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U.S. Highway 23, Better Known as Country Music Highway

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U.S. Highway 23, which runs through eastern Kentucky (from Greenup to Letcher County) is known as “Country Music Highway.”

The Kentucky Tourism Cabinet designated it Country Music Highway because of the impressive number of Country Music stars that have come from this region. More stars of Country Music have come from this one region than any other area of the United States.  Pretty impressive, right?

These stars include…

  • Loretta Lynn
  • Billy Ray Cyrus
  • Tom T. Hall
  • Naomi and Wynonna Judd
  • Keith Whitley
  • Ricky Skaggs
  • Patty Loveless
  • Crystal Gayle
  • Dwight Yokum
  • Hylo Brown
  • Gary Stewart

To learn more about Country Music Highway’s history, attractions, events, and stars, check out Country Music Highway.

Country Music Highway – Inside Music Row 1243:

The video below is from a few years back, but there’s still some pretty interesting information.

The Outlaws of Country Music at Grand Rivers Variety (Review)

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The Outlaws of Country Music, Grand Rivers Variety

Saturday, Michael and I saw one of the new shows at Grand Rivers Variety: The Outlaws of Country Music. As the name suggests, this is Grand Rivers Variety’s tribute to Country Music’s “Outlaws” such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Travis Tritt, etc.

If you’ve read my other Grand Rivers Variety Reviews, you know I’m a huge, huge fan.  The musicians, singers, costumes, comedic skits, dancing, writing… all the pieces almost always go together to create magic.

I couldn’t even begin to count the number of shows we’ve seen at Badgett Playhouse.

What’s more, we often see a show more than once. Some just beg to be enjoyed as many times as possible.  Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Always, Patsy Cline, It’s a Wonderful Life (Live Radio Play), Greater Tuna shows (Red, White, and Tuna, A Tuna Christmas), and Cash: Ring of Fire are just a few that come to mind.  Click HERE for the 2013 dates for these shows or click the titles for my reviews.

Just 10 minutes into The Outlaws of Country Music, I thought to myself, “When all’s said and done, this may end up being one of the best shows ever at Grand Rivers Variety.”  The first of the show is completely dedicated to the lives and music of a few of the Outlaws we know on a first-name basis.  The live performances perfectly coincide with video interviews and information about some of Country Music’s most beloved outlaws.  The words of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings meshed beautifully with the live music and singing.  And when I say beautifully, I mean flawlessly beautiful.

When music moves you, there’s a certain element of magic and The Outlaws of Country Music achieved this Houdini-Style.

When Terry Mike Jeffrey, Barry Jobe, and Thomas Michael sang as Scot Durham played the piano, the magic was palpable.  This was the first time my husband or I either had the pleasure of hearing Terry Mike Jeffrey and we’re both hoping it won’t be the last.  How this man isn’t as big a household name as Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, and Trace Adkins is beyond me.

In previous reviews, I’ve raved about the other three wonderfully talented men, so bear with me as I go on a little bit, exclusively, about Terry Mike Jeffrey.

Have you ever had someone take the words out of your mouth? They SAY something along the lines of what you were just thinking – then you (with mock anger) agree with them.  It’s like I WAS THINKING THAT! YOU CAN”T SAY IT!

At one point, as Terry Mike Jeffrey was singing, my husband whispered to me, “He can SING.” I snapped, “YES!”

Then he pushed it by whispering, “Anything.”  I snapped, “YES! ANY-THING!!”

I paused for effect between ANY and THING to take complete ownership of the sentiment.

The man’s voice is phenomenal and I could have listened to him for hours. I did a little online stalking and found that Mr. Jeffrey has several cds available.  I will find these cds. I will buy these cds. I will wear these cds out.

I don’t want to give any song information away (so you can be as delightfully surprised by the choices as we were), but I actually enjoyed a few of these guys’ performances better than the originals.  There are around 50 songs in all that you’ll enjoy in this show and everyone does a remarkable job.

Even though I’ve raved about Barry Jobe and Thomas Michael before on Genuine Kentucky, I will say this:  They were born to sing  Country Outlaw music. They’re always fantastic, but they redefined the word with their performances in this show.  I’ve also mentioned the amazing Eddie Holland on bass before, but I’ll simply say that he’s as “freaking talented” as always!

The musicians accompanying the songs were, as always at Grand Rivers Variety, were flawless throughout the show.  Steve Walston was on drums and the Steel Guitar was played by Buddy Elkins.

The song distribution between the singers (including pianist Scot Durham) was done just about as perfectly as it possibly could have been.

As we were sitting there in the magic of the songs, the fascinating video clips, and beautiful story-telling (by Barry Jobe), we were all transfixed in the moment and by the moment. As I said earlier, I even believed this would ultimately be one of the best shows ever.

The proverbial gears of the show switched when things became more comedic. Adorable skits played out as amazing music played on.  The actors and actresses were flawless in their delivery of hilarious lines and the audience roared with laughter on many, many, many occasions.

As comedy took center stage, if you’d looked closely, you might have seen a few question marks over my head.  To be fair, The Outlaws of Country Music is a sequel to an earlier show by Grand Rivers Variety called “The Sweethearts of Country Music,” and if I hadn’t been under the spell of the songs I’d been listening to, I’d have caught on much faster.

I’m giving myself the benefit of the doubt, here.

Natasha Neely, Sara Minihan, and Brittney Jones play the Sweethearts. The ladies are as talented as they are beautiful. Kentucky’s own Natasha Neely is from here in Owensboro and she definitely makes us proud. I honestly believe her voice is more impressive and mesmerizing each time I hear her. Three words: Remember. The. Name.

Sara also has a knock out voice. Her voice is accompanied by a huge personality and adorable stage presence. She also makes the wonderful costumes you see on stage. So much talent in one body.. what’s fair about that?

Like Terry Mike Jeffrey, Brittney Jones was new to us and, as I did with him, I sat there wondering all night, “How is this girl not on the radio?!” She has a very lovely voice and (like the other girls) a fantastic stage presence. There’s a sweet softness to her voice that reminds me of one of my favorites, Alison Krauss.

When the comedy skits first began, out popped the question marks as I wondered, “How’d we get here?”

I have nothing but faith in the people on and behind the stage at Grand Rivers Variety, though, so I simply swatted the question marks out of the air and decided to hang tight.  Right around then, one of the funniest people on earth (Steve Sherling) showed up and I thought, “We’re good here.”

This man is just incredibly, incredibly funny. Anyone who can work with him and keep a straight face deserves a cape -they’re super heroes. Along with Bill Minihan, Steve is what makes the Greater Tuna shows at Grand Rivers Variety so painfully funny.

My faith in the men and women on the stage (as well as those behind it) paid off because everything came together beautifully.  The dramatic tone of the opening minutes gave way to light-hearted fun in the middle which, in turn, gave way to a finale that tied the entire show together in one epic package.

The closing song was a stroke of genius and couldn’t have been performed any better. The choice of song was PERFECT. PERFECT. PERFECT.

The entire show was wonderfully entertaining and each individual has a disturbing amount of talent.

Let’s see… how can I sum up The Outlaws of Country Music?  Okay, imagine you’re in a red sport’s car convertible zipping down the highway – wind blowing through your hair. You don’t have a care in the world!  Now imagine that you have the radio tuned in to music that’s so incredible every cell in your body responds.

Even your kneecaps want to dance.

That’s The Outlaws of Country Music: A righteously fun ride with badass music.  If you want to hop in, go to Grand Rivers Variety’s website for ticket information. Do it now, this is a once in a lifetime kind of ride.

P.S.  My early thoughts of this being one of the best shows at Grand Rivers Variety? On. The. Money.

More Grand Rivers Variety Reviews & News on Genuine Kentucky:

The Sweethearts of Country Music Return to Grand Rivers Variety

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Grand Rivers Variety
I noticed that a wonderful show at Grand Rivers Variety has returned: The Sweethearts of Country Music.  The show will play on:

  • April 6, 2013 – 7:00pm
  • April 12, 2013 – 2:00pm
  • April 13, 2013 – 7:00pm
  • April 20, 2013 – 2:00pm

If you love country music and have a fondness for laughing, head over to Grand Rivers Variety and buy your tickets right now. To learn more about the show (including the musicians, singers, actors, and songs), you can read my Review of The Sweethearts of Country Music.

I wish I could convey to you just how much you’d love this show (and every show at Grand Rivers Variety). You’ll just have to trust me – after all, I’m a Kentucky girl and you know us Kentucky girls. We tell it like it IS. You’ll never have anything but a great time at Grand Rivers Variety. Just be sure to grab some popcorn and a Coke at the concession stand – all great times are even better with a snack.

More Grand Rivers Variety Reviews & News on Genuine Kentucky:

Grand Rivers Variety: Music and Mayhem in the Month of April

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Johnny Cash Ring of Fire at Grand Rivers Variety

Grand Rivers Variety in Grand Rivers, Kentucky in April is THE place to be if you love Johnny Cash music or laughing. Or both!  One of their popular comedic shows, Smoke on the Mountain brings back its colorful characters with an all new show: Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming, while one of Grand Rivers Variety’s best shows continues to rock and roll Johnny Cash style.

Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show

Johnny Cash fans will absolutely love Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show. Sing along with some of the Man in Black’s greatest songs and relive the life of an American legend.  Without a Johnny Cash, I’m not convinced we’d have a Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, or Jason Aldean.

You can read my Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show review by clicking the link. Please note the dates will be different, of course.  This is a show you don’t want to miss. You’ll be talking about it for weeks.

Ring of Fire will be shown on the following dates in April:

  • Saturday April 7 @ 7:00 pm
  • Saturday April 14 @ 7:00 pm
  • Saturday April 21 @ 7:00 pm
  • Thursday April 26 @ 2:00 pm
  • Saturday April 28 @ 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm

 

More Grand Rivers Variety Reviews & News on Genuine Kentucky:

For ticket information, please click HERE.

 

 

The Sweethearts of Country Music: Making Sweet Music with Grand Rivers Variety

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The Sweethearts of Country Music

Saturday night, my husband, one of our buddies (the best locksmith in the Nashville area – if you don”t shamelessly promote your buddies, who will?), and I took in a show at Badgett Playhouse Theater in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.

Even though I had possibly the worst headache in all the world, eclipsed only by a ridiculously stiff and painful neck, I was VERY excited to be there. I knew the show would be phenomenal because Grand Rivers Variety shows are always extra, extra, extra special.  As I sat there, wondering how many capsules of Ibuprofen would constitute “too many,” I tried to remember the last time we saw a show at Badgett Playhouse.

TOO DANG LONG is the answer I came up with.

During the winter months, what with Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries, I pretty much live in the kitchen.  I don’t wander far from the oven between November and March.

Maybe that explains the headache. My body was confused by the surroundings.

By the end of the evening, I told myself that I’d never allow three months to pass between shows again.  These shows are always so hilarious, fun, and engaging a person would be a fool not to see as many as they possibly could in a year.  I’m always stupefied by the talent in Grand Rivers Variety shows.  The singing, dancing, drama, comedy, sets, and costumes (made by the amazingly talented Sara Minihan) never fail to leave me asking one question, “How in the world are these incredibly talented people not playing to audiences in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry?”

Each time I come to the same conclusion, “Just be glad we have them HERE right now.”

I’ve said it before, but it bear’s repeating – my husband and I have been to countless shows in Nashville. We’ve had the pleasure of seeing the hottest stars in Country music today as well as the stars of yesterday. I only bring this up to qualify myself to say this: The quality of talent in Grand Rivers Variety is on par with the talent in Nashville shows. Yes, even shows at the Grand Ole Opry and The Ryman Auditorium.

But the seats are ever so much more comfortable.

The ridiculous talent we’ve come to expect was certainly on display last night.

[notification type=”standard”]From Grand Rivers Variety:

A Tribute To The Legendary Ladies Of Nashville! Join three very different ladies as they pursue one common goal… the elusive dream of fame and fortune on Music Row in Nashville. Along the way, these Sweethearts pay tribute to the ladies of country music that have gone on before them; Dolly, Loretta, Tammy and many, many more.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office toll free at 1-888-362-4223. Box office hours are 12-5 Tuesday through Thursday and 12-7 Friday through Saturday.

Show times for 2012 are as follows: Evening performances start at 7:00 PM CST and matinees are 2:00 PM CST. Doors open thirty minutes before each performance. [/notification]

When writing a review for a show with a cast of more than 5 people, I get a little antsy. I never want to leave anyone out or throw more compliments in one direction than I do in another.  There are absolutely no weak links when it comes to Grand Rivers Variety.  For example, the band is always outstanding.  Each member makes magic with his musical instrument.  I could literally listen to the band for hours on end.

The talented band members are:

  • Scot Durham, piano and vocals
  • Eddie Holland, bass
  • Chad Mullins, banjo, guitar, and vocals
  • Thomas Michael, guitar and vocals

There were a few other band members in the back who were also outstanding. The drummer absolutely tore it up and the gentleman on the steel guitar added so much to the show I wondered how any shows got along without him.  The entire band is simply awesome and, again, leave me wondering how we can be so lucky to have them in our own backyard. As I said before though, I’m not going to question it, I”m just going to enjoy the heck out of it.

Scot, Chad, and Thomas sang during The Sweethearts of Country Music and flat out blew everyone away. Mr. Mullins had over half of the female audience swooning.  I thought one lady was going to pass out.  During intermission, the women behind me talked of nothing else.  One said she could listen to him sing all day long, while the other quickly agreed.

I’m pretty sure the next sound I heard back there was the ladies fanning themselves off.

Two other names I’m anxious to mention are Steve Sherling and Barry Jobe.  These two took what would have already been an great show and made is a Must See show.  Steve, along with another of Grand Rivers Variety’s wickedly funny hams, Bill Minihan, makes all of the Greater Tuna shows such side splitters.  As soon as Steve shows up on the scene, my funny bone surrenders.  I take one look at whatever character he’s embodying and just die laughing.  His character in this show is no exception.  He’s a riot and a half.

His partner in hilarity during this particular show caught me off guard.  I know Barry Jobe as one of the singers. He has an absolutely wonderful voice and, like his co-stars, a very powerful stage presence.  I had no idea he was as big a ham as anyone!  He did an excellent job as the narrator of the show, sang beautifully as always, and positively brought down the house with a character (choreographer) he played.  I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.  I guarantee you this, the entire time he was prancing onstage, I forgot my headache existed.  When he sashayed off stage, I thought, “Oh, that boy’s not right!”

And I loved it!

Now, for the ladies. The three beautiful girls who star in this show are Tiffany Okerson, Stephanie Jo Newton, and Owensboro’s own Natasha Neely. When they stepped onto the stage, I thought, “I didn’t know Charlie’s Angels were in town. Cool.”  The beautiful trio, however, have a lot more going on for them than looks, but not a one of them was shortchanged in this particular department.  Their personalities were larger than life and each had a commanding stage presence that just dared you to look away.  Their dancing skills would make anyone jealous (especially those of us who are the proud owners of not one, but two left feet) and their voices were nothing short of beautiful.

Each time one of the girls sang, I thought, “I’m in love with her voice.”  I kept falling in love so many times I thought I was Taylor Swift.  The only difference, I never fell out of love with any of their voices.

Grand Rivers Variety had a stroke of genius when they cast these particular girls together as The Sweethearts of Country Music. Not only are they beautifully talented and beautifully beautiful, they compliment each other in a way show producers dream of. Each girl’s voice is distinctive and each one brings her own special quality and presence to the show.  Their comedic timing was also impeccable, which is just another way of saying they’ll make you laugh out loud so much you might even snort.

A few of my favorite songs from the night (though I honestly enjoyed all of them immensely):

  • Barry Jobe and Natasha Neely’s Duet I Told You So
  • Stephanie Jo Newton and Thomas Michael’s Island in the Stream
  • Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad by Tiffany Okerson
  • I’m a Woman by the girls
  • I’m Gonna Miss Her by Chad Mullins

Some of the other songs you’ll enjoy in The Sweethearts of Country Music show are:

  • Stand By Your Man (Tiffany)
  • Coat of Many Colors (Natasha)
  • Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
  • Coal Miner’s Daughter (Stephanie)
  • Golden Ring (Tiffany/Chad)

The songs in the show are a perfect blend of old classics and new favorites. I guarantee that you’ll find yourself singing along, clapping, smiling, laughing, and even doing a little seat dancing.  I did all the above with the headache from hell, so imagine how you’ll roll if you’re on top of your game.

In addition to the singing, dancing, and laugh-out-loud comedy, there are quite a few wonderful film clips.  You’ll enjoy interviews with Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn as well as glimpses into their lives and things they had to go through to become household names. There are also a few surprises in these film clips that’ll leave you laughing so hard you’ll have to set your popcorn and drink on the floor.  Well, that or spill it all over yourself  – a Greater Tuna show did that to me one time – and it was coffee!  Now I know…. when Steve, Bill, or Barry (who now comes with a “spilled drink warning label” as well) show up, the drink must go on the floor before it goes all over Joi.

You’ve heard of Live and Learn?  Well with Grand Rivers Variety, it’s Laugh and Learn.

If an evening (or afternoon) filled with laughing, clapping, singing, and pure good old-fashioned entertainment sounds good to you (and, seriously, how could it not?), I strongly urge you to buy your tickets for The Sweethearts of Country Music today.

Grand Rivers Variety’s Sweethearts of Country Music will be shown on the following dates: (UPDATED FOR April 2013!)

  • April 6, 2013 – 7:00pm
  • April 12, 2013 – 2:00pm
  • April 13, 2013 – 7:00pm
  • April 20, 2013 – 2:00pm

If you choose one of the 2:00 shows, you can enjoy the singing & dancing, then you, yourself, can dance across the street for supper at the famous Patty’s 1880’s Settlement Restaurant!

For more information about this wonderful show as well as the other wonderful shows at Grand Rivers Variety, please visit their website.

 

More Grand Rivers Variety Reviews & News on Genuine Kentucky:

"When reading about a Kentucky event, please be sure you check the date. Old events are not always deleted from the website. If you have an event you'd like to see on Genuine Kentucky or a 'Made in Kentucky' food or product you'd like reviewed, please contact us! " ~ Joi ("Joy")

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