By Ryan Gueningsman, Staff Writer

Sherrié Austin: Hi, Ryan, this is Sherrié.

Ryan Gueningsman: Hi Sherrié, how are you doing?

SA: Good, how you doing?

RG: Not too bad. Should we get started here?

SA: Yeah, whenever you’re ready.

RG: Alright, tell me a little bit about growing up in Australia. Do you think that there are many differences between the two countries?

SA: Well, I grew up, you know, it was a normal childhood, brother, sister, mum, and dad, but I was singing country music from a fairly young age. (Austin toured with Johnny Cash at the age of 14 during his Australian tour.) There’s a lot more similarities than differences, really, between Australia and America. In fact, it’s a lot like Texas, a big suburb of Texas.

RG: Really, that’s cool. When your family decided to move to Los Angles, was it your dream to keep singing, or did you want to pursue acting?

SA: I’d always done both, and it’s just an opportunity that came up that enabled me to move over here, which probably wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t gotten that television show (Austin stared as Pippa McKenna on the TV show “Facts of Life” for one season) but I always wanted to sing and write, so that’s my first love.

RG: Okay, are there any plans to pursue acting any further, or not?

SA: No, not really.

RG: Alright, going back a few years, tell me what a typical day/week was like for you on the set of “Facts of Life?”

SA: Oh gosh! That was like 13 years ago, Ryan, I can hardly remember. I only did the show for like eight months!

RG: Have you kept in touch with any of the actors or actresses from the show?

SA: No.

RG: Alright, lets talk about your current album (Love In The Real World) a little bit. I was listening to it last night, and the song “All That Matters” stuck out.

SA: Thanks.

RG: Where did the idea for that song come from, or how did that come about?

SA: I actually started writing that about the same time I wrote “Never Been Kissed.” I was at a wedding in New Jersey, and it was during the reception, and I just kind of left the room, you know, just snuck out while everyone’s getting plastered, and I went up to my room and started writing that. It wasn’t a title I had. I just started playing the guitar and it just kind of popped out.

RG: Yeah, it’s a cool song.

SA: Thank you, it’s fun to do live.

RG: I bet. Are there any plans to release it as a single?

SA: Not right now.

RG: What is your next single going to be off your current album?

SA: Well, actually, I’ve just left Arista Records, so I’m working on a couple different things right now.

RG: I didn’t know that you left Arista.

SA: Yeah, that just happened in January.

RG: Wow. Coming into the new millennium, and a new year, what are your plans?

SA: Well, actually I’ve still been writing a lot, and touring, and getting some cuts right now. I have a single coming out on Ronnie Milsap in June, and I just had Dolly Parton and Hal Ketchum cut a song of mine as a duet, and I’ve got a song on a new girl, Tammy Cochren, quite phenomenal on Sony Records, so I’ve just been pitching a lot of my songs, and doing that, and touring.

RG: How many dates do you do usually?

SA: Oh, good question. Well, I’m working more this year than I did last year, so probably around 100, maybe more.

RG: Alright, cool. That’s actually the last question I have for you. Are there any questions you’d like to ask me about Winstock or Winsted?

SA: Oh, no, that’s fine. It will be fun, though.

RG: Sure will. I hope everything goes well, and I’m looking forward to seeing you out here.

SA: Yes, I’m looking forward to it, too. Thank you, Ryan.

RG: Thank you, you have a good afternoon.

SA: You too, bye.

RG: Bye.