Melissa Lawson  Melissa Ann Lawson (born April 10, 1976) is an American country music singer. On August 4, 2008, she was declared the winner of the television program "Nashville Star", a country music singing competition which aired on NBC. Signed to Warner Bros. Records Nashville, she released her debut single "What If It All Goes Right" that year, and charted on Hot Country Songs with it. Although Lawson's label released her before she debuted her first album, she is currently performing and released 2 EPs in 2010. Born in Dallas, Texas, Melissa grew up in Arlington, TX, where she continues to make her home. She Attended the Professional Youth Conservatory (Performing Arts High School) in Ft. Worth. When the School closed suddenly her senior year, she ended up Graduating from Arlington High School with the Principal's award. She attended Texas Wesleyan University on a drama, vocal and academic scholarship. Lawson is a working mother and entrepreneur with 7 biological sons ages 4-19 and 2 bonus daughters Ages 18 & 17. She owns a Christmas lighting company, DFW Holiday Lights, which offers commercial and residential holiday decor and lighting. After years of performing locally, and regionally, In 2004, she tried out for the fourth season of American Idol, and made it to the final day of Hollywood week, eventually being cut in the top 75. After settling back into leading worship at her home church, In 2008, she tried to reach for the stars again, but this time, not only did she make it onto Nashville Star on NBC, but she won. She has since traveled the world, singing at the Olympics in Beijing, China, on the Grand Ole Opry, and had the privilege of writing with top Nashville Writers. Lawson was also to appear with her family on an episode of the NBC 2010 summer series "Breakthrough with Tony Robbins" dealing with personal issues with her then husband of 20 years, Rick, in the wake of her fame. However the program was canceled from airing on television before Lawson's episode could air, and it instead premiered in mid-August 2010 for video-on-demand streaming via NBC.com for a limited one-month period and then ultimately on the Oprah Winfrey Network and on Australian television  After suffering immensely painful personal loss and grief over the past 11 years due to the loss of the traditional music industry path, loved ones, filing bankruptcy, and a divorce she never dreamed would occur, and MANY other obstacles, Melissa picked up the pieces and to this day, continues to inspire others on how to push through and allow God to make Beauty from Ashes.