Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s rewind

Part 24: Maybe I'm amazed ...

Consider me amazed.

The women of Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s absolutely raised the bar this year, dear Shoals friends. Although women were only a fraction of performers who took the stage at Florence’s historic Shoals Theatre Labor Day weekend 2025, there was an undeniable quality over quantity dynamic at play. This small but powerful Shoals sisterhood didn’t have strength in numbers but they made up for it hand over fist with concrete strength in fortitude and talent. Not to detract in any way from our amazing MSM the 70s men, but Marie Lewey, Cindy Walker, Cissy Guin, Carla Russell, Angela Hacker, Natasha Nix, Ashley Brown, and Lucie Tiger slayed. Bravo!

So ... maybe I'm amazed by Angela Hacker? Duh. Of course I am — there's no maybe about it. I've been amazed by Angela since Day One, Shoals friends. Not only is Angela an amazing talent, she's an amazing soul. Her ability and willingness to share her heart from a stage is more than amazing, it’s spectacular. She's such a valuable member of our Shoals community. Angela is a proud Shoals native and she chooses to make her home here. That says a lot about her. How can someone so talented and celebrated and successful still radiate such a homegrown humble sprit? I don’t know the answer but I know it’s amazing how Angela represents us all so well, friends.

I love how “Maybe I’m Amazed” lifts me up and carries me away time and time again. This Paul McCartney masterpiece feels like a tornado to me. The song’s power instantly sets in and listeners have no choice but to submit to its will. What a very special song performed during MSM the 70s by a very special artist. This song is about being at peace and letting the joys of life and love overtake your heart. It’s also about perseverance, though — I realized that night one, set two of Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s when Angela told me the story. It was a beautiful lightbulb moment that kept unfolding for me with each and every emotion-filled note that came from Angela’s soul.

I love how Angela has always been a singer/songwriter, y’all. Always — she's been writing songs since grade school, friends. I love how Paul McCartney is one of the best singer/songwriters to ever live. Angela and Paul — Paul and Angela ... they are kindred spirits. That was so very obvious as I looked to Angela on the Shoals Theatre stage that Friday night of Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s. Just like Sir Paul and all the other Fiddleworms and friends artists who took the stage during this two-night stand, Angela was born to share her gifts with the world and thank the stars she heeds that call.

This next to last song of night one of MSM the 70s was the only time I got chills down my spine, y'all. I felt everything about this emotionally charged but vulnerable performance by Angela deep down in my soul. The hair on my arms stood on end the entire time. Every single time I watch clips you all have posted of Angela's "Maybe I'm Amazed" MSM the 70s performance, it hits me the exact same way as it did live that night — goosebumps head to toe. Absolutely unbelievable. Angela, the Shoals Sisters, Clint Bailey, Scott Todd, Mitch Mann, Steve Vickery, Michael Dillon Curington — this performance was beyond amazing, it was epic.

Lord help me, y’all, when Angela was done ripping me apart with truth and love, she curtsied. Good golly. 😍

More to come … stay tuned.

Dig Worms, friends.

Photo credit: Devona Hawkins