Martina McBride: Everything you wanted to know from A-Z

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First Friday Red Party

Vibe Events and Tanqueray sponsor the "Go Red Party" Friday, August 3 at Markham 801.

She's the petite female with the powerful voice -- not just in the strength of her vocal ability, but in the fact that her songs empowering women draw national attention to women's issues.

Martina McBride captured country music fans' notice in 1994 with "Independence Day," which addressed domestic violence from the viewpoint of the abused woman's daughter. Since then no topic is off limits in her lyrics: abuse ("With a Broken Wing"), special-needs children ("God's Will"), cancer ("I'm Gonna Love You Through It.")

Tonight the country superstar takes the the Coke Stage at 9:30 p.m. for a concert sure to include tracks from her newest album, "Everlasting," as well as timeless hits such as "This One's for the Girls" and "Anyway."

Here's a roundup of facts -- some little-known, some more so -- about the singer's career:

A Academy of Country Music's Top Female Vocalist three times -- 2001, 2002, 2004.

B Billboard.com called her "one of the most powerful female vocalists Music City has ever seen."

C Cookbook author of "Around the Table."

D Drove a Dodge Dart in high school.

E "Everlasting," her new album, is a compilation of R&B and pop covers.

F 14 Grammy nominations.

G Garth Brooks gave her a start in country music by letting her sell his merchandise, then later opening for him.

HHome state is Kansas.

I"Independence Day" was her breakout hit.

J Just pour her red wine, not white. Prefers cabernet to chardonnay, according to Taste of Country. Partnered with Blackbird Vineyards in Napa Valley in 2009 to make her own signature wine that sold for $60 a bottle.

K Kelly Clarkson duets with her on "In the Basement," a track on "Everlasting."

L LoveIsRespect, a national teen dating abuse helpline, is a cause she supports.

M Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award recipient in 2003.

N National Domestic Violence Hotline and National Network to End Domestic Violence's spokeswoman.

O Oct. 11, 2011, she released CD "Eleven."

P Pat Monahan, lead singer of Train, partnered with her on "CMT Crossroads." He later recorded "Marry Me" with her, a track on "Eleven."

Q Queen of the power ballad.

R Reba McEntire is tied with her for most Country Music Association nominations in any vocalist category: 17.

S Schiff is her maiden name. Her father was the front man for "The Schiffters," which she began singing with at age 9 and later played keyboards in.

T Tweets an average of nine times a day.

UUnique sound -- her soprano voice is easily recognizable on radio, no introduction needed.

V"Valentine" paired her with pianist Jim Brickman; the single was her first to chart on Billboard's Hot 100.

W"Wild Angels" was her first No. 1 single.

X Xmas album, "White Christmas," has topped 1.6 million in sales.

Y Years she won Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year: 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004.

Z Zero tolerance for sexism in country radio. Has spoken out against radio executive Keith Hill's now-infamous remarks that to "get ratings in country radio, play less music by females" and that "the lettuce in the salad is Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton; the tomatoes of the salad are the females." She posted an Instagram photo of herself wearing a red T-shirt imprinted with "Tomato" and husband John McBride wearing T-shirt that said "Tomato Lover."

Sources: Internet sites

She won the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award in 2003.