Kansas City’s own 16-year-old Sarah McMullen won Pop Artist of the Year at the 20th Annual LA Music Awards held at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. She received her nomination at the famed Whiskey a Go Go where star artists such as Jim Morrison & The Doors got their big break. McMullen graced the same stage singing her original song “Twisted”, which caught the attention of Al Bowman, president of LAMA. Bowman stated, “The level of talent on that stage was unlike anything we had ever seen before.” He went on to say, “Sarah McMullen’s nomination for Pop Artist of the Year is completely justified after witnessing her performance at this show. What a voice!”
Sarah Opening for Big Time Rush
As an Indie Artist, Sarah has paved her own way in the music scene. Recently she performed at Mix 93’s Red, White and Boom with Nickelodeon stars, Big Time Rush, as well as Ashlyn Huff and Shontelle. Most recently she filled in for Miranda Cosgrove after her bus accident and performed with Cody Simpson in Wichita Kansas. She will also be performing at the Selena Gomez and All Star Weekend concert on September 1, 2011. Sarah also shared the stage with top teen stars in the Kids Helping Kids Project Haiti held in Los Angeles. She has also graced the cover of the national women’s magazine called Herlife Magazine, which said, “Her petite frame emanates a boundless energy and force that you can’t help but admire”. They went on to say, “She has yet to discover that the world sets at her feet.”
On January 17th, 2011 she released her Freshman album "Surround Me" in Barnes and Nobel stores with great reviews and has already hit internationally. On Feb 19th, 2011 Sarah held her CD Release Party and Red Carpet Event at Barnes and Noble in Overland Park, KS. She had over 500 in attendance and fans waited nearly 2 hours in line to take pictures and to get autographs. Her album can be found in Barnes and Noble as well as iTunes and CD Baby.
Soon after releasing her album, Sarah was approached by multi-platinum producer Andrew Lane to write and record 3 more songs. The 3 song album released July 2011 along with her music video for the title song Skyscraper, which hit 20,000 views it's first week. Now or Never, another one of the songs, won song of the month at the Songwriter Universe Contest.
Sarah also shared the stage with some of the biggest names in Disney and Nickelodeon at the Kids Helping Kids Project Haiti Celebrity Concert event. The event was held February 28th at Tinsel town’s legendary and historic Avalon Theatre in Hollywood. Hosted by the likes of Nathan Cress (iCarly), Brandon Smith (Sonny with a Chance), and Alyson Stoner (Camp Rock, Cheaper by the Dozen, Suite Life of Zach and Cody) as well as performances by artists such as Ashley Argota (True Jackson, VP), Josh Golden (Disney’s Next Big Thing) and Savannah Outen (Disney Recording Artist), this special benefit raised funds to help build new housing for God’s Littlest Angels Orphanage in Haiti. McMullen sang her original song “I Stand”, which brought the house to a silent halt while aerialists gracefully danced in the air behind her.
A Sophmore Honor Student, Class Treasurer, as well as a part of the dance team at Blue Valley North High School, McMullen works hard to create a healthy balance between her academics and her love for performing. She is a singer, songwriter, dancer and actor. Her career started after being a two time regional grand prize-winner of Radio Disney’s Hannah Montana talent competition. After winning she headed to LA and shortly teamed up with Los Angeles' award-winning producer/writer Jonathan George, and wrote her first 2 singles, How Do I Break Free and Twisted. These original songs held the #1 spot for 4 consecutive weeks and broke multiple records on Tween Pop Radio. The songs have become so popular they are now playing internationally on the radio in Australia. McMullen had so many requests in Australia that they featured her in a live radio interview on Feb 14th. Her original songs recently received runner up Awards in The “We are Listening” International Singer/Songwriter Competition, as well as a semi-finalist in the “ISC” International Songwriting Competition.
Sarah performing at the Avalon during the Kids Helping Kids Project Haiti Celebrity Event
As an actor, McMullen landed her first SAG feature film through Overland Park, KS based agency, Exposure Inc. The movie is called “Last Ounce of Courage” where she shares the screen with Marshall Teague (The Rock and Armageddon), Jennifer O'Neill (Summer of 42), Hunter Gomez (National Treasure), Jenna Boyd (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), Fred Williamson, Nikki Novak, and Rusty Joiner, to mention a few. Last Ounce of Courage is due to be released in the 11/11/11 and was filmed in Paola, KS and Kansas City, MO by Lenexa based Outpost Worldwide.
Sarah was most recently on the cover of HERLIFE Magazine as well as the Blue Valley North Magazine. She was also in the 435 South Magazine June issue with a 2 page spread.
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Sarah is the daughter of Mike and Bonnie McMullen of Leawood, KS and granddaughter of Folk singer/songwriters Jerre & Barbara Haskew of Chattanooga, TN., and Larry & the late Marilyn McMullen of Shawnee Mission, KS. She is represented by Exposure Inc. in the Kansas City area, The Savage Agency in LA., and by Rollins Media in Nashville, TN., and managed by Jonathan George Entertainment based in Los Angeles.
Sarah at the Whiskey a Go Go