By this point she'd built a regional following around her home base of Indiana, and secured opening gigs with acts like Chris Isaak and Natalie Merchant. In 2004 Anthony became the co-owner of the Nashville Shock, a semi-pro men's basketball team, and prepared for the release of her full-length debut. But things went a little haywire in late January 2005, when an enraged Anthony tried to fire the Shock's (female) coach during a game. The flap caused her to step down as Shock CEO, and she and her co-owners announced later that they'd be selling the team. Vent, Anthony's debut full-length, was released via her own Gracie imprint in the midst of the Shock controversy. The singer's first major label release is 2007's Goodbye on EMI. ~ Johnny Loftus