Julie Roberts

Growing up in Lancaster, South Carolina, Julie Roberts first performed a blend of country standards and blues material in her hometown. After spending time at the University of South Carolina, she relocated to Nashville to enroll at Belmont University while seeking a path as a professional singer. Upon finishing her studies, Roberts took an administrative role at Mercury Nashville without revealing her goals, instead using evenings to perform with area ensembles and cut demonstration recordings. Those recordings reached producer Brent Rowan, who passed them along to Luke Lewis at Mercury. The label offered Roberts a contract in 2003 and released her self-titled debut album on May 25, 2004. Two years afterward came Men & Mascara, an album that included four songs she had co-written.