Turner to sing at Cars in the Park

Cars in the Park, the Valley’s largest one-day car show will feature top local talent on the stage this year. Sarah Turner, writer and singer of the hit song “Youngstown,” will perform the national anthem along with her hit during the event.

“We are excited about having this young lady singing at our event,” said Dee Tripp, a member of the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club that hosts the Cars in the Park event each year.

Turner said she is just as excited to be at the event.

“I’m donating my time to do this,” she said.

Turner will be right at home at the stage in in the park. She is a 2010 Boardman High school graduate who has always loved music. During her high school years she was always involved in choir or participating in plays at Boardman’s Performing Arts Theater.

In her senior year at BHS, she wanted to make a demo of her talent and put on together at Continuous Jams on Market Street. She ended up with her demos and began the work needed to get discovered.

“I just passed the demos out and one ended up in Nashville,” she said.

The next thing Turner knew, she was on her way to Nashville. While there, she worked on her big hit “Youngstown”, which is the story of her rise from the Valley into the country pop rock scene.

“Youngstown” has taken Turner into the spotlight. Today, it is played on more than 100 radio stations and she is constantly getting local concerts such as the Morley Pavilion in Mill Creek Park earlier this month and the more recent concert at the Warren Community Amphitheater on July 16.

Turner said she has two bands, one here and one in Nashville. She said it is easier that way when a local performance is scheduled.

Turner lives a busy life with her rise to fame and her intent to continue her college education.

“I was attending Kent State, but transferred to YSU,” she said. “I will be taking online classes while continuing my singing career.”

Turner is already working on a second video for her single “Typical Boy” and she will be performing for a couple of record labels next month.

Turner said she is simply doing something she was meant to do. That is evident with her view on performing on stage.

“I feel so comfortable on stage,” she said. “I love being there. I want to continue performing because it is what I really love to do.”

As for choosing country pop rock, she said it comes from her family life.

“I grew up listening to that and its always been my favorite,” she said.

Turner will kick off this year’s Cars in the Park by singing the National Anthem on Aug. 7.