It has been almost ten years since Montgomery Lee Petty won an AQHYA
World Champion title in Western Pleasure aboard Mr Magnolia Zip. As the
grandaughter of Richard Petty, her life has never been considered what many
would call routine or
predictable. So it came as no surprise that after graduating from high
school, this North Carolina native
moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University. During her first week
there,
she met and fell in love with her now husband, up and coming country
music
star, Randy Montana.
“I first met Randy when he was playing an intramural basketball game. He is
an attractive guy, but at the time, he looked really goofy with his sweatband
and socks to his knees,” Petty laughed. “He had a great personality and was
really funny; so, we just immediately clicked.”
Around the same time they became a couple, Montana decided he wanted to
pursue his love of music and songwriting. His father, Billy Montana, is a
critically acclaimed singer/songwriter who is well-known in the industry for
writing hits for mega stars such as Garth Brooks, Jo Dee Messina, and Sara Evans.
After working on his craft and knocking on many doors in Nashville, Montana
was signed to Sony Music Publishing in 2008 and to Universal’s Mercury Records
in fall of 2009. His debut single, “Ain’t Much Left Of Lovin’ You” was
recently released and his album will be released later this year. The video for
his debut single has just been added to GAC and CMT. He will be on the road
this summer performing club dates, opening for fellow artists and playing
festivals. He is also excited to open in select cities later this year with
Sugarland, along with Little Big Town.
The 24 year-old musician mentions one of the challenges he has faced in the
industry. “You can get a show down and be a good performer, but making a song
into a hit, that’s the most difficult part.”
Montana was asked about whether he has any advice out there for all the
cowboys and cowgirls. “Country music singer Jack Ingram told me one time when I
was 19 years-old, I said, ‘I’d really like to be doing what you’re doing one
day’ and he said, ‘just do it,’ and that was the best advice anyone’s given
me.”
While Randy does share Montgomery Lee’s love of horses, he wouldn’t consider
himself a “rider.” “I do think it is a cool animal,”
Montana said. “She set up a trail pattern for me the other day, and we
ended up yelling at each other. She kept telling me to do this and that.
Sounds like Randy should stick to the music and Montgomery Lee to the
horses.
Petty says that Randy thinks show horses
are quite possibly the most expensive hobby in the world and that he would prefer just riding for pleasure. “But he knows
I love it and miss it and want to start showing again, and he is really
supportive of my desire to get involved again.
Petty says that Montana’s debut single is doing quite well, and she is very
proud of his success. She also mentions that the music industry is a lot like
the horse industry in many aspects. “There is the political game you have to
deal with,” she says. “But, it is extremely hard work. Knocking on doors and
making people listen–working 24-7. You don’t just show up and get everything
handed to you. It is not all about awards and making money.”
Growing up in a high profile NASCAR family, Montgomery Lee understood and
accepted her family’s love of racing. Their passion for the sport resulted in
them being gone for extended periods of time. Her husband Randy is also on the
road for long periods of time touring and promoting his new album. “I
completely understand that he has to be gone all the time. I understand his
passion and love for his music. Growing up in my family has prepared me for
Randy’s lifestyle–I understand how it works, and I completely support him and
his desire to be a successful in the music industry.”
In her own way, Petty followed in her family’s footsteps when she got
involved showing horses. She loved being on the road and showing every weekend.
Petty enjoyed the competition and the feeling that she could beat who she felt
were some of the top competitors in the industry. Like her father, Kyle Petty,
her late brother, Adam Petty, and Grandfather Richard Petty, Montgomery Lee definitely
has inherited that competitive spirit. Her grandfather Richard Petty is hailed
by NASCAR fans as “The King.” He is best known as a seven-time winner
of the Daytona 500.
During her horse show career, Petty was successful with many high quality
horses, but most notable was Mr Magnolia Zip. In 2001, this duo won the AQHYA
World Championship and the Congress NYATT in the Western Pleasure. She also had
an all around mare, These Eyes Adore You, that she competed in both youth and
amateur all-around events that she still has today. Cash In My Assets and Petty
also competed in the Hunter Under Saddle events where she was Reserve Congress
Champion one year. Petty has worked mainly with top trainers Mitch and Jennifer
Leckey and Larry Little.
When she went to college at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, her
love of horses never wavered but she was unable to continue showing. Petty
graduated from Belmont University with a major in Public Relations and minor in
Journalism. Petty currently works for her father as Director of Communications
for his company Kyle Petty Media Corporation where he works mainly as a NASCAR
commentator. She books all of his travel, maintains and oversees all contracts,
and books his appearances.
Petty currently has a four year-old Hot N Blazing mare that she plans to put
in training with Mitch and Jennifer Leckey soon. “I just want everyone to know
that I miss showing and the people involved in the horse industry so much, and
hope to see them down the road.”
Watch for Randy Montana’s new debut single on the country airwaves, and,
hopefully, Montgomery Lee Petty back in a show saddle real soon.
For
more information on Randy and his music, visit randymontana.com.
