It looks like it is sprouting from the base and that the top has died. It may still sprout a bit higher on the stem if you want to wait before cutting it back.

Thanks, I'm completely new to gardening. Do you think using a miracle grow will help? Or just leave it be? Its in clay soil.

if you have some 'holly tone' granules just spread half a handful around he base.. they seem to like it. Water it after a hot day in the evenings or early mornings and it should do fine. As triangljohn suggestd, wait for more shoots off the old branches before cutting back. good luck!

Thanks a bunch

U r welcome. One easy way to test if the old branches are alive is to scratch it lightly. If u see green under the scratched area then it is alive and will probably sprout in due course. If it looks brown instead then it's safe to cut back at that point.

You should probably read http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3006911/new-crepe-myrtle-help?n=3 just down the page. They are very hard to kill. I had to check my Natchez today to be sure that your shoots look right. They do, but from your distance, they also look similar to Poke Weed. Since it is so hard to kill, your shoots are most likely from your tree. Things will probably work out whether you have to cut everything out or not.