VOA常速英语:Gloriana Debut Album Climbs the Charts

During the past year, Gloriana has quickly become one of the hottest new acts in Country music and is having success with a self-titled debut album.

Last year, Gloriana had the best-selling single by a new Country act with "Wild At Heart."  The track sold more than 350,000 copies, and led their debut album to a Top 5 entry on both the Country and Billboard 200 charts.  

Gloriana features brothers Tom and Mike Gossin, Rachel Reinert and Cheyenne Kimball.  In 2003, at 12 years of age, Cheyenne became the first season winner of "America's Most Talented Kid."  Rachel also launched her career at a young age.  At 15, she was given a songwriting deal with a Nashville publishing company.

The four members of Gloriana came together in 2008, and began writing and recording demo songs.  They sent one to Matchbox Twenty producer Matt Serletic, who signed Gloriana to his Emblem Records label.  Matt also co-wrote several songs for Gloriana's album and produced the collection.

Gloriana recorded "The World Is Ours Tonight" for the "AT&T Team USA" Winter Olympics soundtrack.  Only two other Country artists appear on the album, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland.  All proceeds from sales of the songs, which are available through iTunes, support the U.S. Olympic team.

Last year, Gloriana beat out Lady Gaga, Kid Kudi and Keri Hilson to win the American Music Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.  The band is among the upcoming Academy of Country Music Award nominees for Top New Vocal Group.

Gloriana was one of five acts chosen to be showcased at the recent Country Radio Seminar New Faces Show.  The group will spend the next three months performing a concert tour with Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler.