Jacquie Roar remains grateful for her appearance on NBC’s “The Voice” singing competition show. She reached the finals, and gained a lot of fans around the country. Some doors opened, and Oregon embraced her.
But, even as Roar still basks in the limelight from the “The Voice” season 24 late last year, and performs in shows in the Portland area and Oregon, “I almost think I expected more, because of how much exposure it gives you.”
The effort in trying to book shows has been there for Roar, who lives in North Plains and has a background all around the Portland area. The response has not been, she can honestly say.
“I was thinking more people in the industry would come to me, email me, contact me,” Roar said. “I can’t get anybody outside of Oregon to book a gig. I’ve contacted hundreds of people and I’ve got like five emails back.
“Texas has not responded to me, not one place.”
Perhaps things could change, as Roar performed in Nashville last week at CMA Fest and at the Opry Plaza as part of Whiskey Jam and Lainey Wilson’s induction into the Grand Ole Opry. Then she was headed off to South Carolina for two shows in the hometown of fellow “Voice” contestant Stee.
“This is a huge deal,” Roar said before her Nashville shows. “There are thousands of applicants that submit for CMA Fest every year. They happened to pick me out, I’m blessed.”
Roar also spent a lot of time working with songwriters in Nashville.
Then it was back to the Pacific Northwest. She recently performed before a big crowd at Rock & Brews at ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, Washington. She’ll perform at the Crystal Ballroom for the first time on June 15 — tickets remain, crystalballroompdx.com — as well as at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts at George Rogers Park on June 22, at the Washington County Fair in Hillsboro on July 19 and the Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home on Aug. 4 (opening for Gary Allen). Then it’s another big one: Sept. 2 at Oregon State Fair in Salem as special guest with Huntley, the winner of “The Voice” in the season that Roar competed.
“Oregon has my back,” she said.
Roar feels blessed to have a singing career, and for opportunities that have come about from being a finalist on “The Voice” and working with coach Reba McEntire, who labeled her a “country rock diva.”
She’s represented by Rob Beckham, former head of WME Nashville and McEntire’s former agent, and Artists Management Group. She has released singles “Bad Habit” and “Learn About Love,” with another one, “High Heel High,” coming out in July.
All the while Roar continues to hone the kind of performer and singer she wants to be. Viewers of “The Voice” know all about her powerful voice, and Roar wants to push forward as a country rock singer.
“I’m trying to be the female Hardy or Brantley Gilbert,” the 38-year-old Roar said.
“(Beckham) has a plan for me. He believes in my music. When you have somebody who believes in you, that makes all the difference.”
Roar’s run on “The Voice” was memorable because performances really showed off her voice. Her blind audition song was “Here For The Party” by Gretchen Wilson, followed up with the likes of “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” by Lainey Wilson and, later, her rendition of “Alone” by Heart saved her in the competition. She finished off in the finale with Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” and Moody Blues’ “Nights In White Satin,” while also reveling in doing a duet with McEntire.
It was a great experience, especially considering her stay on “American Idol” season 11 lasted only a couple rounds. She performed as Jacquie Cera on “American Idol.” In fact, whereas her rendition of “More Than a Feeling” went poorly on “American Idol,” she proudly says “I nailed it” on “The Voice.”
“Leaving that show (‘Idol’), I had so much anxiety and depression, I wasn’t ready for something like that,” she said. “I had no idea what I was doing as an artist, and it was very damaging to me.
“Coming off season 24 of ‘The Voice’ … the staff was incredible, they gave us confidence, gave us tools to get through each round. The contestants were not rude or competitive in nature, they were very supportive, like family. I still email back and forth with Reba. Coming off the show, everything that you’d want to happen, as far as keeping connections, yes it has happened. Can’t speak highly enough of ‘The Voice.’”
Back to real life meant settling in with fiancé Jesse Jones, daughter Leilani and stepdaughter Georgia in their North Plains home.
“It was a transition,” Roar said. Jones took care of the home and girls during “The Voice” tapings — and Roar happily said he made the trip with her to Nashville for the two big gigs.
Roar (original name Jacquie Butler) attended schools in Clackamas and Gresham and lived in Beavercreek for many years. She enjoys living in North Plains, where the community supported her well through “The Voice” shows.
“They still have the banners up, ‘Congratulations, Jacquie Roar,’” she said.
Before “The Voice,” Roar had made her name as part of a band (Lace + Thorn).
Now she moves forward as Jacquie Roar, solo country rock singer who has attained a national level of acclaim.
“And I’m very happy for that,” she said.
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