"Amie: A Little Bit Country"
 (article from TEEN Magazine, December 1995)


    You'd think having a major recording contract and debut album under your belt at age 17 would pretty much mean your career is set, but country singer Amie Comeaux's (pronounced Como's) toughest moment lies ahead. Few female country singers break through in the crowded and male-dominated country music field. But now with her first album, Moving Out, has been released and her videos are getting airplay, it looks as if she'll be calling the shots soon enough. 

    Amie already stands apart from the country crowd: She's on the forefront of a new type of country music, called Young Country. It's a kind of pop/rock/country combination-think of it as "alternative" country. There's minimal twanging, and no yee-haws or knee slapping in sight. In her ankle-grazing floral dresses, barely-there makeup and hairsprayless locks, Amie now 19, personifies this new wave of country music. Her singing and performing style is a sort of cross between Sheryl Crow and Garth Brooks. (The unenlightened might know his crossover hit "I've Got Friends in Low Places" ). Amie's got their relaxed style and approachable, upbeat attitude, plus booming vocals that'll blow you away.

    Although she was discovered at age 11, her record label, Polydor Nashville, decided to hold off until she was 17 to record. Waiting so long gave Amie plenty of time to absorb and digest the possibility of making it big. Now she's calm and cool--not even freaking out when a mix-up resulted in her having to sing live on the country TV show, Music City Tonight. It's those nerves of steel that have prevented Amie from becoming affected or spoiled, like so many other young stars. 

    Her own music taste runs an impressive range from alternative (Hootie and the Blowfish, Live and the Cranberries) to classic rock (Aerosmith) and pop (Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson). Attending Lollapalooza is on her wish list of things to do.
Road time also means less time to spend with boyfriend John, whom she's been dating for four years. "It's really hard to be apart so much, but you have to deal with it," she says.

    Plans for making a second album are in the works. Meanwhile, Amie will be testing new songs, honing her vocals with her voice coach, shooting videos for her other releases and occasionally heading home to New Orleans for her home in Brusly, Louisiana to sing the national anthem at the New Orleans Saints football games. Just a typical routine for an up-and-coming star. 

Sure, she cares about her looks--in her business, she has to... 

Here are some of Amie's beauty secrets:

Skin: * Amie tolerates the super heavy foundations and powders that she says up her pimple production because looking her best when she performs is key. Her skincare regimen is simple: An antibacterial soap to clean her skin and fight those occasional blemishes. 

Makeup: * When she's not working (Amie graduated from high school a year early), she prefers a totally natural look, using sheer foundation to even her skin and a touch of taupe brow pencil and brown/black mascara to play up her blue eyes. Although most of us would kill for lush lips like hers, she thinks her upper lip is too thin, so lipliner and lipstick are a must to even them out. On camera, she always asks for a light overall dusting of bronzing powder to keep her face from looking washed out. 

Hair: * As for her naturally golden locks, she has a system to balance it's easily-weighed-down texture and slight dryness at the ends. "My hair get really damaged from all the setting that has to be done with rollers and things, and I have to wash it every day or it gets oily, so I use extra-body shampoo, and deep conditioner on the ends." Her fave haircare line? Pantene. 

Diet & Fitness: * Spending so much time on the road makes it hard to stay true to a healthy diet and exercise regime. "I like to wear sleeveless shirts, so I do pushups when I can, and I'm trying to get better about doing regular, complete workouts," she admits. "As for food, I can really eat anything and don't really worry about putting on weight, but I am very careful a few weeks before I have to perform somewhere." 

Back to the Official Unofficial Amie Comeaux Page.

Note: Thanks to Nina for this article and to Don for contributing the photo of Amie!