

Local Event: Shop Talk: Pam Tillis

Shop Talk: Pam Tillis

Join Big Sky Troubadours at Slow Burn Records for Shop Talk, an intimate, in-store interview series where music, stories, and...

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling at our&nbsp;Songwriter Showcase. Featured songwriters Casey Beathard, Mark Nesler, and Jo Smith perform the songs you’ve heard and love from the radio, in their original form. In this intimate, up-close setting every lyric and melody is heard the way it was the day the song was born. 
This special event highlights the craft behind the music — the stories, inspiration, and creative process that bring the songs to life. The perfect night out for the longtime music lover, or those simply looking for a unique, low key live music experience.
Proceeds to benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Casey Beathard&nbsp;
After making the decision of choosing music over “the family business” of football, Casey Beathard moved to Nashville to begin his career. Beathard has now written #1 records for Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Eric Church, Trace Adkins, Justin Moore, Zach Williams, Rodney Atkins, Lee Ann Womack, Tracy Lawrence, Tracy Byrd, Chris Stapleton, Billy Ray Cyrus, Billy Currington and more. He has also received many accolades throughout the years including BMI’s Songwriter of the Year in 2004 and 2008, NSAI’s Songwriter of the Year in 2008, two Grammy nominations and an ACM Song of The Year nomination for “Don’t Blink.
Mark Nesler&nbsp;
Mark Nesler writes honest, heartfelt country songs in the spirit of the country music greats. Artists that have benefited from his songwriting talent are George Strait and Tim McGraw in particular. McGraw had a six week #1 single with the Nesler penned song “Just to See You Smile” on his multi-platinum selling “Everywhere” album.&nbsp; George Strait has two #1 singles, thanks to the songwriting talent of Mark Nesler: “Go On” and “Living And Living Well.” Nesler also co-wrote Darryl Worley’s #1 hit, “I Miss My Friend.”&nbsp; Other hit singles include: “For You I Will”- Aaron Tippin, “Heaven In My Women’s Eyes” and “Just Let Me Be In Love”- Tracy Byrd, “Why, Why, Why”- Billy Currington, American Idol finalist Bucky Covington’s debut single, “A Different World,” and Keith Urban’s #1 single release, “You Look Good In My Shirt.” He also wrote Billy Currington’s #1 hit, “Let Me Down Easy” and Josh Turner’s hit, “Time Is Love”, Billboard’s most played country single of 2012. Mark continues to write every day and is one of Nashville’s most successful and respected songwriters and artists.
Jo Smith
Jo Smith was named to Rolling Stone’s 10 New Artists You Need to Know in 2017 and CMT’s Next Women of Country 2018, making her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2013, and becoming a Highway Find on Sirius XM’s The Highway in 2017. Jo was the opening act on Blake Shelton’s All About Tonight Tour, Chris Young and Thomas Rhett’s Liquid Neon Tour, and Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley’s Locked and Reloaded Tour. After moving to Montana in 2020, she released her first independent project Wyoming, featuring Vince Gill on the title track. As “Wyoming” attests, Jo has “been able to keep ahold of that traditional timeless thing that makes music last.” Her music possesses a timeless beauty that grows out of uncanny ability to tell stories that balance the emotional depths of traditional country and soul with a deep desire to deliver songs passionately to fans searching for songs that express universal feelings of longing, loss, hope, and love.

Local Event: Songwriters Behind the Headliners

Songwriters Behind the Headliners

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling at our Songwriter Showcase. Featured songwriters Casey Beathard,...

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Posting Activity

Big Sky Troubadours Legends Series: Pam Tillis

JUN

18

7:00 PM

O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center - Operated and Managed by The Whitefish Theatre Company, 1 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT

Shop Talk: Pam Tillis

JUN

19

11:00 AM

Slow Burn Records, 22 Spokane Ave, Whitefish, MT

Songwriters Behind the Headliners

JUL

11

7:00 PM

O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center - Operated and Managed by The Whitefish Theatre Company, 1 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT