SWAN Hill audiences are in for a heartfelt treat as country star Amber Joy Poulton brings her celebrated stage show celebrating the queens of country music to town for the first time.
The multi-talented performer – who not only stars in the production but also wrote it – has been taking audiences on a nostalgic journey through the lives and music of legends like Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and Conway Twitty since the show’s theatrical debut in 2017.
“I actually wrote the show, so I cast myself,” Poulton said.
“I wrote it back in 2008-2009, and we did the cabaret circuit for a couple of years.
“We quickly realised it had bigger potential and deserved to be in better rooms.
“We put it to bed for a while, rewrote it, and when we put it in theatres – that’s when it really took off.”
Since then, the show has flourished, even surviving the COVID-induced pause in live performance.
“We had a quick break with COVID, of course, and then came back with all guns blazing,” Poulton told The Guardian.
“It’s been doing really well ever since.”
Poulton is touring Coal Miner’s Daughter into regional Australia, including debut stops in Broken Hill, Griffith, and Swan Hill.
“We used to only go to the big theatres in cities, which seated around 800 to 1000 – and we sold them out quite easily,” she said.
“But post-COVID, we realised people were more reluctant to head into the city, so we decided to go to where the country music fans are – in the country.”
As a country girl herself, Poulton feels strongly about bringing live music to rural audiences.
“I have friends who are farmers. They can’t leave their farms or their cows to go into the city to see a show, so it’s nice for us to bring the show to them,” she said.
“And regional audiences are 100 per cent more appreciative. We’ve never regretted that decision.”
Portraying a legend like Lynn is no small feat, but Poulton has immersed herself in the role with great care and respect.
“I watched a lot of Loretta – especially her interviews.,” she said.
“Luckily there’s plenty of footage of her speaking, unlike Patsy Cline, who passed away so young.
“Her accent is so hillbilly it was easy for me to replicate – you can’t go too far with it.
“But Loretta didn’t move much on stage, and I definitely do – so there’s a bit of me in there too.”
The physical transformation hasn’t come without challenges.
“The most difficult part? Probably the hair,” Poulton said.
“There’s a lot of wig involved.
“But staying in character vocally is harder; I don’t sing in my own voice, I sing in hers.
“Sometimes I catch myself sounding like Amber and have to snap back into Loretta.”
Poulton also expressed deep admiration for Lynn’s trailblazing spirit.
“She was a real hero for women,” Poulton said.
“She pushed boundaries in a way men didn’t mind – she was determined but gentle, and that helped her succeed.
“She didn’t let politics get in her way. She just went right through it.”
Poulton is quick to note that the show isn’t just about Lynn.
“We always focus on Loretta, but people know Patsy Cline more – so she’s a real drawcard too,” she said.
“The show includes songs by Patsy, Conway Twitty – Loretta’s duet partner – and even other queens of country like Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette.”
Poulton said the show isn’t heavy on narration.
“Loretta wrote her own songs – which was rare at the time. And she wrote about her life, so I just had to put her songs in chronological order. The lyrics tell the story,” she said.
“It’s funny in parts, shocking in others, and really emotional too. I like to call it a dairy-free tribute show – no cheese.”
Despite never meeting Lynn, Poulton was deeply affected by her passing in October 2022.
“We were opening in Adelaide, and while we were singing Loretta’s songs, in real time, she was passing away in Kentucky – but we didn’t know until the next morning,” she recalled.
“It felt like a real sucker punch. After that, every performance hit differently. I cried on stage every night for weeks.”
One fan moment stands out for Poulton.
“After a show, someone once asked me, ‘When are you going back to America?’” she said.
“I’m from South Australia but they believed I was Loretta. That’s how I know we did our job.”
Poulton’s love for country music started early, influenced by her aunt, renowned singer Julie Anthony.
“I always wanted to be a singer, but I wasn’t sure it could be a full-time job,” she said.
“My family actually encouraged me not to be one,” she said.
But she kept singing – in pubs, clubs, and small-town stages – until entering the Toyota Star Maker competition in Tamworth.
“I didn’t win, but it opened so many doors,” Poulton said.
“I was in my late 30s, had two kids, and all the other contestants were young, but it really showed me where I belonged.”
