Country Reunion m a g a z i n e
May 2022
Tayla Lynn & Tre Twitty
The Isaacs Jeannie Seely
Ray Stevens
Darryl Worley Jeff Carson Trish Yearwood Nadine Johnny Counterfit Next Generation – Sons & Daughters of Stars
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Country Reunion Magazine Who’s inside? Tayla Lynn, p. Twitty & Lynn, p. The Isaacs, p. Jeannie Seely, p. 1 Ray Stevens, p. 1 Darryl Worley, p. 1 Next Generation, p. 1 Je Carson, p. 1 Trisha Yearwood, p. 1 Areeda’s Recipe, p. 1 Johnny Counter t, p. 2 Nadine, p. 2 The Family Center Fundraiser, p. 2 Carol Lee Cooper. p.2 Renea’s Book Club, p. 2 Published monthly b
Country Road Managemen 710 N. Main St., Suite B Columbia, TN 38401 Larry Black, Publisher Paula Underwood Winters, Editor, Print Layout & Design Claudia Johnson, Writer, Online Layout/Desig Online Subscriptions $15 per yea http://countryreunionmagaine.com/ Annual Print Subscriptions $29.95; renewals $24.9 To subscribe or renew cal 1-800-8 20-5405 or mail payment to PO Box 610 Price, UT 84501
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Welcome to Country Reunion Music! “Country Reunion Music – Watch • Listen • Read,” is a free entertainment newsletter hosted by Country Road Management, the people who bring you the syndicated television music show, “Larry’s Country Diner,” and the series of “Country’s Family Reunion” video specials Country Reunion Music o ers visitors the chance to experience more than two decades of Country music content created by radio and television personality Larry Black and his team from the performances of some of the greatest stars of Traditional Country, Bluegrass, Gospel and Americana Through Country Reunion Music – Watch • Listen • Read you’ll be able to immerse yourself in our content in the ways you most enjoy.“Over the years we’ve been blessed to bring some of Country music’s greatest singers, songwriters and musicians to “Larry’s Country Diner” and “Country’s Family Reunion.” Hundreds of songs have been performed on these shows, and we have them all,” said Larry Black That’s why Black has decided to reach into his archives each week and send fans an email with some of his and the “Diner” crew’s favorites so fans of “Larry’s Country Diner” and “Country’s Family Reunion” can watch a video of a performance on one of Black’s shows, listen to a song captured during a visit to the “Diner” or “Reunion” and read an article from Country’s Family Reunion News “It’s our gift to you to thank you for being a friend of ours and a fan of the Country, Gospel and Bluegrass we’ve been enjoying together for years,” Black said You can subscribe to our music on your favorite streaming service, enjoy our videos on YouTube, watch all our “Larry’s Country Diner” and the series of “Country’s Family Reunion” shows on Country Road TV and have our monthly magazine delivered to your mail box or your email We’ invite you to visit our new blog, C o u n t r y Re u n i o n Mu s i c , f o r m o r e information. Let us know how we can make your Watch • Listen • Read experience more enjoyable Use your phone to scan the guitar at the right to register for our free entertainment sampler series delivered to your email each week or click this link for private and secure registration. Registration for this special email series secure, and the weekly entertainment series, which will be delivered by email every Tuesday, is always free. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE “We have some great entertainment for you to watch, listen to and read,” Black said
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May 2022
Tayla Lynn Living a Full Life interview by Claudia Johnson
CFR News: You are the grandchild of an American treasure in numerous ways. Loretta was brave in telling stories that needed to be told and breaking ground with social issues. In what ways has having this strong, talented, fearless and compassionate woman as your grandmother made you who you have become (and hope to evolve into as the years go by) Tayla: She isn’t ashamed of the ugly. She taught us we don’t have to hide the struggle. Everything ain’t pretty and we don’t have to pretend it is. I truly believe her strength and that of my maternal grandmother gave me the ability to get sober and stay that way. I believe I stay sober in many ways because I’m allowed to talk openly about it without my family feeling shame in my story. I pray to evolve into the strong woman Memaw is today. She’s 90 and is so forthright, witty, authentic and completely exudes only love. CFR News: You are a songwriter like your grandmother. Tell us about that Tayla: I have been writing songs as long as time. I write better if there is sadness or pain in my life. I’m
“Don’t even worry about what we are laughing’ at 😂 Today’s the day Tayla Lynn Sings Loretta Lynn” gets into my hands.” – Tayla Lynn’s caption for the above Instagram photo in March 2021
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not so much a happy writer. I don’t know what that’s about. I guess usually when I’m happy I’m more present in my life. Loving my family. Playing with the kids. Laughing with my girls. When I’m a bit o my mind goes to the paper. I have and do write for myself & for my duo. I’ve also had publishing deals where I wrote for others. I’m better at writing for me. If I tr y to write for someone else the creative gets lost in the chase
May 2022
CFR: Your grandmother will be remembered as a great musician, songwriter and role model. What do you want to be remembered for and why? Tayla: That I kept getting up. That I loved the Lord and my babies. That I was messy and owned it. That I knew great love and I gave it. That I was kind and honest. T h a t I w o r ke d hard and laughed much. That my Mama raised me right, and I in turn did the same for my family. That I was a vessel for Jesus and brought even one person to Him just because I lived a life full of His light
Click the video to hear Tayla Lynn sing the song she wrote about overcoming addiction, “Lord Don't Give Up On Me”
CFR: How did your collaboration with Tre Twitty come to be Tayla: Tre actually reminded me the other day that I met him when his family was putting on the Conway Musical. I don’t remember that (laughing). We met backstage at one of my Memaws shows at the ranch. It’s called “Remembering Conway," and it was annual. We since have been handed that show by Memaw I heard him sing that night and loved his voice. I asked him if he wanted to try some shows together. A few months later we did. It was so e ortless. Cosmic. Stars lined up. We then went on to do a tour in Canada and became an o cial duo I’ve learned a lot about Conway and his career. I feel like Memaw taught me who Conway was in character and devotion CFR: What's next with the duo? Tayla: Tre and I are like siblings who ght and laugh. We are like night and day but it works. At the end of the day we are big fans of our grandparents as musicians, and we are ercely devoted to them and their legacy. We love singing their songs and telling their stories as we see them. We are writing for our record and recording now. We just nished our music video. Both will be out by summer CFR: Do you see a next generation of Lynn children making entertaining or songwriting a career Tayla: Oh Lord girl. Who knows TaylaLynn.com
Tayla, Jon Cody & their boys
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CFR: Since you travel so much, how do you balance your active family and community life? Tayla: Oh man (laughs) it’s sometimes the easiest thing in the world and other times I’m crying. I’ll say that none of it, not one second of it would or could work without my amazing husband. Jon Cody [Finger] is a lion and a rock. I can’t think of a better partner for me or father for our babies. He keeps the home res burning and I come home and take over during the week. Or at least four days of the week. I’m blessed in that I found a strong man from Seattle who isn’t scared of a woman’s success and in fact sets it up where I can have any dream I can dream. On top of being an amazing cook and farm owner, Jon Cody also nds the time to work full time as the Vice President of a music distribution company ~ he literally can do it all! He is an amazing cook and farm owner. We have land and animals. He loves to garden and grow. He is our light. I believe we make time and room for what is important to us. My town has and is important to me. Since the ood I’ve nally understood why God has me here. Just to be with people who survive as one…who heal together. Who love each other as a whole town. I’m blessed to be a par t of a “Mayberry.
May 2022
by Claudia Johnson Tayla Lynn and Tre Twitty are descended from Country music royalty. Not only are they solo artists, as a duo they are endearing themselves to audiences across North America with their tour, “A Tribute to Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. To honor their “Memaw” and “Poppy”, they perform songs such as “After the Fire is Gone,” “The Letter,” “I Can’t Love You Enough,” “Lead Me On” and other cla ssic countr y songs their grandparents took to No. 1 on the charts The tour is a fascinating opportunity to see two of country music’s greatest legends through their grandchildren's eyes "I love Conway,” said Loretta Lynn. “I miss him so much. I know he would be so proud of Tre. I’m so proud of both of them for being out there doing our show. Thank you all for loving our grandkids and being so good to them.” The high-energy, heartfelt show highlights not only the bond Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty had as best friends and musical partners but the special bond Tayla and Tre have formed through years of an intertwined family histor y and their own musical relationship " I k n o w D a d wo u l d b e looking down from Heaven and be so proud of Tre and Ta y l a , ” s a i d C o n w a y ’s daughter, Joni Twitty. “I know I am! Not only do they serve them well with their great talent, and they are two of the kindest people you would ever want to meet. I know their entire families are so very proud.” Because of their strong family connections, the show takes on the quality of a family get-together, and Tayla and Tre say it often feels more like being on the front porch with guitars and old family hymns than it does a concert “I didn’t know her, she didn’t know me,” Tre said. “We just had an idea to go out and tell our grandparents story and sing their songs for all the millions of fans that still love them so much. It
could have been a disaster. We could have not clicked, but it clicked from day one. I understand Poppy and Memaw’s relationship so much better after being on the road with Tayla.” Tayla Lynn is the daughter of Loretta’s son, Ernie. Her rst group, Stealing Angels released two songs, “He Better Be Dead” and “Paper Heart”, that put the trio on the Billboard Charts. However, in 2012, Stealing Angels went their separate ways, and Tayla began her solo career. Her rst solo album was “The Ranch,” released in 2016, which included a collaboration with her grandmother called “Honky Tonk Girl.”
Tayla posted this sel e on Instagram
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Twitty and Lynn Honored with Tribute by their Grandchildren
May 2022
“I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t in the wings in some town somewhere, watchin’ Memaw and Daddy on stage,” said Tayla, recalling that she was four the rst time Loretta took her on stage. Last year she released a new album, “Tayla Lynn sings Loretta Lynn. Tre’s father is Michael Twitty, Conway’s only son who is also an entertainer. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force who is now a professional photographer, Tre was invited by Michael to perform one of his grandfather’s songs on stage when he was 23. He continued singing with his father, and when they performed at Loretta Lynn Ranch in 2018 for the annual tribute to Conway Twitty, who passed away in 1993, the idea for a tribute tour starring Tre and Tayla was born “Twittys and Lynns just go together,” Tre commented on social media. “We are so honored and proud to be able to be ambassadors for two such amazing artists – and grandparents. This girl right here [Tayla] is incredible, and I couldn’t/wouldn’t do it without her. Excited for things to come...
Click the video to hear Tayla and Tre cover their grandparents’ song “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man.” The duo’s dates and music are posted at twittyandlynn.com.
Listen to the original here Page 7
May 2022
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Isaacs’ Musical Influence Spans Genres and Generations
by Sasha Dunavan Recent guests on “Larry’s Country Diner” included The Isaacs, a family group whose musical roots reach back to the late 1950s when matriarch Lily Isaacs was signed to Columbia Records As a child of Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors who were imprisoned in a German concentration camp, Lily moved to the United S t a te s w h e n s h e was two years old. Her family settled in the Bronx where she studied theatre and performed o B r o a d w a y. He r earl y career was primarily in Jewish theater and as a Jewish folk singer “I grew up in a Jewish home,” Isaacs told Baptist Press. “But, I was more tied to Judaism through the Holocaust than I was the actual religion itself. She met former husband Joe Isaacs at Gertie’s Folk City, a club in Greenwich Village, where she
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was booked as the opening act for Joe’s bluegrass band, The Greenbrier Boys, who were in town from Kentucky. Though di erent in every possible way, the pair were immediately attracted to one another. “I had never heard bluegrass music in my life, and I had never met a Southerner before in my life,” she told Main Street Nashvi e last year. “He was just a tall, dark and handsome cowboy, and I was a Jewish kid from New York. And so, of course, opposites attract.” In 1970 they married and moved to Ohio, where she forfeited her career to become a wife and mother. Though neither of them had been religious before, they both became born-again C h r i s t i a n s af te r Jo e ’s b r o t h e r d i e d i n a n automobile accident at age 27 during their rst year of marriage. This change in religious beliefs created a chasm with her past that forced her to choose her newfound relationship with God over her family “The Holy Spirit just became my father and my mother and my people,” she said in an interview with Baptist Press. “I’d go to bed at night, and I would talk to the Lord. He became my best friend, and I learned to just be strong. May 2022
When she was pregnant with her rst child, Ben, the relationship with her family was restored Joe continued to perform regularly, and eventually Lily joined him in a group called “Calvar y Mountain Boys,” a bluegrass band. Then they tried another name, “Sacred Bluegrass,” but nally settled on just using their family name, “The Isaacs.” Before 1986 the band played part-time as their family expanded to include children Ben, Becky and Sonya, combining then as they do now gospel, bluegrass and country. When their children began to grow up, they joined their parents in the group. Then, after 28 years of marriage that incorporated a very successful Christian musical ministry, Joe and Lily divorced. Lilly continues as vocalist for The Isaacs. A 40year breast cancer survivor, Lily was the inspiration for the Martina McBride country hit, "I'm Gonna Love You Through It," which was cowritten by Lily’s daughter, Sonya, and son-in-law, Jimmy Year y. In 2014, Lil y published her autobiography, You Don't Cry Out Loud, and she continues to inspire others with her story and music. According to their o cial website, current members of The Issacs include · Ben Isaacs, bass player and a vocalist. He has been nominated for more than six Grammys and is a producer as well as a musician. Ben has produced Dove award winning albums for The Isaacs as well as for other artists, such as The Oak Ridge Boys and The Gaither Vocal Band. · Sonya Issacs Yearly, the mandolin player and vocalist. She is married to singer-songwriter, Jimmy Yearly. Sonya has written songs that have been recorded by artists such as Leanne Rimes, Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride. She sings backup for performers such as Brad Paisley, Reba McIntire, Vince Gill and Trisha Yearwood. She was the background singer for the “Hannah Montana” movie and soundtrack · Becky Isaacs Bowman is married to John Bowman. She has also written songs recorded by a variety of artists. Her rst No. 1 was a song called “Stand Still.” Becky has performed background
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vocals for artists such as Dolly Parton, Alabama, Merle Haggard, Paul Simon, Trace Adkins and many more. She has also been named “Songwriter of the Year” and “Female Vocalist of the Year” by several award programs The Isaacs’ many awards and accomplishments include Grammy nominations and numerous SGN and Singing News Fan Awards. They are active members on the Gaither Homecoming Videos and Concert Series and perform more than 100 dates each year to welcoming fans throughout the world. Having performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, The Isaacs have also entertained fans at CMA Fest and on the “CMA Country Christmas” special. The award-winning group has also performed on and been nominated for the GMA Dove Awards where they have earned eight trophies, including the 2008 Dove Award for Country Album of the Year for “Big Sky.” In 2021 “Songs for Times” took home top honors at the 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards for “Bluegrass/Roots/Country Album of the Year.” Other award shows include the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, the National Quartet Convention Awards and the Inspirational Christian Country Awards. Two of their recent projects, executive produced by NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, received consecutive GRAMMY® nominations for Best Roots Gospel Album as well as a nomination for Best Roots Gospel Song. The Isaacs performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage on numerous occasions, and on Sept. 14, 2021, they were inducted as members into the Grand Ole Opry. May 2022
have chosen to partner with several experienced reputable, non-pro t organizations in Israel. May God bless you for giving, as is His desire, spoken in His Word. Click Here To Donate The Isaacs has established a nonp r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n , T h e Is a a c s Foundation, which aids the less fortunate. A special imitative of the foundation is the Fishman Isaacs Israel Initiative, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help Holocaust Survivors, orphans and Israeli “Lone” Soldiers. From the Foundation’s website Blessing is promised to those who bless Abraham and his descendants, the Jews. "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). The Isaacs, as Jewish Holocaust surviving descendants, feel it a calling and an honor to bless the land of our people, Israel. We love the Holy Land because of our heritage, but we also love the land because it was the location of the birthplace, home and resurrection city of our Savior Yeshua Jesus! We have been there many times and have witnessed the needs of so many of the underprivileged people there. This is why we started this organization. The Fishman Isaacs Israel Initiative, named after Lily's Holocaust surviving parents, was started to create a trustworthy opportunity for others to help us bless Israel. By giving to the orphans and the elderly, especially the remaining Holocaust survivors, we are honoring the beginning and end of Yeshua Jesus life. We are honoring Abraham's descendants, and we are helping His people. We love what He loves. We bless what He blesses. We are His hands and feet, and our heart beats as His does for His homeland Please donate today and help us make a di erence in the lives of so many needy children, families, soldiers and elderly friends in Israel. We
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Bridge To Community works with other likeminded partners and organizations to help serve those in need by sharing resources when organizations experience resource gaps to complete their mission. We truly do believe we are better together The Bridge is housed in a 20,000 square foot warehouse in Nashville, TN, that not only stores the food for the Tuesday evening services, but also acts as a local food bank for other area ministries. The Bridge Ministry also aids school children on assisted lunch programs by lling their backpacks with food on Friday afternoons so that they have food to eat over the weekend Donate Now May 2022
Ray Stevens Returns to CabaRay Country Music Hall of Fame member Ray Stevens has returned to the stage for his 2022 live concert season at the CabaRay Showroom, located in West Nashville. The two-time GRAMMY® winner will resume live dinner shows with weekly performances continuing throughout the year. Stevens will perform 90-minute concerts which include performances of many of his biggest hit songs including, “The Streak,” “Mississippi Squirrel Revival,” “Misty,” “Gitarzan,” “It’s Me Again Margaret,” “Shriner’s Convention” and “Turn Your Radio On.” At each show, dinner seating begins at 5:30 p.m. with the live concert following at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Thursday and Saturday night performances are on-sale now at raystevenscabaray.com.
Artists Help Tornado Victims Kentucky natives Ricky Skaggs and Steven Curtis Chapman raised more than $200,000 for victims of the devastating Dec. 1 0, 2021, May eld, Kentucky, tornado via Samaritan’s Purse at their sold-out bene t concert. Held earlier this year at Heartland Church in Chapman’s hometown of Paducah, the uplifting evening also included performances from Jason Crabb, Larry Stewart and more. Tornado relief donations can still be made via Samaritan’s Purse at kytornadobene t.com.
Scan for Branson tickets
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May 2022
Life is So good for this American Classic Jeanne Seely is hard at work promoting her "An American Classic" album. She's also recently released a single, "Not A Dry Eye In The House," with Willie Nelson, a song written by radio personality Dallas Wayne. Jeannie followed with a song Dottie West had begun writing that was found in some of her memorabilia. It was taken to Bobby Tomberlin and Steve Wariner to nish. "I truly believe it was just the way she would have done it, and I felt so blessed when they allowed me to record "If You Could Call It That," Seely said. "Sometimes I almost feel Dottie's presence on the Opry stage with me when I'm singing it... and it's a good feeling. Her single, "So Far, So Good," was released last year, and she visited "Larry's Country Diner" to share it with fans. Watch her sing it here "It's a song I've carried around with me for probably nine years now that I could never get out of my mind," Seely said. "It's an up-tempo, positive song written by Penn Pennington and Mitch Ballard. I hope you will give it a listen and maybe make a request for your local station to play it! Watch her performance on The Diner's o cial facebook page
Jeannie was among the Grand Ole Opry members that included Chris Young, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina and Larry Gatlin who joined Garth Brooks on stage at his April concert in Nashville.
A special exhibit featuring Seely's career memorabilia is being showcased at Music Row Regions Bank located at 1600 Division Street in Nashville throughout 2022 and is free to the public during business hours
Left, Jeannie in the early days of her career, and above with two of her good friends, Gene Watson and Moe Bandy.
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May 2022
Country music hitmaker and Academy of Country Music awardwinner Je Carson died of a heart attack at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee at the age of 58 on March 26, 2022 A memorial service was held April 2, after which a police motorcade accompanied his remains to his burial Je rey Lee Herndon, known musically by Je Carson, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on December 16, 1963, and began his musical career early on singing in church. After forming a band in Rogers, Arkansas, Carson eventually moved to Branson, Missouri where he wrote songs and played around locally before moving to Nashville to began recording demos, including Tracy Byrd (“Walkin’ To Jerusalem”), Tracy Lawrence (“I See it Now”), Reba McEntire (“The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter”), Tim McGraw (“I Wouldn’t Want It Any Other Way”), Faith Hill (“It Matters To Me”), Mark Wills (“Places I’ve Never Been”), Diamond Rio (“Mirror Mirror”) among others. In 1995, Chuck Howard was instrumental in getting Carson his recording contract at Curb Records, and soon a single, “Yeah Buddy,” was released to radio. This was his rst charting single and was followed up with ‘Not On Your Love,’ which went number one. The following single, ‘The Car,’ became a top- ve hit, topping out at number two and won Carson his rst Academy of Country Music award for “Video of the Year.” Carson had several other singles, including “Real Life (Was Never The Same Again)” from his album “Real Life.” In total, Carson’s career achieved 14 charted singles on the Billboard chart In 2009, Carson retired from music to become a law enforcement o cer with Franklin Police Department in Williamson County, Tennessee, where he worked until his death “I went through Police Academy, where I stayed on base for ve days a week, and that lasted 12 weeks,” Carson recalled. “Then Franklin had a 16-week Academy and three months of ride-a-longs before I was released out on my own. I was one of the older applicants for the Academy at 44.” Carson returned to music in 2019 signing a singles deal with MC1 Nashville to recut and release a previously recorded song “God Save The World,” which charted on the Music Row Top 40 chart. Most recently Carson signed with Encore Music Group and has been in the studio with Buddy Hyatt recording a specialty album to be released later this year that included duets with Michael Ray, Darryl Worley, Mark Wills, and Craig Morgan Je Carson is survived by his wife Kim Cooper Carson, son Dayton Grei Herndon Carson, mother Virginia Norton, brother Steve Herndon, sister Karen Spurlock, as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. The family has requested that, in lieu of owers, donations be made to the Franklin Police Department’s Law Enforcement Assistance Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides nancial assistance to Franklin Police O cers during unexpected life events and college scholarships to o cers’ children May 2022
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In Memory of Jeff Carson
Country star Darryl Worley and his non-profit The Darr yl Wo r l e y Foundation are teaming with 8Oaks Recover y to help aid men and women struggling with various forms of addiction. A platinum-selling singer, Worley has scored nearly 20 hit singles and three charttoppers with the self-penned “Awful, Beautiful Life,” the patriotic “Have You Forgotten?” and “I Miss My Friend.” He recognizes the importance of giving back as seen through his work with The Darryl Worley Foundation, annual charity events and supporting the United States military, as well as the nation’s veterans Worley and his organization have now committed to providing monetary assistance to 8Oaks, a Christian-based clinical treatment program. The cause hits very close to home for Worley. “My passion for this project comes from a very real place,” he explained. “I’ve seen rsthand what addiction can do to loved ones because of the issues in my own family. Seeing people get the help that they need seems to be almost like therapy for myself. I think my own personality has proven to be somewhat addictive at times and I share that with some of my family members who struggle constantly with substance abuse.” Since its inception, The Darryl Worley Foundation has given more than a million dollars in grants to c a u s e s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t We s t Tennessee, Northwestern Alabama and Northeastern Mississippi. The mission of The Darryl Worley Foundation is to create and aid organizations that assist with human need and welfare, community support, and education. The organization’s desire is to constantly give back to the community and to encourage others to do the same. The Foundation raises funds to support these e orts through direct donations and events such as The Tennessee River Page 14
Run, a Country concert usually held in October of each year in downtown Savannah, Tennessee “My life is an open book and I just want to see people get their lives back,” said Worley. “If laying my own shortcomings on the alter can help someone nd the courage to step forward and get the help that they need, I’m all in. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is enough and he’s the way to get right and lay the other stu down. I don’t think I can be more honest than that.” Headquartered in Lawrence County, Tennessee, 8Oaks Recovery is a 501c3 non-pro t, 30-, 60- and 90-day, Christian-based, intensive outpatient and sober living treatment program consisting of guided group and individual therapy with licensed, Christian drug and alcohol counselors, licensed mental health therapists and experienced pastoral, spiritual development.
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Worley’s Foundation Partners with Recovery and Counseling Center
April 2022
The program has an e ective blend of Biblical teaching within a framework of clinical supervision and oversight. This allows people to receive Christian-based treatment while utilizing their health insurance. Fo r more information visit darrylworleyfoundation.org or the8oaks.com
Listen to one of Worley’s Hits
Corey Layne Debuts on “Huckabee”
Singer-songwriter Corey Layne, who was featured on the cover of Country Reunion Magazine earlier this year, was invited to perform on “Huckabee” after a stellar performance on “Larry’s Country Diner” that caught the attention of Keith Bilbrey Layne, though only in his 30s, sounds and writes like the traditional Country artists he admires. Click here for the Country Reunion Magazine article about Corey To see where’s he’s performing next and to watch his videos, go to coreylayne.com.
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Beginning as a dream, David Morgan, 8Oaks founder and lead pastor of Lawrenceburg United Church, brought the non-pro t to fruition in 2012 by rst helping those su ering from substance abuse disorder in the local church and community through one-on-one discipleship and counseling. Soon the need became so great that a volunteer team was built, and 8Oaks Recovery Inc. was formed. Since then, the work has and continues to vastly expand. “We are blessed to have the support of Darryl Worley along with the backing of The Darryl Worley Foundation,” said Morgan. “Darryl brings a unique perspective on the issues faced by our veterans, su ering from PTSD and often substance abuse issues. 8Oaks Recovery is now providing treatment services at an outpatient facility, along with its soberliving facility. This format allows it to treat local residents as well as people who live outside of the Lawrence County area, conducting intensive outpatient and group therapy and rapidly increasing services to meet the challenges ahead.
April 2022
By Claudia Johnso Trisha Yearwood is known best for her vocal talents, but the Grammy-winning entertainer is also a dog lover and a devoted advocate of animal rescue. She’s taken her commitment to the well-being of dogs beyond her own family by establishing a fund to help rescue organizations across the country. She’s also launched a company that o ers quality products for dogs. “We always had dogs,” Yearwood said. “My daddy was a bird hunter, so my pet when I was little usually ended up being a hunting dog that didn’t really like to hunt. I inherited several great dogs that way! Even as a child, she wanted to help dogs that did not have a home “My rst “rescue” was a little white dog we named Skeeter,” she recalled. “My dad was out with his bird dogs hunting one afternoon, and they chased this cute little dog right into my daddy’s arms! He brought her to the house, and we fell in love immediately. It was my rst lesson in that special bond between rescue dogs and owners. There’s nothing quite like it. Yearwood said that through the years she’s lucky to have been “found” by several rescues. “The rst dog I got on my own after I rst moved to Nashville was Roseanne, a German shepherd/chow mix, who made it to 14 years old,” explained the Georgia native, who relocated to
Watch a video of Trisha talking about her love for dogs
Music City to attend college and pursue her musical aspirations. “Roseanne traveled some with me on the road, slept on the other pillow at home, and I jokingly said she was the longest lasting relationship I’d ever had…which at the time, was not a joke! Dottie, Hank and Pete were pets that she and husband Garth Brooks rescued in Oklahoma. Yearwood pointed out that more than 6.5 million pets arrive at animal shelters throughout America annually. “There are never enough essential supplies for shelters to accommodate this large number of surrenders and strays,” she said. “These animalloving organizations need help.” In an e ort to cover costs for medical bills, nutrition and other ba sic necessities, Yearwood created Dottie’s Yard, a non-pro t fund named after her precious rescue, Dottie, who showed up at the Yearwood-Brooks home looking for a place to belong in 2004 when she was around two years old.“Our girls instantly named her for the fawn-like spots on her beautiful brown coat,” said Yearwood. “Dottie was fast. She could run up to 30 mph, and she leapt through the elds like a gazelle. Garth always said if she had a cape, she could y! She was our protector and our best friend. Dottie was also kind of superhero dog who led the pack at home and showed the ropes to all of Trisha’s rescue animals on the farm
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Yearwood Dedicated to Animal Rescue and Health
May 2022
Yearwood said that Emmy inherited some of Dottie’s endearing traits “After Dottie left us, Emmy was really lonely, so we rescued Millie from a local shelter and is part of the family,” Yearwood said. “When we adopted Millie, I watched in wonder as Emmy passed down the lessons she learned from the best Dottie’s Yard helps dogs and cats all over the nation by alleviating nancial burdens and supporting the organizations who give animals a much-deserved second chance at nding a forever home “Dottie’s Yard was created to honor one of the best dogs I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing,” Yearwood said. “Now, Dottie’s legacy will live on and she will continue to help dogs and cats all over the country.
Yearwood with her rescues
underground, and she vetted the potentials and brought home the keepers. By the time Yearwood and Brooks moved back to Nashville in 2014, Dottie was 12 years old. They had lost Hank and Pete, both to cancer, but the newcomer, Emmy, made the move with them. “Dottie outlasted them all, bringing another rescue I found on the side of the road with us to Nashville,” Yearwood said. “Her name is Emmy. I watched Dottie teach Emmy how to be an adult, how to properly chase a squirrel and what kind of face to make to the humans to get what you wanted. Dottie left us in 2016 at the ripe old age of 14, leaving behind hearts, that while broken, were full of the unconditional love she had given us.”
To m a ke a donation or to browse Yearwood’s products
trishayearwoodpetcollection.com
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“Dottie was a beautiful dog,” Yearwood said. “She had to be part German shorthaired pointer, because she had the most beautiful coat, like a fawn. We joked that Dottie had some sort of rescue
May 2022
Areeda’s southern cooking by Areeda Schneider Stampley
Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole A family favorite casserole. So easy and delicious! 1 6-oz package Uncle Ben’s Original Long Grain and Wild Rice ½ cup butter ½ cup onion, chopped ½ cup all-purpose our 8 oz. can button mushrooms, drained 1 can chicken broth, 14 oz. 1 ¼ cups half and half cream 3 cups chicken, cooked, diced 2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley ¼ cup diced pimiento, drained ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 ½ teaspoons salt ½ cup slivered or sliced almonds Prepare rice according to package directions. In large pot, cook onion in butter until slightly tender. Remove from heat. Stir in our. Add chicken broth gradually to our mixture. Add half & half. Slowly cook and stir until thick. Add remaining ingredients, except almonds. Place in 2quart shallow casserole dish. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 350° for 40-45 min. (60 min. if casserole has been refrigerated.) Yield: 8-10
To purchase Areeda’s Southern Cooking, a co ection of old-fashioned recipes send $24.45 check (no credit cards) and mailing address to Areeda’s Southern Cooking, P. O. Box 202, Brentwood, TN 37024. Order online with PayPal or credit card at www.areedasoutherncooking.com.
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March 2022
Country Comedian Johnny Counterfit Dies Unexpectedly Ronald Lee DeMoor, known professionally as Johnny Counter t, passed away April 6, 2022, at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital in Lebanon, Tenn. Born March 24, 1956, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Robert and Catherine (Bogacz) DeMoor, he moved to Portland, Oregon, with his family at age 3 and graduated from Franklin High School in 1974. An impressionist, singer, comedian and actor, he established his stage name of Johnny Counter t in his early 20s. He began impersonating cartoon characters as a child and expanded his repertoire to more than 150 voices, including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Frank Sinatra. In the 1980s, he appeared on a CBS Christmas Special and on ABC’s “America’s Funniest People.” In 1993 he moved to Nashville and within a year was on The Nashville Network. Over the course of his 40-year career, he performed across the world, including on the White House lawn in 2000 with President Bill Clinton in attendance. He did television and radio commercials and had a starring role in the CBS television special “A Claymation Christmas Celebration,” which won an Emmy. He also had a small, on-camera role in the 2019 movie “Patsy & Loretta.” Counter t enjoyed studying American history, economics and current events as well as writing songs, comedy and books, including a published novella, JFK:Averting the Assassination. In lieu of owers, a memorial account has been set up for the bene t of his children, John and Elise, at Liberty State Bank (1035 W. Main St., Lebanon, TN, 37087). A funeral mass was held on April 11, 2022, at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, Lebanon. He is survived by his children, Elise DeMoor and John DeMoor of Lebanon, Tenn.; brother Dennis of Lacey, Wash.; sisters Donna Shawn (Kelly) of Milwaukie, Oregon, and Cheryl Mills of Oregon City, Oregon; and sister-in-law Becky Zenkowich of Rocky Mountain, North Carolina, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and twin brother, Donald DeMoor. Fro m t h e f a c e b o o k p a g e o f Jo h n n y ’s daughter, Elise: Early yesterday morning, my father unexpectedly passed away. He was a force to be reckoned with, high spirited, strong willed, and one hell of a father. I would have loved to see the world through his eyes. He was the happiest guy in the room. He loved history, mechanics, economics, music, and just simply learning every way the world worked. Most importantly, he loved his children. We were his life’s biggest accomplishment to him. He loved us ercely. He was my number one supporter through everything, my best friend, my moon and all of my stars. Now, he is my angel, and I know he will watch over me through all of life’s grandest experiences. He will forever be in my heart. I will miss him for the rest of my life. I’m proud to call this brilliant, talented man my father, and I’m proud to be his daughter. I love you more than anything, Dad. Until we meet again. May 2022
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Nadine’s Corner Well, h e we e already in May! Moth 's Day is the most imp tant day of this m th, I guess. I s e am thankful f the Mama God gave me! That wasn't so ue when I was y ng when I got a switchin’ ce a week wheth I needed it not! Y w ld have to talk to both of us individually ab t wheth I needed it not! Being a preach 's kid, y le n to sneak nd and I wasn't ab e wanting to talk back to h but kn ing that was not a sm t thing to do! All of r p ents w ld be und sup visi of DHS n days! L d kn s these kids today w ldn't kn what was g ng if r p ents w e in ch ge! If my Daddy had said jump, we w ld have asked h f ! I really appreciate my p ents so much m e n than I did then! They taught us well as f as m als, w k ethic and just plain e w k goes! I appreciate my M and h values, h life, that taught me h to l e and c e f pe le. I especially ch ished h pray s that I knew was prayed ev y day f r family and I kn that those pray s have go en me to wh e I am today! Thank y . M , wh e y and Dad e enj ing the beauties of heaven! I pray that even today I can be the same f my children, praying f them the way my M prayed f me! I might have needed it m e than my n kids, but they need the d ecti that ly the g d L d can give them! I kn that my M 's patience was like a tube of t thpaste – it was the v ge but nev quite all g e!
L e ya’ll, Nadine
Nadine with Rh da Vincent and the Rage April 2022
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10 years ago this month – Carol Lee Cooper Retires from Opry Carol Lee Cooper announced her retirement from the Grand Ole Opry during Marty Stuart's segment of the show on Saturday, March 24, 2012. She received a great ovation from the audience. In addition, she received a special framed poster from Opry general manager Pete Fisher and was joined on stage by the other Carol Lee Singers. "For thousands of Grand Ole Opry fans over the years the sound of the Carol Lee Singers has become wonderfully familiar over the Opr y airwaves," Fisher said. "For all of us at the Opry, Carol Lee has and always will be family. We are so pleased to celebrate her long Opry career with her tonight and look for- ward to hearing about her future successes. Following the presentation, Stuart and his band, the Fabulous Superlatives, treated the audience to a rendition of "Carol Lee,” a song written and sung by band member Kenny Vaughan. Afterwards, while Cooper sat center stage, Stuart held her hand and closed the segment with the gospel song "The Unseen Hand." "This wonderful Opry family will always have a special place in my heart," Cooper said. "I'm proud to have spent so much of my life here around the music and people I love. I am blessed to have so many good things and interesting projects in store for me, and I already look forward to sharing them with everyone here." Cooper rst appeared on the Opry Stage with her parents, Opry members Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, in 1956. She formed and has led the Carol Lee Singers, named by Opry great Roy Acu , on Opry background vocals since 1972. The Carol Lee Singers' other members, Norah Lee Allen, Rod Fletcher, and Dennis McCall, will continue performing at the Opry as 'The Opry Singers.' She was part of her mothers act after Stoney Cooper passed away. She also spent a few years as the rst female announcer on the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree. For those following the Opry, this is not a real surprise. Cooper has battled health and voice issues for the past year, and has not been on the Opry stage since last winter. She made an appearance at the February 2012 taping of “Larry's Country Diner “where she talked brie y about being healthy again and praising God for her recovery.
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Click the video above for a message from Carol Lee
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June 2021
PFI Western Wear has New National Owners PFI Western Store, Home of BootDaddy, a long-time sponsor of “Larry’s Country Diner” has sold to Cavender’s, a 90-plus store chain “We are proud to be associated with Randy Little and the Little family who has such a long and distinguished career within the western wear industry,” Mike Cavender said The relationship brings two great western retailers together at Highway 65 and Battle eld Rd in Spring eld, Missouri “For over 46 years we have been able to grow PFI through the help of a very generous and caring community and now is the time to retire to let the company continue to grow through the Cavender’s organization. It’s been a great ride and I wouldn’t change a single thing.” Little said. Little said he’s known the Cavenders for a long time. “Our great associates are not going anywhere,” Randy noted, adding that the store leadership team remains as managers of the Randy Little and Ann Tarter sit with the new owners of PFI. store. Joe, Mike and Clay Cavender are equally excited about the purchase. “We’re looking forward to adding a renowned western store to the Cavender’s chain, which will serve the existing PFI customers as well as all the great tourists that come to the Ozarks,” Joe Cavender expressed.
Barbara Fairchild, George Hamilton IV (in hat), Alex Miller, and Dianne Goodman
Hawkshaw Hawkins Jr, Leona WIlliams, Chris Golden and Tim Atwood
Linda Davis and Roy Morris
The Exchange Club’s Family Center held its Celebrity Waiter Fundraiser in April. Among those participating were: Leona Williams, Barbara Fairchild, Linda Davis, American Idol's Alex Miller, Hawkshaw Hawkins Jr, Julie Harris, Chris Golden, Brenda Lynn Allen, George Hamilton V, Becky Hobbs, Irene Mandrel, Mona Jo and other artists who volunteered their time to raise money to help those families who nd themselves in domestic abuse situations. May 2022
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10th Annual
Proudly Sponsored by
Thursday, June 9 2020 Multi-Generation Family Tributes
George Hamilton IV George Hamilton V
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May 2022 $30 TICKETS @ outhousetickets.com or $35 CASH at Door Click here to get your tickets!