She had one album produced by Tony Rice (Gaining Wisdom), and one produced by J. D. Crowe (Hellos, Goodbyes & Butterflies) on Rounder Records.
She has done 6 albums, and has 189 songs on iTunes.
A song she wrote about a dog on a chain "Dog On A 10 Foot Chain," has resulted in countless groups forming to end dog chaining.
Check out her videos called "The Red Oak Tree," "Walmart Checkout Line," and "Dog On A 10 Foot Chain."
Cum Laude Graduate of High Point University, she holds a B.A degree in History, and holds a Real Estate license in the state of North Carolina. Donna also has a love for gymnastics, a difficult but rewarding sport that for many years has proven to all who participate in it, that anything is possible if you work hard enough. She has coached many State and National Champions, and has worked with some of the greatest names in the sport. You will still find her coaching today, to stay in shape. Donna loves all the kids and parents in her "gym family." Donna loves pets, and has 4 horses, two parakeets, a cat, and two beautiful basset hounds, all of which are very spoiled. An avid listener of all types of music, from Classical, R & B, Jazz, to Country, Bluegrass & Acoustic Music is where she feels most inspired. Donna acknowledges that her accomplishments are the result of having kind, supportive, unselfish parents, always encouraging & willing to sacrifice...... patient and motivating. Donna's grandfather taught music lessons of all sorts from piano to guitar, and owned and operated a music conservatory many years ago. Donna's mother learned from him and became very accomplished on piano. Donna's mother has played for churches, weddings, and many other occasions. Donna learned how to play Classical music on the piano by listening to her mother play countless pieces from Bach to Beethoven, asking her to play them over & over again, to later play them back to her mother by ear. Donna feels her Classical music exposure has helped her ability to construct more innovative-sounding bluegrass, different from your run-of-the-mill three-chord patterned songs like many bluegrass songs have traditionally been. Once criticized for that, the difference in her song structure is now highly celebrated, as a song consisting of almost all minor chords was chosen by Alison Krauss.
A couple of weeks before Christmas 2005, Donna lost her father. Two days before Thanksgiving, Donna and her mother were devastated to find out that he had a very aggressive, late stage brain tumor. After he was initially diagnosed with a stroke, they were hit hard by this news. He only lived until December 11. December 20 would have been her parents' 35th Wedding Anniversary. Donna's dad had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, a very painful condition, for 10 years. He was the most influential person in her life. Thomas Edwin Hughes, born October 11, 1937, had taught school for 30 years, served two terms on the Randolph County School Board, had been a well-known and successful auctioneer for 28 years, and had taught Sunday School at the small church named Westfield Baptist, since he was 11 years old. He had also been a farmer, who helped his parents out on a dairy farm while growing up. Donna's father was always cheerful, happy and friendly despite the pain he experienced constantly with his arthritis. He loved to sing, and went somewhere different almost every night to do so. Ed was known around his home as the "Singing Auctioneer." He was an inspiration to hundreds of people in the community, as he continued to work, and be a vital part of society regardless of his illness. Donna wrote a song about her Daddy entitled "Simple Man," which was on her first self-produced album, "Somewhere In Time." Although her dad will not get to see the album come out, she had played the new version of the song for him a great deal of times. Carl Jackson and Sonya Isaacs did the most fantastic harmony on the song. Donna is so proud of all of her father's accomplishments. Her new album will be dedicated to the loving memory of her dad. A strong man who often donated his time & money often for charity. He was always telling everybody about Donna and her music, everywhere he went. Just like her song says, "He's always kind to strangers, and he's always kept his word." Life will not be the same without him, but Donna has already begun to capture her pain, and remember the happy times she had with him in song. This will continue.
Haunted
Donna Hughes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody to tell him what to do, yeah
He drinks 'til the doors close
Brings another girl home
Chorus: Every day, haunted by what might have been
When night time falls he ties one on again
He chose to have his parties and his friends and a life of sin
How much fun it is for him
Coulda settled down, coulda had a family
But he broke her heart, with all his lies
She lay there dreamin', he sits there drinkin'
The life of the crowd, drownin' his troubles away
Chorus
The lyrics to Donna Hughes' song "Haunted" are quite sad and reflective of regret and a life wasted. The first verse depicts a man who lives life on his own terms, without any regard for anyone else. He goes out at night, does whatever he pleases, and drinks until the wee hours of the morning. He brings girls home with him, but when the morning light creeps in, he is left with tears of remorse and regret.
The chorus is a statement of the haunting presence of regret, as the man lives every day haunted by what could have been. When nighttime falls, he drowns his sorrows with alcohol, continuing the cycle of regret and self-destruction. The lyrics suggest that the man had a chance to settle down and have a family, but instead he chose a path of sin and indulgence. The final verse brings in the woman he left behind, who lies in bed dreaming while he drowns his sorrows.
Overall, "Haunted" is a melancholy song that touches on themes of regret, the choices we make in life, and the pain that comes from living with the consequences of those choices.
Line by Line Meaning
He goes out at night, comes home when he wants to
He prefers to stay out late at night, returning home whenever he pleases
Nobody to tell him what to do, yeah
He has no one in his life to guide him or set boundaries for him
He drinks 'til the doors close
He consumes alcoholic beverages until the establishment stops serving
Brings another girl home
He invites other women to accompany him to his residence
In the morning light, his tears fall again
He has regrets or experiences sorrow in the morning after his actions
Every day, haunted by what might have been
He is troubled and full of regret over lost possibilities and missed opportunities
When nighttime falls, he ties one on again
He resumes his alcohol consumption during the night time hours
He chose to have his parties and his friends and a life of sin
He deliberately decided to pursue a lifestyle filled with revelry, companionship, and immoral behavior
How much fun it is for him
He delights in the enjoyment and pleasure he derives from this lifestyle
Coulda settled down, coulda had a family
He had the option of pursuing a more stable and committed life with a significant other and children
But he broke her heart, with all his lies
He deceived and hurt his previous partner with dishonesty and insincerity
She lay there dreamin', he sits there drinkin'
She was hopeful and optimistic about their shared future, while he prioritized his own pleasure-seeking behavior
The life of the crowd, drownin' his troubles away
He immerses himself in the attention and entertainment of others, hoping to forget or escape from his own issues and challenges
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bill Walsh
Donna, I love your music and your song writing and singing abilities. After hearing you some years back on the Sirius Bluegrass channel, I purchased all of your music. I hope you have a blessed Christmas.
Donna Hughes
Hey Bill! Thank you soooo much! I hope you have a blessed Christmas too!
JUST A WRITER
I love and respect this lady so much and appreciate all she does for animals. Amazing soul exrodinary human bieng with amazing talent. I support her music. And enjoy her songs especially the puppy songs. Dog on a 10 foot chain my favorite song.
Donna Hughes
THANK YOU HEATHER
JUST A WRITER
❤ 🐕