On Saturday, April 29, the ageless Lynda Carter reprised her role as singer/entertainer as she once again performed to a sold-out crowd at the Franklin Theater for the third year in a row. She thrilled fans with songs from the Everly Brothers, Billie Holiday and other fan-favorite standards. Fans were also thrilled to hear her daughter, Jessica Altman, sing the Everly Brothers Dream and Gone, Gone, Gone with her. But one of her most unique and newest renditions was her slower version of the Supreme’s Stop in the Name of Love which garnered much critical acclaim.
The connection she creates as she performs with her world-class band is what brings her fans returning year after year. This year was certainly no exception as during the middle of her Billie Holiday song You’ve Changed, the electricity went. All that was left was the emergency lighting. What happened next surprised everyone. Those in the band with acoustic instruments came down on the floor along with Ms. Carter as she sang with her pure, mic-less voice for forty-five minutes in one of the most impromptu, intimate settings imaginable.
Though most famous from her iconic role as Wonder Woman in the hit TV show from the late 70’s, Lynda Carter’s passion has always been singing as she began her career performing at the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas before she was even 21.
She first gained national attention from winning Miss World USA in 1972 while making it to the semi-finals for the Miss World pageant. This eventually led to guest-starring roles in several TV shows such as Starsky and Hutch and several “B” movies. Shortly thereafter, she beat out actress Joanna Cassidy to earn the role of Wonder Woman which rocketed her to stardom.
Since the 2000’s, in addition to various acting roles/voice-overs, she returned to her roots as she has completed several Jazz records including her third album, Crazy Little Things which is a pleasing mix of standards, country and pop tunes.
In a town where talent and fame can be found around most every corner, Lynda Carter offers her unique take on a collection of beloved songs that endears her to fans from all generations. As Franklin Theater Executive Director, Dan Hayes so aptly stated about what happened Saturday night, “It’s truly an understatement to describe [Lynda Carter’s performance] as an evening no one in the building that night will ever forget!”
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Bethany Bowman covers entertainment for The Tennessee Star. She resides in Nashville, Tennessee and is a fan of country music.
