Chloe Agnew’s life changed when she was 14.
“In the beginning, it was only supposed to be a one-night show,’ said Agnew, who was a founding member of Celtic Woman in 2005.
But a public television appearance pushed the group in front of millions of viewers who wanted to hear more from the all-female quartet.
“And the rest is history,” she said.
Agnew has rejoined the group for the current Postcards from Ireland tour that also featured another appearance on public television in fall 2021.
“I jumped at the opportunity” to rejoin Celtic Woman, said Agnew, who has recorded on her own. “I was thrilled to be asked back.”
Agnew said her early days with Celtic Woman were a balance. She did her schoolwork during the day and performed at night.
It wasn’t always easy, she said, traveling to different cities and living out of suitcases, but she got a view of the world few teens can say they had.
“I had a wealth of experiences,” she said.
What kept her grounded through the process was the fact that she came from a family of performers. She knew that with the glitz and glamor of performing, there was a business side to it as well.
“I never saw it through rose-tinted glasses,” she said.
As a soloist and as part of Celtic Woman, Agnew has regularly toured Georgia. In December, she appeared in north Georgia for a few dates, and she watched the latest public broadcasting appearance of Celtic Woman on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
“There’s a special place in our hearts for Georgia,” she said.
The public broadcasting recording of “Postcards from Ireland” was shot during the pandemic and offered the performers the chance to see part of their homeland through new eyes.
“It was a special opportunity to film. We traveled all over Ireland. There were no tourists,” she said. “There were no people. It was Ireland in its natural beauty.”
While Celtic Woman was only supposed to be a short-term gig in the beginning, the group continues to thrive for multiple reasons, Agnew said.
“The Irish are great storytellers,” she said.
The songs with their rich stories combined with a lush orchestra make for a winning combination, she said.
Celtic Woman will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 8 at the Bell Auditorium. Tickets are $59.25 to $80.75. For tickets, visit aectix.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
