Hailey James is a Cottage Grove native and award-winning rising country music star –– and her career’s moving fast. Her first gig was playing weekly at Country Nites Saloon in Hastings. Since then, she's shared the stage with Dustin Lynch, sang at US Bank Stadium, and opened a Treasure Island Summer Concert Series night before her biggest inspiration, Carrie Underwood, performed.
Now, James preps for her return to The Island. On Saturday, March 1, she’s taking the Island Event Center stage to open for Terri Clark, a “literal legend,” in James’s own words.
Clark came into prominence in the ‘90s with country hits like “Better Things To Do,” “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me” and “I Just Wanna Be Mad.” Now, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame recipient is bringing her hits and energy to The Island. Tickets are available for purchase at TIcasino.com.
Paul Dockendorf, Treasure Island entertainment manager, discovered James on accident. At a Treasure Island recruitment event, Dockendorf saw James in action.
“I was taken aback by her talent (that night) when she played a Carrie Underwood song,” Dockendorf said. “I complimented her performance and she said that (Underwood) was her favorite artist.”
Dockendorf then reached out to James with an exciting opportunity.
“My roommate just walked in (when I got the offer) and I was bouncing off the walls. She asked me, ‘Are you okay?’ and I yelled, ‘I just got offered to open for Carrie Underwood!’”
James’s love of music began as a child, when she heard Underwood’s “Blown Away” on the radio. Then, in July 2023, she opened the night for her in “The Lot,” Treasure Island’s outdoor pre-concert hangout space.
Opening for, then meeting her “biggest inspiration” and “idol” was an unbelievable (and slightly embarrassing) experience for the young artist.
“I was fangirling,” James said. “But she was so sweet. It was awesome to meet her, thanks to Treasure Island for making it happen.”
James’s success spans beyond The Island, too.
She’s a five-time Midwest Country Music Organization (CMO) award winner, including 2022 and 2023 Female Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year. Last year, she won Vocalist of the Year – Modern Country Female at Josie Music Awards in the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Earlier this month, she was nominated for two more Midwest CMO awards, Song of the Year for “Country the Same” and Video of the Year for “School’s Out Summer Nights.”
According to James, one of her favorite experiences in the music business is meeting and opening for her idols.
“When I get to open for people like Terri Clark, those are some of my absolute favorite shows,” James said. “Not only am I opening for Terri Clark, but I’m on the same stage. I just saw her perform during the CMAs (Country Music Awards).”
For Treasure Island, supporting talented local artists is an important part of how they book shows.
“I put a huge emphasis on having local artists open for major acts,” Dockendorf said. “For some, it can be a launching pad to greater success. All big artists started out the same way, and it’s a way of paying it forward for me.”
Local shows, and a chance to play close to home, are special for James, too.
“I always bring my family,” James said. “I’m excited to bring a bunch of them to come see me. Some of them are even part of my crew.”
According to James, her entourage includes her mom handling photography, her dad bragging to anyone who’ll listen and other family members running merch and other duties.
“Hopefully I can pay them back one day, because they work for free,” James said.
Terri Clark’s March 1 concert kicks of Treasure Island’s busiest month ever, packed with promotions, events and 10 concerts, including KC and The Sunshine Band, Carly Pearce and more. For Treasure Island’s full event and entertainment lineup, visit TIcasino.com.
James is busy, too.
“All I can say is; I’m in the studio,” James said.
