“We are extraordinary; we give up a lot to stand by our men and we don’t always get the thank you we deserve! We adapt to whatever comes our way and we can make friends in a heartbeat because we have to. We are a strong family, we are there for one another when we are needed, we are a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a friend, a sister and we can do it all while taking care of ourselves, our friends, our kids, our 2 dogs and our 3 horses!!!”….
Amy Downing is a very proud “Soldier’s Wife,” a mother of 3 beautiful children, and a singer/song writer. Her experiences as an Army Wife have inspired her to write songs about the life “they” live and that life is best told through her music. “Soldier’s Wife”, was one of the first songs she was inspired to write. She never really knew what her calling was until her and her family faced the first deployment to Iraq. Her husband had been gone for a year before, but it was to Korea. She hadn’t experienced him going to a war zone. Before he left, she had heard several songs on the radio telling the story of the Soldier but none about the ones who are left behind and who are usually forgotten. “Soldier’s Wife” was born with the help of her husband Will and she continued to write in hopes to minister in a way to those who live the crazy, hard at times, and exciting life a “Soldier’s Wife” lives! With the help of another “Army Wife”, Stephanie Sharp, she has written and recorded 6 songs that take you on a journey from meeting her husband to post deployment and everything in between.
Amy has been singing since she can remember. At the age of four she took the stage at her Great Grandma Maize’s church in Quapaw, OK to sing “Jesus Loves Me” for one of the services. It was then she knew that singing was what she loved most. All through school she would try out for any and everything that had to do with singing and for the most part made the role. Amy received a full vocal scholarship to a local college in the Kansas City area and after trying her hand at college life for a year; she decided to move to Nashville to pursue a career in music but soon fell in love and started a family. She has been content singing with local bands, many Change of Command Ceremonies, dedications and other Army events at the different duty stations her and her husband have been stationed. In 2002, Amy made it to the Colgate Country Showdowns Missouri State Final. In 2003, she tried out for the Wayne Brady Show talent contest and made it to the top ten. She was a part of the Bone Canyon Band when they were stationed in Fort Huachuca, AZ. In 2008, she tried out for Operation Rising Star, the military’s version of American Idol and won the local contest. She was chosen out of hundreds of other talented singers to represent Fort Carson in the top 12 at Fort Belvoir, VA. The show was televised on the Pentagon Channel and her husband was able to watch her sing their original song “Soldier’s Wife” from Iraq during OIF 07-09. She didn’t win the contest but came away with a great experience that drove her to write more. Word got around and Amy was interviewed for the October/November 2009 edition of Army Wife Magazine’s entertainment section. In November 2009, Amy was made an Honorary Member of the United States Army Ivy Division Band after performing for the Veterans Day Concert at Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs. In April 2010, Army Wife Network featured “Soldier’s Wife” on their talk radio program. She continues to perform with the Ivy Division Band at Fort Carson when she is called to do so.
Amy is one of a kind. She is a passionate, hardworking woman who cares first and foremost for God, her family, and friends. At 36, she has not given up on her dream! She continues to live the crazy life of a “Soldier’s Wife”, taking care of herself, her friends, her kids, her 2 dogs and her 3 horses while her husband is serving another tour to Iraq and hopes that the experiences she lives takes form in more songs. Music is her passion and when she finds the time to do it she does. You will not find another like her! Amy Downing is a true “Soldier’s Wife”.
Stephanie Sharp is a mother of two living in Wisconsin where her husband works at Ft. McCoy. She's been an Army Wife for 13 years, enduring much time away from her husband who spent a year in Korea and deployed three times to Iraq (nearly 3 years, total). Her greatest joys come from spending time with her family and her close friends (she owes thanks to the Army for bringing such amazing women into her life).
Stephanie has been a huge fan of music her whole life. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a country music singer. Since that wasn't written in the stars, she settles for belting out tunes at home and in the car...and during occasional Girls Night Karaoke Parties. Sharing Army Wife experiences through music just seemed fitting, and Stephanie is so glad that she met Amy and was able to write music that lets other Military Wives know that they're not alone in their experiences and roller-coaster emotions.
Stephanie is currently learning to play the guitar and preparing to return to school to earn a second Bachelors of Science degree. Her first is a degree in Chemistry from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. The second will be a degree in Art from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.