Visitors lined up an hour before the concert to get as close to the front of the stage as possible. A playlist of early 2000’s hit country music played to children dancing in the open field, while their cowboy hats flew off their heads. A line of food trucks cooked up barbeque and cookies for the audience, and soon hundreds poured into the concert venue behind the Superior Dome to hear hit country music stars Maddie & Tae.

Behind the stage, a student’s work has led up to a moment like this. On stage in front of hundreds of audience members after releasing her first album to the public, she has juggled career goals, school, sports and regular daily chaos to join the stars.

Sami Brown had her beginnings in Waco, Texas, and began performing professionally at 17 years old. She had an early brush with fame on the TV show America’s Got Talent, where she made it to the final round of auditions during her junior year of high school.

In the fall of 2023, Brown joined NMU as a transfer student. She took on soccer as a star both on and off the field. The juggling act of balancing work, sports, classes and moving across the country delayed her process of creating an album of original songs. Last year the process finally began. 

“Over the last year and a half, I wrote many songs and came up with an album’s worth that I was proud of and wanted to share with the world,” Brown said. “This summer I recorded the guitar and sang everything at a studio back in Texas.”

At the same time, Brown was contacted by NMU due to her reputation for performing. She would now have the opportunity to open for country music stars Maddie & Tae at NMU’s 125th anniversary concert. 

The evening of the concert, students, faculty and community members from near and far came to the Dome and waited in anticipation for the live music to begin. The originally small crowd expanded to at least 200 people. Those nearing the front joined in groups, many wearing sequined hats and boots, cheering as Brown took the stage. Her list of songs to perform consisted of beloved tunes that kept the audience engaged and singing along.

This is a defining moment for music artists, an opportunity to display their talent in front of an audience and experienced professional singers. Friends and family joined together to support Brown, and the love was extended across the crowd.

“I was so happy to see all of my teammates out in the audience as well as so many members of the Northern student body and Marquette community,” she said. “The amount of people singing along to the songs I was playing made the whole night even better and I truly had a great time playing for everyone. “

Maddie & Tae’s performances of their hit songs popular throughout the country brought the Marquette community and beyond together to enjoy both known and new music. 

For Brown’s extraordinary accomplishments, she was awarded the first ever Act Like a Wildcat coin which grants her prizes and allows her to choose an organization to which the university will donate money.

This event is hoped to mark the beginning of a cascade effect that will transform the community. Students who volunteer, step out of their comfort zone and pursue their passions can follow in the footsteps of people like Brown and those who have come before her in the past 125 years of Wildcat history.