Emilys Bio

Emily Portman

If you wanted to know about me I’d tell you that I had a passion for singing and good music, and that my name is Emily Elizabeth Portman. I love to fool with horses, ride through the woods, spend time on the lake, go out and eat at a good restaurant, watch old movies, and most importantly, I love spending time with family and friends. Remembering what is most important in life, love. I have so many sweet friends and fans who love to come hear me sing and they mean so much in my life.. I have a pretty big family, and my Mama and Daddy, and biggest fans, are Wanda and Tommy Portman who are loved by me dearly! I couldn't ask for better parents. I have a wonderful little boy, John Morgan, whom I love more than life itself. He was born in March of 2006, and since then life has been changed forever and for the better.

My love for music began at a very young age. I loved to sing along with my radio and loved mostly rock n' roll and country music. As a kid I remember listening mostly to what my parents listened to, Jim Croche, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 80's rock n' roll and yes, Merle Haggard, old country stuff too.

I started out playing the piano at age 12 in church, and joined the marching band in high school as well as played a year of concert band playing the baritone. This taught me so much about timing and measures. I then began singing and entered the karaoke contest at the Grayson County Fair, inspired by Loretta Lynn. I sang “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” Then I was led through a series of events in my singing career. I was a member of the chorus in college for two years and also was invited by Darryl Tubb to sing at the Corydon Jamboree in Indiana and I got paid! I also began playing the guitar when I was nineteen years old.

I’ve played many great shows such as legend shows where I portray Loretta Lynn. Once in the summer of 2004 I entered a sing a like contest over in western Kentucky at the Kentucky Opry where I won $1,000 portraying Loretta Lynn. It is truly just a gift the Lord wanted me to have, having that natural sound and talk of Loretta. I have so much fun with it, too. I work with many people who like to get involved in my career as a singer, and along this journey God keeps throwing great things my way to make it even easier.

Billie Allen and Ivan Engle are two of my biggest supporters and they are inspirations in my life. Not only have they helped me by becoming my bus driver and manager/promoter, they have been able to help one another out in so many great ways. It's all part of a great plan.

In the time I've been performing I have been blessed with many opportunities and have opened up shows for some amazing artists such as Doug Stone and T. Graham Brown. I also sang some duets and opened for David Frizzell in the summer of 2002. During my visits to Nashville, Tennessee I have met some terrific writers and musicians. One writer in particular who has helped me and supported my singing is a friend named Rand Bishop who wrote “My List” for Toby Keith, and inspired me to co-write "In My Time" with him, which is featured on my new CD, "Country Girl Like Me".

I have been fortunate to meet Archie Campbell, Vern Gosdin, Toby Keith, Chris Cagle, George Jones, and twice Miss Loretta Lynn! I got to sing with her sittin on her bus. In 2006, we videoed my tribute show to Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, and Patsy Cline which we posted on "Youtube". Michael Twitty hired me as Loretta Lynn for his "Twitty & Lynn, Together Again" show, until the casting for the new Conway Twitty musical, It's Only Make Believe" chose me as their Loretta Lynn. I am honored to play the part of Loretta and to have met all of Conway's family.

The musical is opening for George Jones on several dates, and I have had the privilege to sing on stage with the Possum I recently released my first CD, "Country Girl Like Me", which includes a song about my son, John Morgan. I am very patriotic and a big supporter of our veterans and the military, and I am donating my songwriting royalties and a portion of my CD sales to the Wounded Warrior Project, following in the footsteps of Jerry Reed. It's been a great year for me. Folks say I'm a real deal. A country girl from Kentucky. Am I a lucky gal or what?

Emily