Similar to Jolson's character in "The Jazz Singer," Wright of the Irish Tenors faced a pivotal choice in 1987 on whether to leave the priesthood for a career as a singer. Wright was an ordained Catholic priest for seven years before he left.

The scenario was similar to Jolson's Jewish character in "The Jazz Singer," who chose a career as a jazz singer instead of a cantor.

"It was easily the toughest time in my life," said Wright of his decision. "1987 doesn't seem like so long ago but for Irish society, it was very long ago and things have changed an awful lot in the last 15 years."

Wright did plenty of singing before leaving the priesthood. He sang for Pope John Paul II in the late 1970s and won a Irish national singing contest in 1986.

"(The Priesthood is) very respected and to leave it was very very difficult," said Wright, who has since married and become a father. "My back was to the wall, and the one solution was to do what is honest for yourself."

The toughest part was explaining it to his Irish mom.

"She's a traditional Irish Catholic and very proud of the fact that her son was in the priesthood," Wright said. "I had to tell her, and it was heart-rendering."

All agree it was the right decision.

"After my first son was born, she said, "When I saw you with your son in your arms, I knew you made the right decision,' " Wright said. "She didn't tell me that until years later."

Wright moved quickly from teaching Spanish and Latin as a priest in his home county of Cork to becoming one of the most popular solo vocalists of Ireland. He released several hit albums of opera, Irish ballads and pop before he joined the Irish Tenors in 2000. The Irish Tenors were formed in 1998 for 004 ? 0018.09a PBS concert as a Celtic take on the Three Tenors.

That's the "Irish Tenors," not the "Three Irish Tenors" or the "Celtic Tenors."

"There are a few offshoots, but it's clear in the United States that we're the Irish Tenors," Wright said. "Our name and brand is quite clear to the vast majority." Wright joined the trio after original member John McDermott departed to pursue a solo career. The present lineup includes Wright, a returned McDermott and Anthony Kearns. The latest album is "Sacred," a collection of inspirational music that spans the ages, from "My Love" by Stevie Wonder to the Gregorian chant of "Salve Regina."

"They're really fine pieces of music and very stirring for me in particular, growing up with church music," Wright said. "I love doing it all, and the last song is a Gregorian chant, and there's a nakedness there — the Gregorian songs are performed without accompaniment. I love doing that. Of all the albums, I like this one best of all."