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"Although she rose to fame during the teen pop era, Michelle Branch -- who was 17 years old when her debut album, The Spirit Room, began its double-platinum run in 2001 -- modeled her own songs after iconic alt-rock females like Lisa Loeb and Melissa Etheridge. Raised in Arizona, Branch sang throughout her childhood but didn\u2019t pick up the guitar until her 14th birthday, when she received the instrument as a gift. Within a week, she\u2019d written her first song. Branch\u2019s parents eventually decided to home school their daughter, allowing her more time to focus on a budding musical career and play shows in the Sedona area. Following the release of her first independent album, 1998\u2019s Broken Bracelet, Branch began attracting attention from major labels.\nShe signed with Maverick Records and began co-writing with John Shanks, a former member of Melissa Etheridge\u2019s band who had since moved into production. Together, the two wrote \u201CEverywhere,\u201D which became Branch\u2019s first hit single in 2001. Released that summer, her debut album quickly produced two more hits, including the Top Ten single \u201CAll You Wanted.\u201D While working on a second album, Branch found time to collaborate with Santana on \u201CThe Game of Love,\u201D which became the lead single for Santana\u2019s 2002 album Shaman. \u201CThe Game of Love\u201D peaked at number five and eventually won a Grammy Award, while \u201CAre You Happy Now?\u201D -- the first song from Branch\u2019s sophomore album, Hotel Paper -- maintained her presence on the charts in early 2003. \nLike The Spirit Room, Hotel Paper went platinum and spawned two Top 40 singles. While touring in support of the album, Branch became engaged to her bass player, Teddy Landau, and the two married in May 2004. One year later, she launched a country side project with her backup singer, Jessica Harp. Initially calling themselves the Cass County Homewreckers, the two eventually trimmed down their name to the Wreckers and released an album, Stand Still, Look Pretty, in 2006. The album went gold, due in large part to the lead single \u201CLeave the Pieces,\u201D which topped the country charts. \nThe Wreckers went their separate ways in 2007, with both musicians returning to their own careers. Branch spent several years writing songs and making guest appearances on other albums (including Chris Isaak\u2019s Mr. Lucky) before issuing a short EP, Everything Comes and Goes, in 2010. Meanwhile, she readied a full album, Different Kind of Country, for release later that year. ~ Andrew Leahey"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://aolradio.slacker.com/artist/michelle+branch>