Beb, people in St. Martin Parish don’t like to leave St. Martin Parish,” Maegan Berard Rankin explains to me in her rich Cecilia accent, with a gentle smile and a motherly tap on the arm.
Full disclosure, I have been friends with Maegan and the Sweet Cecilia Girls since I was in my early twenties. After giving them a hard time constantly about never getting to see them anywhere but at a gig, they all agree that the “big city” of Lafayette is great, but not their preferred speed.
“We just stay here. Everything we need is here,” says Rankin.
Lifelong residents of and ambassadors for St. Martin Parish, sisters Laura Berard Huval and Maegan Berard Rankin, along with their first cousin, Callie Guidry, have been playing music, writing and harmonizing together since they were in diapers. Now all music educators and mothers, they change diapers together as their calling to play their instruments, and singing the songs of their culture remains largely unchanged after all these years.
Unlike most bands who tour year in and out, Sweet Cecilia has always primarily played their unique blend of French and English folk country to a die-hard Acadiana fan base, and that works just fine for them. In fact, that they were nominated for a Grammy in the Regional Roots Category at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
They each have their own favorite memory of the night, which was a virtual event for the first time in the history of the Recording Academy. They rented a hall, complete with a makeshift red carpet and backdrop for photos and celebrated the night together with their families.
For Guidry, the night marked a bright light in a year filled with bad news: “My favorite Grammy memory was dancing with our mamas after a crappy year of COVID filled with no dancing or hugging.”
Rankin’s favorite memory of the evening was the relief of finally knowing who won so that the nervous energy could recede and the celebration could begin. “We were so anxious, and it was so good to know the winner so we could finally just enjoy the day with our families,” she said.
The New Orleans Nightcrawlers ultimately took home the golden gramophone, but the ladies of Sweet Cecilia were not at all let down. “It was just one of the best nights ever,” said Guidry.
For Huval, the best moment of the Grammy Awards was having their category announced by fellow Louisiana Contemporary Christian superstar Lauren Daigle. Huval is a music minister and teacher for the Catholic Diocese and also recently released a solo album filled with several original songs of faith called, “It’s Never Too Late.” She founded Joyful Noise Ministries in 2019 with the sole mission of spreading the gospel one song at a time. She said her life’s work is to teach people to pray through music.
When asked about their influences, they have a list a mile long. All three members count Al “Pyook” Berard as their first music hero. They also agree that Heart was an early influence on the band for their layered harmonies, thoughtful lyricism and capable rock and roll roots.
“My biggest influences were my dad, Led Zeppelin, KISS, the Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, Sarah McLachlan, Jeff Buckley, and more recently, ZZ Top,” says Rankin. One of a tiny handful of female lead guitar players in the region, she considers herself a student and lover of rock and roll.
Drummer Callie Guidry’s musical heroes are more varied. “I was a pretty weird kid, I don’t know. My big influences were everything from the B-52s to Duran Duran to Foreigner, but I also loved 80s wrestling and the music that came with that era,” she says with a generous and heartfelt laugh.
When asked about her musical influences, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Laura Huval cites local legends like Roddie Romero, Zachary Richard, The Bluerunners, Eric Adcock, Michael Juan Nunez and Brother Dege as sources of constant inspiration. Her mainstream influences are all belters in their own right, from Wynona Judd to Irma Thomas and Steve Winwood. She has a great, big voice, and she likes great, big voices.
As the name of the band suggests, they are sweet as your mom-mom’s sweet dough pies. What a lot of people don’t know, though, is that they are criminally funny when you put them in a room together. Their chemistry offstage has always brought me as much joy as their onstage performances. Just about every headliner in this town has called upon them at one time or another to collaborate, write, sing background vocals or show up in music videos, including their recent appearance on Zachary Richard’s latest video for his song, “Les Grands Chemin.”
On a gorgeous Louisiana Wednesday afternoon, I separated them cops-and-robbers-style and sat down with each member to find out some of their funny family band dynamics that make them consistently one of the most down-to-earth and authentic local bands to watch.
One of you ends up in jail for something that started out small, but got out of hand. Which of you is it?
Callie: The old Maegan.
Maegan: Prob’ly me.
Laura: For sure Maegan.
One of you misses your flight to the Grammys. Who is it?
Callie: Laura, because she has too much going on at once!
Maegan: Really, it could be any of us. Callie because her stomach hurts, me because I got lost in the airport, and Laura because she lost track of time talking to someone.
Laura: Maegan.
One of you ate the last slice of pizza. Whodunit?
Callie: Me. I am definitely “Big Hungry” in this band.
Maegan: Me.
Laura: Callie.
One of you wins a Nobel Prize. Who is it?
Callie: Laura.
Maegan: Mais, Laura.
Laura: Well ... I mean ... me.
Your band breaks up after a big fight. Who caused it?
Callie: Maegan and Laura together. They are definitely sisters.
Maegan: Me.
Laura: Maegan.
Someone loses their cell phone in a cab in New Orleans. Who was it?
Callie: Laura.
Maegan: Me ... Wait, I take that back. Laura.
Laura: Me
.
One of you has $50,000 hidden from your whole family in a trust fund. Who can keep a secret in this family?
Callie: Me.
Maegan: Callie.
Laura: Definitely Laura.
Someone donates a tour bus to Sweet Cecilia. Who is the driver?
Callie: Oh, let’s make one thing clear. I am the driver here.
Megan: Callie.
Laura: Callie.
Favorite Boy Band:
Callie: Alice in Chains.
Maegan: KISS.
Laura: KISS.
Most bossy:
Callie: Laura.
Maegan: Laura.
Laura: Laura.
Final question. Who is the fonkiest?
Callie: Me.
Maegan: Me.
Laura: Maegan.