Sheer Determination Faith Hill Is A Hard Worker And Wants To Be A Success In Business As Well As In Music

A second look at Faith Hill reveals something country fans may not have noticed after her million-selling debut album.

This artist is determined - determined not only to succeed as a singer but determined to succeed in business.

“I want to be around for a while, I want to headline someday, I want to build an organization - you know, a staff of people to just take care of everything in-house,” she says, taking a breath before continuing.

“I just want to grow. I want to be a businesswoman and at the same time make records and tour on the road and I don’t know what else.”

Hill, 28, was unknown two years ago when Warner Bros. released “Take Me As I Am.” Brash singles like the title song and “Wild One” were immediately embraced by radio programmers. Her all-American, blond good looks went over spectacularly in videos.

A poppish remake of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” was a hit - and the frank admission that she’d never even heard the classic rock version growing up in Star, Miss., was charming. People surmised that Hill is really country.

Hill is scheduled to perform tonight during the Country Music Awards, which begins at 8 on CBS (KREM-Channel 2 from Spokane).

On her new album, “It Matters to Me,” Hill’s music has matured noticeably. The album soared to No. 7 on Billboard’s Country Album Chart its first week in release and is currently No. 9.

A few songs, one written by Alan Jackson, implore women not to put their lives second to the man in their lives. “A Man’s Home Is His Castle” is a sobering look at a battered woman. It’s a less fluffy, more confident Faith Hill.

“I didn’t set out … to change somebody’s life or to try and make a political point,” Hill said.

“My goal was to find the best songs I could possibly find and keep the integrity in my music hopefully and just do something that I was proud of.”

The breezy “Let’s Go to Vegas,” very much in the “Wild One” vein, is the first single now rising in the charts. It’s already in the top 10.

More adventurous are “You Will Be Mine,” a shouter with screaming guitars worthy of Melissa Etheridge, and a gospel duet with vocal powerhouse Shelby Lynne.

“I was scared to death, you know,” Hill said of singing with Lynne, an overlooked talent who has been compared with Patsy Cline. Hill sounds more zealous than scared on “Keep Walkin’ On,” and inviting Lynne on her album at all shows remarkable poise.

“It was not like we were competing vocally,” Hill said. “We just got up there and we had a great time and we just sung this fun gospel song.”

Hill’s initial go-round of fame and fortune had its bumps. A vigorous touring schedule, and the constant interviews demanded of a new star, led to surgery to correct an enlarged blood vessel in her throat. She also developed nodes on her vocal chords.

She’s relearned how to speak and sing, though “the speech thing I don’t think I’ve got yet, ‘cause … I’ll just talk someone’s ears off.”

Doctors pronounced her fit for the road, and that’s where Hill plans to spend the immediate future. “You just keep clawing, you know, working and not stopping, working as hard as I can work, keeping my head on straight, stayin’ focused.” Finally a breath, then, “Just because I’ve had success so far doesn’t mean it’s time to sit back and relax and take a break.

“It’s time to work even harder, I think.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Ticket sales Tickets are on sale for a Nov. 5 concert by Brooks and Dunn, Faith Hill and Wade Hayes at the Spokane Arena. The $25 tickets are available at all regional G&B Select-a-Seat outlets, or by calling 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT (credit cards only).