The Wyoming Women of Note series continues with Wyoming singer songwriter twins Annie & Amy Smith of Cheyenne - creators of Wyoming’s second state song "Wyoming Where I Belong."
Annie & Amy Smith are fifth-generation Wyoming Natives & professional singer/songwriters and the composers of the award-winning song; "Wyoming Where I Belong," Wyoming's second State Song.
Steeped in Wyoming heritage, their great-great-grandfather W.E. Dinneen established Dinneen Lincoln Mercury, and their grandfather W.J. Dinneen was instrumental in bringing water to Cheyenne from Pole Mountain. Great great-grandfather Herbert & Laura Burns-Smith, homesteaded in Albin. Laura is a direct descendant of the Scottish Poet Robert Burns, who wrote; "Auld Lang Syne." Their grandfather Ralph Smith was a gentleman rancher, businessman, and professional cowboy who rode in Frontier Days 1924-1926.
Their passion for music, songwriting and playing various instruments guided their career from a young age. Years later they were discovered on television by a music producer. They moved to Nashville, showcased at the famed Blue Bird Café and signed with Warner Bros. Records as recording/songwriting artists. They fondly remember singing on the Grand Ole Opry with the King of Country music, Roy Acuff. As songwriters, Annie & Amy penned over 700 songs, working with some of Nashville's finest songwriters. During their career, the girls established their publishing company; AAI Music Entertainment. Their world tours included visits to Greece, Turkey, Russia, Cuba, and all across Europe. The twins have headlined on USO Tours, and Cruise Ships. The girls also studied and lived in Vienna, Austria. The Ambassador to Austria invited them to perform for military troops at the American Embassy and the two were featured in the Die Presse newspaper. Annie & Amy have written songs for the US Navy and causes such as Women’s Breast Cancer, Children's Diabetes.
"Wyoming Where I Belong"
In 1998, inspired by the people and the beauty of their home state, Annie & Amy composed "Wyoming Where I Belong." They worked with talented musicians from the Wyoming/Colorado Symphony and players for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The song debuted in New York Central Park and on ABC's Good Morning America. BBC Radio picked up the song overseas where it received an International Music Award. The PBS series "Wyoming Chronicles" hosted by Craig Blumenshine featured "Wyoming Where I Belong" with beautiful aerial footage. Soon, people from all over the world were requesting "Wyoming Where I Belong" as it carried a universal message of home. After 20 years, Annie & Amy presented the song to the Wyoming Legislature in 2017, and again in 2018 with the All-City Children’s Choir. The Wyoming Legislature passed a bill designating the song as Wyoming's second State Song and Governor Matt Mead signed the bill into law on March 12, 2018. The sheet music & charts are currently available for symphony, choirs, concert and marching bands here.
Annie & Amy and continue to write and perform. Annie lives in Nashville with her husband, Edward and 3 children. Amy lives in Wyoming with her husband Scott and 3 children.
Please visit our Student's Corner for more information about Annie & Amy's song "Wyoming Where I Belong!"
Wyoming Women of Note is a series to celebrate Wyoming Women's Suffrage. New highlights will be released each month of this year. Please visit our current featured women here!