On the market

MUSCLE SHOALS - Angela Hacker said her first release is a reward for the fans who took time out of their lives to support her journey to becoming the newest winner of "Nashville Star."

"The Winner Is," on the Warner Brothers Records Nashville label, went on sale at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and is available exclusively at Wal-Mart.

The album contains 11 tracks, including four original songs and cover songs she performed on the "Nashville Star" show.

The disc includes the Aretha Franklin hit, "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," which was written by former Shoals songwriter Dan Penn.

"Love Me Wild" was written by Hacker, Catt Gravitt and FAME recording artist James LeBlanc.

"You Got Me" is another Hacker and LeBlanc composition, while "Emotionless" was written by Hacker and Jennifer Kennard.

The fourth original track, "Total Loss," was written by Hacker, LeBlanc and another Shoals songwriter, Billy Lawson.

"The Winner Is" includes a studio version of the Otis Redding classic "Hard to Handle," which Hacker and her brother, runner-up Zac Hacker, performed as a duet during the "Nashville Star" finale.

Mike Kissinger, manager of the Muscle Shoals Wal-Mart Supercenter said sales of the disc have been brisk.

"It went on sale at midnight," Kissinger said. "It's selling very well thus far."

Hacker said there were people lined up at the Florence Wal-Mart Supercenter to get the album when it was released.

Hacker was on hand to sign copies and signed more autographs Tuesday at the Muscle Shoals Wal-Mart Supercenter.

"It's a really good feeling," Hacker said. "I'm really blessed and really proud to have the opportunity to do what I'm doing, do what I like doing and be able to share

it with everybody."

Hacker said she's received calls from people complaining that they couldn't get the disc.

She said "The Winner Is" sold out at the Florence Wal-Mart.

The Hackers will join "Nashville Star" finalists David St. Romain and Joshua Stevens on a summer tour that begins in June.

She said her follow-up album will be a duet with her brother, who was also signed to Warner Brothers Records.

The Hackers consistently received the most votes during the eight-week run of the show, much of it driven by strong local support.

Angela Hacker won a recording contract with Warner Brothers Records, a new Chevrolet Silverado pickup and an opportunity to play on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com