It's been three years since Faith Hill released her pop-influenced album, Cry, and with the release of Fireflies the fans have spoken, buying the album, which debuts on top of the Country Albums Charts, as well as the Billboard 200 charts for the week of August 20, 2005.
Country music fans can be quite opinionated, and when they feel their artists have not only crossed over to pop, but have recorded songs to court the pop audience, they can turn their backs on that artist in a heartbeat. It happened with LeAnn Rimes, when she released Twisted Angel in 2002, and Lee Ann Womack, when she released Something Worth Leaving Behind, also in 2002. Although both of those albums debuted in the Top 5, neither artist had a Top 10 hit with anything released from their respective albums.
This also was the case with Faith, when she released Cry. Three singles were released from the album, and the highest charting song was the title cut, peaking at No. 12. The other two, "When The Lights Go Down" and "You're Still Here" peaked in the low-to-mid twenties on the chart. This was coming from an artist who had previously had all four singles from her previous album be no less than No. 6 on the charts. "Breathe," and "The Way You Love Me" were both No. 1 songs. Had the fans had enough of the "pop" Faith?
The first single from Fireflies proved to country music fans that Faith had not lost her country roots. The lyrics of the biographical "Mississippi Girl" state that she was just chasing dreams with her acting. And there are many other songs on the album that also show that Faith still can sing country with the best of them.
Country music fans seem to be forgiving of Lee Ann Womack, whose recent album, There's More Where That Came From showed her fans that she still has what it takes to make great country music. LeAnn Rimes also is having success with her recent album, This Woman, and the single "Shouldn't Have To Be This Way."
Now, if only country music fans could do the same for the Dixie Chicks. While the Chicks didn't stray from their country roots, they have yet to be forgiven by the fans for Natalie's political remarks uttered in March of 2003. I can only hope. I truly miss the wonderful music the Dixie Chicks have released.
For now, over 300,000 fans have spoken, and Faith Hill is once more at the top of the charts, with her third album topping Billboard's Country Album charts. Welcome home Faith!