After posting my highlights of the Country Music Awards, I was informed that Kellie Pickler gave an emotional performance that I had failed to include in my wrap-up. I must have been watching the Heat-Spurs game at the time, which despite not including any ballads about the loss of a mother, did feature a somewhat emotional performance from Manu Ginobili. That guy always plays with heart.
I digress. The backstory to this video is that Pickler's mom gave birth to Kellie at age 18, and then gave her away to Grandma and Grandpa Pickler at age two and fled for the warm shores of California. Pickler's dad is a drug addict who served three years in prison for stabbing someone. Kellie also once worked at a Sonic, so you know, the girl has paid her dues.
This song, "I Wonder," has nothing to do with stabbings or Sonics, but it does have to do with Kellie and her mom. If you don't get choked up watching this video, you have no soul. Some people on the evil, cynical Internet have gone as far as to suggest Pickler was faking her tears to gain publicity for her song. Obviously those people have never had a strained relationship with a parent and don't understand the toll it can take on your heart. Fourteen years ago, my mom made me take out the trash when it was supposed to be my brother's week to do it, so I can totally relate to Kellie's plight.
Before we get to this emotional video, let's take a look on the bright side of things. For every ying, there is a yang, and in this case, Kellie's yang is her grandparents. That sounds gross but let me explain. Kellie grew up and became an "American Idol" finalist. Now she's a successful country artist. Who's to say she would've reached these same heights under the supervision of her mother, an overwhelmed teenage parent? Maybe Kellie's childhood didn't go down the way she had expected, but in the end, things worked out pretty well. Kellie's grandparents deserve a lot of credit. Also, you know who else deserves credit? Her plastic surgeon. Check out the rack. That doctor is amazing.
