Country Reunion Magazine, May 2023

Country Reunion m• a • g• a• z • i• n • e

May 2023

James Carothers

Charlie Pride June Jam Blue Lights, Country Nights

Mavis Husky Cousin Jody Corey Layne Luke Combs CabaRay Shophouse

Rockabilly

Ha of Fame Induc es Mo Pitney

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… and more

May 2023

Country Reunion Magazine Who’s inside?

Rockabilly, p. 3-4 James Carothers, p. 6 Pride Statue, p. 7 Areeda’s Country Cooking, p. 9 June Jam, p. 8 Nadine, p. 9 Blue Lights, Country Nights, p. 10 Mavis Husky, p. 11 Arreda’s Country Cooking, p. 12 Cousin Jody, p. 13-14 Hall of Fame Inductees, p. 15-16 Corey Layne, p. 18 Renea the Waitress, p. 19 CabaRay, p. 20 Country of a Cause, p. 21 Mo Pitney, p. 23 “Three Wooden Crosses,” p. 23 Book Club, p. 24

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May 2023

Rockabilly Combines Rock with Country

by Claudia Johnson Emerging in the early 1950s, Rockabilly music combined elements of what was to become rock and roll with traditional country and western music.

T h o u g h Ro c k a b i l l y a n d co u n t r y a r e o f te n associated, there are di erences that help the listener quickly di erentiate.

Rockabilly has a stronger emphasis on rock and roll and blues, while country music is more closely associated with folk and traditional music. Rockabilly typically features a rhythm section of a pared-down drum kit and an upright bass, combined with electric or hollow-body guitar and often a piano, and the vocals are often characterized by a distinctive "hiccup" or "slur" in the phrasing.

Country music, on the other hand, has its roots in folk and traditional music. It features acoustic instruments such as guitar, banjo, mandolin and ddle, as well as having a focus on storytelling through the lyrics.

While some country music may have rockabilly elements, it is typically more traditional in its sound and structure. Several artists who became country music stars produced music that would best be described as Rockabilly in the early days of their careers.

Carl Perkins, credited as being the “Father of Rockabilly,” wrote some of rockabilly's most memorable songs, including "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Boppin' the Blues." Perkins was inducted into the Rock and Roll, International Rockabilly and Nashville Songwriters halls of fame “Blue Suede Shoes” won a Grammy Hall of Fame award as one of the songs that helped shape rock'n'roll, and Ro ing Stone magazine rated Perkins among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Perkins continued to write and perform music throughout his

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career, and he remained an important gure in the rockabilly community until his death in 1998.

G e n e Vi n c e n t w a s a n o t h e r p i o n e e r o f Rockabilly who had a number of hits in the 1950s, i n c l u d i n g " B e - B o p -A- L u l a , " “ Pi s to l Pa c k i n' Mama” and "Blue Jean Bop." In 1956 he wrote "Be-Bop-aLula," which Ro ing Stone later listed as number 103 on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Vincent, who died at age 36 from a ruptured ulcer, was the rst inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame upon its formation in 1997.

The following year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Vincent has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Eddie Cochran was a Rockabilly musician and guitarist whose 1950s’ hits included "Summertime Blues" and "C'mon Everybody."

His career and life were cut short when he died in an automobile accident in England at age 21 in 1960 after the car in which he was riding with Vincent and others was hit b y a t a x i af te r a performance.

In 1987, Cochran was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His pioneering contribution to the genre of Rockabilly has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

May 2023

Elvis Presley was one of the most in uential performers of Rockabilly music. His early hits, such as "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock," combined elements of rock and roll and country music and helped to popularize Rockabilly around the world.

Johnny Cash also dabbled in Rockabilly, and his country hits such as "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Pr i s o n B l u e s " b l u r r e d t h e l i n e s b e t w e e n Rockabilly and countr y. Other countr y stars associated with Rockabilly include Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wanda Jackson and Conway Twitty.

Several modern country artists have incorporated elements of Rockabilly into their music.

• Sturgill Simpson uses elements of Rockabilly, b l u e g r a s s a n d o t h e r g e n r e s . Hi s a l b u m , "Metamodern Sounds in Countr y Music," features a mix of traditional countr y and Rockabilly sounds.

• Chris Stapleton has drawn inspiration from Rockabilly, traditional country and other roots music genres, which is obvious when listening to his award-winning album, "Traveller."

• Country singer-songwriter Brandy Clark’s album, "Your Life Is a Record," mixes traditional country and Rockabilly sounds.

• In country artist Jamey Johnson’s album "That Lonesome Song," the influence of Rockabilly is apparent.

"Nowadays, the Rockabilly subculture is still very much alive throughout the world," according to The Subculture Blog. "Most Rockabilly diehards still dress the same way as the original 50’s culture did."

Rockabilly is celebrated annually with a music festival and car show in Arizona. In addition to memorial tributes to some of the greatest Rockabilly stars, dozens of bands who carr y on the Rockabilly tradition perform throughout the three-day festival called The Rockabilly Reunion. A Rockabilly festival called CincoBilly is being held on May 5 and 6 in Norco, California. Sixteen Rockabilly bands are set to play, with the nal night's headlining show being a tribute to the early years of Elvis Presley.

Roy Orbison at Cincinnati Gardens, 1976

Wanda Jackson, 1975

On the cover: Carl Perkins, roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis in 1977 Conway Twitty, 1974 countryreunionmagazine.com

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May 2023

Traditional Country music lovers often comment that no one is making "real" Country music anymore.

One listen to Nashville honky-tonk crooner James Carothers is proof that real Country is alive. He's built a large fan base of ercely supportive followers who appreciate his Tennessee twang, Southern storytelling and throwback Country style.

“James Carothers sounds like a soundtrack for the grand tour that celebrates classic Country’s history of rowdy crooners and sentimental outlaws,” observed Will Hodge of Rolling Stone Country.

Hodge wrote that Carothers self-penned song, “Back to Hank,” "pulls no punches as it simultaneously pines for the sound of solid Country gold and propels it into the present day.”

Carothers's lyrics observe that "steel guitars and smokey bars is something from yesterday, but there's still hillbillys cutting a rug and living the American way," adding in the chorus that "It's a long way back to Hank; It's too far to turn around, I think."

His reception at the Grand Ole Opry may be an indicator that the appreciation for traditional Country exists. Just prior to the 2020 shutdown, Carothers received a standing ovation when he ful lled a lifelong dream by making his Opry debut at the Ryman Auditorium.

R a i s e d i n r u r a l Mc Na i r y, Tennessee, Carothers gre w up leading acapel la singing e ver y Sunday in the Church of Christ. His father, Jim, was a hobby songwriter who landed a song he wrote on the Grand Ole Opry – "Puttin’ on the Dog" performed by Mike Snider.

He recorded a couple of studio albums in Nashville before moving the family out west for work while his son was still in grade school.

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Inspired by his dad, Carothers started performing at honky-tonks around New Mexico during his teens and 20s. Meanwhile, he got married, started a family and paid the bills as a technician at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, working in the same place the atomic bomb was created.

In 2015, Carothers left his job at LANL and returned to Tennessee to pursue a Country music career. Shortly after arriving in Nashville, George Jones's widow, Nancy, personally hired him for his rst steady gig performing at the George Jones Museum, giving him the oppor tunity to do something he says he is thankful for and that so many aspiring artists moving to Nashville dream of doing – make a living playing music.

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Carothers Keeps “Real” Country Alive

May 2023

A W S M Ro a d S h o w Wi n n e r, Ca r o t h e r s has opened for stars like Ricky Skaggs, Trace Adkins, The Charlie Daniels Band, Mickey Gilley, Dustin Lynch, Cody Johnson, Ben Haggard, Joe Di e, The Kentucky Headhunters and others. He was selected by Alan Jackson to open his show at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, as well as several other dates on Jackson’s “Honky Tonk Highway” tour from 2019 to 2022.

Carothers has been performing in Nashville since 2015, having played more than 2,000 shows at venues like AJ's Good Time Bar, Martin’s BBQ, The Nashville Palace and Music City Bar when he's not on the road. He's also traveled to Canada, Japan, Scotland, Norway and Lichtenstein for shows.

His 2023 performance schedule on his website, jamescarothers.com, re ects how much he enjoys playing fairs, festivals, bars, corporate events and private events all across the United States.

Carothers released his latest single, “Saturday Night Life,” last year. Previous album releases include "Whatcha Got Left" (2021), "Songs & Stories" (2019), "Still Country, Still King: A

“Steel guitars and smokey bars is something from yesterday.This downtown Nashville music Well, that just ain't my jam; I miss them old Twin Fiddles; And the sound from Alabam.

Well, it's a long way back to Hank” – “Long Way Back to Hank” by James Carothers

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Tribute to George Jones" (2018), "Relapse" (2017) and "Honky Tonk Land" (2014).

“Carothers is continuing to carry the torch for traditional Country music," wrote Whiskey Ri magazine columnist Wes Langeler, "This rst listen of “Someday My Day Will Come” is a muchneeded reminder of everything Country music used to, and still should, be.”

May 2023

Pride Immortalized with Statue at Ryman Country music legend and trailblazer Charley Pride has been forever immortalized with a bronze statue that joins the likenesses of Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe and Little Jimmy Dickens as part of the Ryman’s Icon Walk, a portion of the Ryman’s exterior property that recognizes legends who have paved the way for Nashville performers. The statues of Bill Monroe and Little Jimmy Dickens were added in 2017 as part of the Ryman’s 125th anniversary, with Lynn's joining in 2020.

“Charley Pride broke barriers and de ed stereotypes, becoming one of the most successful and beloved country music artists of all time,” said Ryman Hospitality Properties Executive Chairman Colin Reed. “The Ryman Icon Walk honors not only his contributions and the groundwork he laid for countless other artists in country music, but also to the Ryman, where he performed many times throughout his career. Charley’s in uence will always be felt throughout the entire Nashville community, and his addition to the Ryman Icon Walk is our way of paying tribute to his incredible talent and enduring legacy.”The statues, sculpted by artist Ben Watts, take one year to create.

Pictured at the unveiling ceremony, L-R: Colin V. Reed, Executive Chairman, Ryman Hospitality Properties; Hortense Ransom, Head of Operations, CECCA Productions; Rozene Pride; Ben Watts, sculptor; Dion Pride; Dennis Quaid. Photo: Catherine Powe

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May 2023

June Jam Returns After 26 years ALABAMA, the most successful band in country music history, is reviving the group’s legendary June Jam. The live concert event will take place in Fort Pa y n e , A l a b a m a , a t the VFW Fairgrounds on June 3, 2023, marking 26 years since it was last held. ALABAMA will headline and close the festival with special guests to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Our wishes are that Fort Payne will take June Jam and it will go on forever,” explained ALABAMA lead singer Randy Owen. “We lost Je [Cook], and when me and Teddy [Gentry] are gone, hopefully the city will continue with the June Jam. We want this to continue to help the city, the town, the state and just help people in general.”

ALABAMA’s Fan Appreciation Week will also take place in the days preceding June Jam. The June Jam was created by Fort Payne’s sons, ALABAMA, and brought some of the biggest names in country music together for charity. More than 30,000 fans attended the rst June Jam bene t concert in 1982.

By 1991, June Jam brought 67,000 fans to Fort Payne, making it one of the biggest country music events in the nation. The June Jam Foundation has raised more than $15 million for charities. Previous performers include Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson, The Judds, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Wayne Newton, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson and many more.

On February 7, ALABAMA was honored in their hometown of Fort Payne, receiving the V.I. Prewett Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce. The honor recognized the band for its decades of giving back to the local community. It was at the banquet that ALABAMA revealed the return of June Jam.

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May 2023

Nadine’s Corner Father Brian an elderly Catholic priest, was speaking to Father Karl, a younger priest.

“You had a good idea to replace the rst four pews with plush bucket theatre seats,” he said. “It worked like a charm. The front of the church always lls rst now.”

Father Karl nodded, and the old priest continued.

“And you told me adding a little more beat to the music would bring young people back to the church, so I supported you when you brought in that rock ’n’ roll gospel choir,” the priest said. “Nw our services are consistently packed to the rafters.”

“Thank you, Father Brian,” answered the young priest. “I am pleased that you are open to the new ideas of youth.”

“All of these ideas have been well and good,” observed Father Brian wisely. “But I am afraid you’ve gone too far with the drive-thru confessional.”

“But, Father Brian,” protested the young Father Karl, “My confessions have nearly doubled since I began that!”

“Indeed,” replied the elder priest, “And I appreciate that. But the ashing neon sign, “Toot ‘n Tell or Go to Hell” cannot stay on the church roof.” Love ya'll, Nadine

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May 2023

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Blue Lights & Country Nights Raises Money for Law Enforcement Ma y i s o f f i c i a l l y Na t i o n a l L a w Enforcement Appreciation Month, and Countr y music artists Br yan White, Deborah Allen, Halfway to Hazard, Janie Fricke, Jeannie Seely, Keith Anderson and Tommy Roe are scheduled to take the Nashville Palace stage to help raise money and awareness for Law Enforcement Assistance Partnership (LEAP). The event dubbed as Blue Lights & Country Nights will take place on May 9 with more artists to be announced.

“We are thrilled to be bene tting from this event again, this year,” says Diane Wilhoit, President of LEAP. “Last year, Countr y music artists really helped support all of law enforcement with their generosity in both performances and within the media. We are so looking forward to what 2023 will bring and how we can continue to show the men and women in blue how much they are appreciated.”

The event last year was a memorial for ACM winner Je Carson, a 90’s country artist who retired to become a law enforcement o cer and worked for the Franklin Police Department just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Raising more than $80,000 the organization was able to provide special air contraptions to help o cers stay cool during the height of the summer heat. In recognition of Carson, continued support of LEAP, Blue Lights & Country Nights was born.

Tickets are $40 for general admission, $50 for reserved seating, and VIP tables are available for the special event by calling 615-587-1023.

Donations to LEAP can be made at adoptacop.com with each donor of $25 or more receiving the nal recordings of Carson. The event is presented with the support of Gus Arrendale and Spring Mountain Farm.

May 2023

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Country Singer Marvis Husky Passes at 79 Marvis Jean Thompson Husky was an entertainer in her own right, but she was also married to the famous Ferlin Husky for than 40 years.

She grew up in Barrett, Minnesota. She started her singing career at the age of three with her brother Orlo Thompson. They sang on radio stations in Minneapolis as a duet for many years. A performer on the Grand Ole Opry, Mrs. Husky appeared on various television shows, worked in movies and entertained all over the world. Her voice can be heard on more than 20 albums.

She died at age 79 on April 2, 2023, at her home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Born in Barrett, Minnesota, on Oct. 7, 1943, she was the daughter of Orlin and Jeannette Leraas Thompson.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 40 years, Ferlin Husky. She is survived by her brother Orlo Thompson, children Julie Husky Smith, Terry Preston Husky, Alana Husky Jackson and Jennifer Husky and several children and great grandchildren. Her nal resting place will be at her beloved family homestead in Barrett, Minnesota.

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May 2023

Areeda’s

southern cooking Areeda Schneider Stampley

Blue Ribbon Southern Coconut Pie A Best of Show winner at the Tennessee State Fair 1/4 cup, +1 teaspoon cornstarch 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 & 3/4 cups whole milk 1 cup flaked coconut 3 large egg yolks (room temperature), slightly beaten 3 Tablespoons butter (no substitute) 1 & 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Combine cornstarch, sugar and salt in heavy saucepan.

Gradually add milk; blend well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Do not boil.

Blend small amount of mixture into egg yolks, then add egg yolks into pie mixture, stirring constantly. Cook about 1 minute.

Remove from heat; stir in butter, vanilla, and coconut. Blend well. Cover and cool to lukewarm, stirring occasionally. Pour into baked pastry shell.

Meringue: 3 egg whites, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar, 6 tablespoons sugar.

Beat egg whites until slightly puffy, then add other ingredients and beat on high until high peaks. Spread over filling. Sprinkle with coconut. Bake in a 375° oven, on lower rack, approximately 10 minutes until meringue is golden brown.

Note: To avoid a “weepy meringue,” bake it until it’s almost to point of “almost too brown” in order for meringue to be done.

To purchase Areeda’s Southern Cooking, a collection of old-fashioned recipes, send a check for $25 and your 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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May 2023

Cousin Jody – More than Just a Funny Face

by Danny Nichols Rural comedy coupled with considerable musical talent transported James Clell Summey from Possum Hollow, Tennessee, where he was born during the World War I era, to the Grand Ole Opry, where he performed as Cousin Jody.

Summey’s parents were musical, so he grew up learning to play several instruments, including the guitar and steel guitar, which he called a “biscuit board.” He rst appeared publically on a radio variety show he established in Knoxville, Tennessee, that aired daily and became an instant success.

Summey rst played with a group in 1933 that called themselves the Tennessee Crackerjacks. A young Roy Acuff joined the band, eventually luring Summey from the mountains of East Tennessee to Nashville for an Opry performance in 1937. The dobro had been developed in the 1920s, and Summey was an accomplished player who was the rst artist to feature the instrument at the Opry. Acuff used Summey’s dobro talent to back up most of his early recordings.

Listen to Acuff’s original recordings of “The Great Speckled Bird” and “Wabash Cannonball.” That’s Summey on the dobro.

Creative differences with Acuff promoted his exit from the band. Summey worked with artists like Pee Wee King and Lonzo and Oscar and even played steel guitar for Eddie Arnold before carving his own niche in the comedy genre with Oral Rhodes as half the Odie and Jody duo. As “Our Cousin Jody,” the multitalented performer became a star in his own right and was an Opry regular for more than 30 years. Once asked why he had chosen the stage name Cousin Jody, he replied, “Don’t I look like your Cousin Jody?”

He made appearances on “Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town,” “The Kate Smith Show,” “The Dave Garroway Show” and “Steve Allen’s Tonight.” Newspapers covering his brand of entertainment often noted that he was a “pantomime artist” in addition to a singer and musician. He was also featured actor in several cowboy movies with Roy Rogers and Johnny Mack Brown.

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Cousin Jody

May 2023

Cousin Jody and the Countr y Cousins traveled throughout Europe entertaining the troops during the early 1960s and became a popular act beyond the Opry, appearing at festivals and small concert venues and releasing recordings like “Lady Cop” and “Television Set.” In 1966 Summey became involved in a lengthy federal lawsuit he led a gainst The National Informer Publishing Co. and its Chicago owners, Vincent and Josephine Sorren. The Informer, a tabloid paper, had run a professional publicity photo of Summey dressed as Cousin Jody with a caption that suggested he was a sexual deviant.

Summey’s suit argued that the article was “false, libelous and malicious” and was published to willfully “injure, disgrace and defame” him. He asserted that his personality had been invaded along with his right to privacy and his natural copyright to his own features had b e e n v i o l a te d . He s t a te d t h a t t h e a t t a c k h a d permanently damaged his good name. In 1968 Summey was nally granted a default judgment for $200,000.

Summey made additional headlines in 1968 when he married his third wife, Marie Hill, after meeting her in a Nashville laundry mat a few months prior.

The comic died in 1975 at age 61 following an extended illness, leaving behind his wife, Marie, a son, Clell Vernon Summey, whose mother was Summey’s rst wife, Dorothy, and a daughter, Jodena Summey, whose mother was his second wife, Sarah.

He also left behind a favorite sing-along song, “On Top of Old Smokey,” that families on long car trips and school children on buses were singing for decades after Summey’s recording sealed its popularity.

Click here to listen to Cousin Jody’s version of “Wabash Cannonball”

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May 2023

Tanya Tucker, Patty Loveless and Bob McDill to be Inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame

Vince Gill hosted Country Music Association (CMA) ceremony at the Hall of Fame Rotunda announcing that Tanya Tucker, Patty Loveless and Bob McDill will be inducted as the 2023 members of the Country Music Hall of Fame in a formal ceremony this fall.

“Tanya, Patty and Bob each have a distinctive voice and an ability to share stories that precisely represent American life,” said CMA CEO Sarah Trahern in a press release. “While their impact is felt in very di erent ways, their songs are re ective of their generation and experience, vividly illustrating an authenticity that will last forever. We are honored to welcome these three very deserving inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.”

Tanya Tucker Country music legend, Tanya Tucker, will be inducted in the Veterans Era Artist Category.

Tucker already had fans at the young age of 13, before her debut on the cover of Rolling Stone at age 15.

At that time she had three No. 1 hits to her name, and she eventually placed 41 singles in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart.

Tucker has earned a dozen Gold and Platinum albums. Half a century later, Tucker still has more to give. “People ask me, ‘How do you think you lasted so long?’” she told Billboard in 2022. “I won’t go away, so you’ll just have to put up with me.”

“I’m more than proud to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame,” Tucker said in a press release. “It was wonderful to have all three of my kids beside me when I got the news. The only way it could’ve been any better is if my parents, Beau and Juanita Tucker, could have been there too. They are the reason and the root of all my success in music.

And the fans – they are everything! When I walk in that Hall, they will all be with me.” countryreunionmusic.com

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May 2023

Bob McDill Well-known Nashville songwriter, Bob McDill, will be inducted in the Songwriter Category.

Mc D i l l had 30 songs on the top of Billboard magazine’s Country charts including some classics like Alan Jackson’s “Gone Country” and Alabama’s “Song of the South.”

McDill served in the Navy, and shortly after leaving the service, the Texas native started gaining attention for his songwriting. He made his rst stop songwriting in Memphis, but soon after he headed to Nashville.

McDill spent 30 years writing songs on Music Row in Nashville. He has many Songwriter of the Year awards to his name, including from the Nashville Songwriter’s Association (NSAI), ASCAP and BMI. Even though he retired in 2000, McDill’s works archived on 217 yellow legal pads now resides with the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum.

“I am thrilled and honored to be included,” said McDill.

Patty Loveless Contemporary country star, Patty Loveless, has been making her way through the country music scene for almost 50 years.

The Bluegrass native will be inducted in the Modern Era Category.

Loveless started out playing rock cover songs in the 70s but moved back to Nashville in the 80s. While she did have a rocky start, Loveless has led an extraordinary music career.

She has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1988, which was the same year her rst Top 5 single of a cover hit the charts.

Her rst Billboard No. 1 single “Timber I’m falling in Love” soon followed in 1989.

“I’m still trying to believe that I’m going to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame,” said Loveless in a press release. “I just feel so incredibly privileged to be invited into this incredible family. Having my name included in the museum’s Rotunda with so many legendary artists, musicians, songwriters and industry icons is such an honor!”

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May 2023

Corey Layne is bringing his “Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” tour to STAAR Theatre at Pulaski, Tennessee's, historic 1868 Antoinette Hall Opera House on May 20 at 7 p.m. For this aspiring songwriter and performer, who was the co ver stor y of the March 2022 Country Re u n i o n Magazine, traditional countr y music runs in his veins.

Layne is a third-generation musician born and raised in the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau in East Tennessee. Since he was young, his desire has been to bring "old style” country music back to life and perform on the Grand Ole Opry stage like his grandfather before him.

Layne began singing for audiences at age ve and was dabbling with writing in his early teens. In 2003, he won an international singing contest held at the Page 17

RCA Dome in Indianapolis, and by 2010 he was traveling around the country performing with various gospel artists. A few years later, he signed his rst record deal. While his start with gospel opened many doors, his true passion is and will always be soulful country music.

“The STAAR Theatre at Antoinette Hall performance will be an intimate evening with Layne singing his own compositions, covering some classic country and gospel songs and talking with the audience about the craft of songwriting," said Tammy Pierchoski, Executive Director of STAAR. “We're honored to have someone of his caliber performing at our historic venue.”

Since his 2022 performance on "Larry's Country Diner," Layne has appeared on "Huckabee" and maintained a rigorous touring schedule.

Visit CoreyLayne.com for more about Layne.

Go to staartheatre.com to read an article published in Country Reunion Magazine and purchase VIP packages or reserved seating.

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Layne to Perform at Historic Theater

May 2023

Luke Combs to Repurpose Nashville’s Wildhorse Luke Combs is an award-winning country music artist, and now he’s got his own downtown Nashville bar to prove it. During a press conference in Nashville hosted by the Opry Entertainment Group, Combs made his big announcement, revealing that he plans to open his own multi-level entertainment venue in 2024.

The new hotspot will be located at 120 Second Avenue North, the same building currently occupied by popular downtown bar the Wildhorse Saloon. The Saloon will be recon gured into the largest entertainment complex on the strip, featuring a 69,000-square-foot complex able to host up to almost 3,200 patrons.

With three interior levels and a proposed rooftop bar in the o ng, Combs will have plenty of opportunity to personalize his new bar, customizing the venue to re ect his personality and massive — and growing — catalog of hit songs. Ticketed events of up to a 1,500-audience capacity will be featured, as will a dance stage designed with line dancing in mind.

The name of the joint hasn’t been announced, but Combs did say that it’s inspired by debut single and rst No. 1 hit, “Hurricane.” Other sections of the location will also be inspired by his songs.

One segment dedicated to Nashville’s many bachelorette parties will be dubbed “Beautiful Crazy,” after a song inspired by Combs’ wife, Nicole. The singer also promises a “world class bourbon experience” at his bar.

Combs played many of his earliest shows in Nashville at the Wildhorse Saloon, making this new venture very special.

“I got my start in town playing on this stage and to have the opportunity to work with Opry Entertainment to transform it into my own bar is a dream come true,” he recounts. “I can’t wait for my fans to see what we’re up to.”

Combs is the latest in a long line of country stars to open his own bar in Nashville, joining M i r a n d a L a m b e r t , L u ke B r y a n , Ja s o n Aldean and Dierks Bentley and other acts who own bars neighboring Combs’ upcoming new hot spot.

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Pictured Right: Luke and Nicole Combs are awaiting the birth son, Page 18 of their second child. Their countryreunionmagazine.com Tex Lawrence Combs, was born on Father's Day, Jun. 19, 2022.

May 2023

Renea The Waitress I hope all of you Mothers, Grandmothers and GreatGrandmothers have a blessed Mother’s Day. I can see the tree in the background in our front yard from my o ce window, and it has the most beautiful pink owers on it. It’s like a Mother’s Day ower basket. So beautiful!

As some of you may know, I have been recouping from hip replacement surgery.

It’s a pretty easy surgery, but takes a while to get those muscles healed and working again, but by October, Nadine and I will be ready for the Branson Zip Line again!

A true sight to see!

We love going to Branson and hope you all get your tickets to come see us. Larry is telling us it might be our last show at the Clay Cooper Theater in Branson.

Don’t miss seeing the whole Cast of “Larry’s Country Diner” Oct. 2-6. The artists that will be joining us on stage are: Monday: The Texas Tenors, Tuesday: Gene Watson., Wednesday: Rhonda Vincent, Thursday: The Malpass Brothers and Friday: The Isaacs. Call the box o ce at The Clay Cooper Theater to get your tickets. 877-317-2604.

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May 2023

CabaRay Provides Unforgettable Nashville Experience

When visiting Music City be sure to see Ray Stevens perform live on stage at his CabaRay Showroom with his fabulous A-Team Band!

Fans will be thoroughly entertained with a 90minute full concert, jam-packed with Stevens’ iconic hits and comedy classics. Stevens takes guests down memor y lane with tales and stories from his legendary career. The audience laughs out loud and has an unforgettable experience.

Get there early to experience the fabulous Piano Bar with live music from 5 p.m. until showtime and post show until closing.

Table seating is available on the main oor with a c h o i c e o f t h r e e p r i c e l e v e l s : V I P, E l i te and Standard. Purchase tickets on the main oor for just the show or elect to add the delicious optional plated dinner. Get info here.

There are also traditional theater seats available for the show only in the balcony.

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May 2023

Country for A Cause Benefits Children Moe Bandy, John Conlee, Wade Hayes, Terry McBride, Brandon Davis, Elizabeth Cook, Jake Ho o t , L e o n E v e r e t t e , Ma ke n z i e P h i p p s and Paulette Carlson (Highway 101) are the rst round of artists announced to join hosts, T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang for Country for A Cause at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley, Wednesday, June 7 at 7 p.m. bene tting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

“To say that Kelly and I are honored to once again host Country for A Cause is an understatement,” said Sheppard. “It truly amazes us that this year’s group of legendary artists is the most diverse that we have ever had the pleasure of hosting.

This is going to be an incredible show.”

“Thousands of dollars have been raised by our annual event up to this date, and we are so excited to raise even more this year,” said Country for A Cause President, Sherri Forrest. “Our concert will be held at 3rd and Lindsley once again this year because of their gracious support, superior sound system and a listening room environment that is worthy of the talent who make this annual event a tremendous success.”

Forrest said that over the years, this event has become known as the uno cial kick-o to the CMA Fan Fest since it is held on Wednesday night before all of the other festivities kick into action.

"When attendees purchase tickets to Country For A Cause, they are supporting children!" she said. "Year after year, we continue to receive praise and acclamations on what a great show this is and we are most grateful. If past events are any indication, we expect another sold-out event this year.”

In 2018, Country for A Cause teamed with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt as the sole bene ciar y of proceeds raised. The hospital is one of the nation's leading children's hospitals, treating and helping to prevent a full range of pediatric health issues from colds and broken bones to complex heart diseases and cancer. Achieving 10 out of 10 nationally ranked pediatric specialties in 2022, Monroe

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Carell was again named among the nation’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” for the 16th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the hospital earned the distinction as the No. 1 pediatric hospital in Tennessee, and for the second year, it shares rst place in the Southeast Region.

This year's show is sponsored by Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farm. Tickets are on sale now and are $45 for general admission or $300 for VIP tables.

To purchase tickets, visit www.3rdandlindsley.com.

May 2023

10 Years Ago this Month Country Reunion News turned 10 in 2022. Each month this year we wi continue to revisit some of our favorites om a decade ago each month going forward.

Born and raised in Cherry Valley, Illinois, Mo Pitney is truly a smalltown country boy. He began his career in music at the age of 12 when he picked up his dad’s guitar and asked him to teach him a few chords. His dad obliged, never dreaming just how far he would take it from there.

After mastering the guitar, he went on to teach himself to play the banjo, bass and drums. His music has been highly in uenced by bluegrass artists such as Tony Rice and J.D. Crowe. Pitney spent countless hours listening to old vinyl records and cassette tapes over and over until he got every lick exactly right.

To hear Pitney sing, one would never imagine they were listening to someone just 20 years of age (in 2013). Vocally inspired by artists such as Keith Whitley, Johnny Cash, Randy Travis, Buck Owens and Daryle Singletary, Pitney has a deep baritone sound all to himself, matured well beyond his years.

John Rich, after hearing Pitney sing for the rst time in the studio, “Boy, with a voice like that, you shouldn’t be doing anything but makin’ records.”

At a Writers in the Round charity event with Darryl Worely and Wynn Varble, Pitney sang one of his original songs, ”Hang Out With Me.” Worley, so impressed by Pitney’s voice and sound, asked him to open for his annual Tennessee River Run, which was scheduled for the very next day.

In 2013, Pitney was working on an album with Curb Records that would be the perfect blend of traditional and mainstream country sound. Pitney said he enjoys writing songs that re ect what he’s all about – young love, faith, family, friends and his love for the outdoors. Deeply rooted in the classic true country style that he cut his musical teeth on, Pitney has the ability to deliver each song with a fresh, Page 22

young, modern twist, in his own way, making the old new again.

When he is performing or writing music, Pitney spends his free time training his bird dogs, shing or hunting anything that’s in season. He skins his own bucks and runs his trotlines. Pitney is the real deal…a country boy that could quite possibly change country music in a very big way.

Update Since the following story appeared in Country Reunion Magazine in 2013, Pitney and his Emily have welcomed daughters Evelyne Nadine and Audra Elaine Pitney. Being a parent has been integral to Pitney's ability to reconnect with his purest musical passions while also serving as motivation to get out, make new music and have faith that he is walking the right path.

"Two things happened with having a baby," he says.

"Everyone talks about how, when a kid comes, you're able to see the world through their eyes again and a leaf falling on the driveway is the most interesting thing in the world. You have the ability to start over and relive that again... But also, it's like, 'Oh my gosh.

This little kid depends on me to bring checks home and pay the bills.' That's where the faith has to take over that God has a plan, and He's taking care of my daughter more than I am. I don't think He believes in ruining art for the sake of nancial gain."

Pitney has a full touring schedule for 2023 and has released more traditional country music. Learn more at mopitney.com

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Mo Pitney, Small-Town Boy is Real Country

May 2023

“Three Wooden Crosses” Reminds About Fragility of Life

by Claudia Johnson Everyone’s seen the little crosses on the side of the road. Sometimes owers surround them. There may be stu ed animals, wedding photos or other mementoes that honor a person who lost his or her life on the spot. Over the years the owers fade, and the cross deteriorates, but the memorial remains.

Passersby will most likely never know the heartbreaking story, but each person who sees the cross imagines for a minute the pain of such a loss.

Pe r h a p s t h i s i s t h e r e a s o n " T h r e e Wo o d e n Crosses" was a 2003 No. 1 Country hit for Randy Travis – his 16th – becoming that year’s Country Music Association’s Song of the Year. It spent 34 weeks on the Country charts and was Travis’s only solo recording to make it into Bi board’s Top 40 chart, peaking at No. 31.

“There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,” the lyrics reveal. “Why there's not four of them, heaven only knows.”

The song tells the story of four strangers – a farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher – on a bus, three of whom are killed when an 18-wheeler runs a stop sign and plows into them on a dark road. Each was traveling to Mexico for a speci c reason. “One's headed for vacation, one for higher education, and two of them were searchin' for lost souls,” the lyrics clarify, observing, “I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go.”

The vacationing farmer left his home, harvest, farm, faith and the “love for growin’ things in his young son’s heart.” The teacher “left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children, did her best to give 'em all a better start.”

The preacher and the hooker, who were “looking for lost souls” with very di erent expected results had a nal encounter before one of them died. The preacher shared his Bible with the hooker, asking her,

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“Can’t you see the promised land?” in one last chance at guiding her to redemption.

“That's the story that our preacher told last Sunday as he held that blood-stained Bible up for all of us to see,” state the lyrics, leading listeners to believe that the hooker had died in the accident until the preacher concludes, “Bless the farmer and the teacher an' the preacher who gave this Bible to my mama, who read it to me.”

The song, written by Doug Johnson and Kim Williams, became the rst to be released on a Christian record label and reach No. 1 on the Country Charts. It also won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association as Country Song of the Year in 2004. Travis told Christian Music Today that the song was symbolic of his own Christian conversion.

“I came from a background that was heavy with drugs and alcohol and arrests,” Travis said. “I’ve heard people speak about how a vision or something hit them, like a light turned on, right then and there. For me, I was into my early twenties, and I went to bed one night and just started reading the B i b l e . T h a t ’s h o w t h e s l o w process of coming to understand that I needed to know more about the Word of God began, and then coming to the point of accepting Christ and water baptism.”

Though the song clearly refers to the memorial crosses left at accident sites, American listeners are also reminded of the three large wooden crosses symbolic of the cruci xion of Jesus Christ funded by Methodist evangelist Reverend Bernard Co nda er that dot the landscape in 29 states as well as in the Philippines and Zambia.

The World War II veteran who fought with the Marines on Iwo Jima died a decade before Travis released "Three Wooden Crosses,” but Co nda er embodied the song’s message that what a person leaves is more important than what they take. The businessman-turned-preacher spent his entire $3 million fortune erecting 1,842 crosses, a center gold cross anked by two blue ones.

May 2023

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May 2023