As the first female African-American country artist in the US, Petrella has caused a sensation since the release of her debut disc - COUNTRYVERSIAL - in 1993.  Pioneering a new form of country flavored with soul, gospel and roots accents, Petrella landed on the cover of the respected industry trade publication CASHBOX in 1994, and has never looked back.


Her single "I Found Somebody" spent 14 weeks on the national Top 100 Country Singles Chart (peaked #52, two spots above Shania Twain, and 13 spots above Dolly Parton), followed by "Blues Stay Away from Me" (peak #68, with a music video being shown coast to coast from California to South Carolina).  Famed recording artist/songwriter Brenda Russell even wrote a tune for Petrella, "When the Night Rolls In."


She has been nominated for New Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Performer of the Year by a variey of music industry organizations and publication between 1994-2004 including Nashville Tracker magazine and the Tennessee Songwriters Association.


In 2003, she received the Golden Microphone Award at the Airplay International King Eagle Awards.  In 2004, Petrella performed live at the King Eagle Awards show, where she receive the Producer's Choice Award. Later that year, she hosted the fourth annual D.A.T.'s B.A.D. gala "Showtime at the Horner", honoring the Charitable Christian Medical Clinics, as well as appeared in concert at venues throughout the South and Midwest (including Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas).