This weekend, I’m attending the Carolina Country Music Fest! A huge celebration of country music with 30,000 attendees, and currently, thirty four artists playing! As a birthday present for myself, I splurged on a three-day pass and my sister-in-law, also a country music fan, is flying in from Philadelphia to go with me. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this.
Growing up, I enjoyed pop music — Elton John, Barry Manilow, Billy Joel. But as I reached my middle adult years, I noticed that the pop music radio stations had moved almost entirely to rap and hip hop. I wasn’t relating to that music at all, because I like songs that have “sing-along-ability.” On quick trips around town in the car, I like to turn on the radio, know all the songs and sing along, usually at the top of my lungs. This was a practice that was enjoyed by my kids when they were little. But, suddenly when they were pre-teens, it was “soooo embarrassing, Mom!”
It was actually my son, when he was in high school, who introduced me to country music. A budding “new” country artist named Jason Aldean came to our local town to play a concert. Opening up for him was famous dancer, but new singer, Julianne Hough (from Dancing With the Stars fame). He was interested in him, I was interested in her. So I bought the tickets and we went together. Little did I know that Jason Aldean would skyrocket into country superstardom. But not until much later.
That Christmas I gifted my son with tickets to Kenny Chesney, who was extremely famous at that time. It was a double bonus for me: time spent with my son, sharing his interests, and possibly discover another musician I liked. To prepare, I borrowed several CD’s of Kenny’s music from my son’s collection. It was a loud, raucous affair, the music was great and we had a really fun night together.
Since then, I’ve branched off and identified my own country concert partner friends, and I’ve been to many, many concerts. One great thing about country artists is that when you go to a concert, they treat you to a number of opening acts, many of whom you also hear on country radio. I’ve included pics of some of my concerts (my favorite, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban):
My book Crescendo incorporates my love of country music into an inspirational romance story. It’s a rags to riches story in the world of country music, with a twist! Black sheep in a wealthy family Haley Witherspoon has finally found the career that brings her passion, and it’s with handsome aspiring country musician, Blake Scott. Can they overcome her family’s disapproval, his own internal guilt, and mounting danger from a fan to achieve success?
I loved writing this book! Probably because I was so enthusiastic about the subject matter! I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this book ended up winning multiple awards. It won a bronze medal for Inspirational Romance Fiction in the Illumination Book Awards (Shining a Light on Exemplary Christian Books) AND a gold medal for Religious Fiction in the eLit Book Awards (Illuminating Digital Publishing Excellence). If you enjoy country music as well as inspirational romance, I hope you will get your own copy!
Quiz for a giveaway: In Crescendo, I sort of “wink at the reader” by including real-life country artists in the story, but fictionalizing their names. To be entered in the drawing to win an e-book copy of Crescendo, in comments, give me your guess of the real life country artists who correspond to these fictional names. The winner will be the one with the most correct answers, or in the case of a tie, I’ll do a random drawing.
- Brook Garthson
- Bryan Lucas
- Radley Ray
- Keith Olson
- Jason Dean
- Bentley Dirks
As a follow up to my last post Is a Wedding the end of a Romance? I told you my son was getting married. I promised a few pics from the big event, so here you go! One of my handsome son with the woman of his dreams and one of me in my fancy duds.
Hi Laurie! Congrats on your delightful romance Crescendo and your son’s wedding. Thanks for sharing your back story. Love the idea of including real-life country artists with fictional name. A unique twist. Always loved singing with Johnny Cash or John Denver. I agree with your assessment of radio music to sing by. While I am not a big country music fan, I did recognize a few of your fictional names. Brook Garthson is the famous Garth Brooks. Bryan Lucas is Luke Bryan. Radley Ray stumped me. Keith Olson might be Toby Keith? Jason Dean is Jason Aldean. And Bentley Dirks is Dierks Bently. Just added Crescendo to my to read list. Best wishes. Enjoy your weekend.
Hi Laurie- congratulations:) I love that you had fun writing this book. Thanks for sharing the photos of you and your son at his wedding- how lovely:)
I think we have different country music stars to the US. I only recognise Keith Urban… Here, Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley get a lot of airplay. To be truthful though, I don’t listen to a lot of country music; my sister is the fan, heading out to Tamworth each year!!
Blessings:)
Hi Laurie, My guesses are Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Jason Andean, and Dierks Bentley. I know 5 of those are correct.
Hi Renate! You did a great job! I’m giving you credit for 5! I hope you love Crescendo.
Hi Wemble! Where are you located? Although country music orginated in the American south I’m so excited that other countries are breeding their own country musicians!
Ding ding ding! You got all 6! You have taken the lead!!
Who are your favorite country artists?
Your book sounds awesome and country music is great! I haven’t been lucky enough to go to a concert but I most often listen to it in the car, which drives my kids crazy.
Hi Toni! I encourage you to go to a concert if you have the chance! And now that my kids are grown, I think embarrassing your kids by displaying your own interests is good for their character! :)
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Keith Urban
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
I get some of the funniest reactions when I tell people that I love country music. I attended a Rascal Flatts country with my sister years ago. It was amazing. Kent Chesney, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Luke Bryan and Garth Brooks are on my Bucket List.
Hi! Your story is very similar to mine, lol! My son wanted to go see Shania Twain and I was like, what?? Country music?? So I went and bought her CD and became a fan….that was wow, a LOT of years ago, hahaha. Now I listen to Christian music only, Air1 is my happy place.
Good for you Sonnetta! You are in the drawing! I know, believe me. My husband looks at me and says, “You like this?” As if he couldn’t tell by my big smile and the fact that I know all the lyrics!!
I had several of Shania’s albums. I love her voice! I’ll have to check out Air1. Is that on Sirius?
Hi Laurie, you have a super fun weekend planned! Keep us posted if you find a new country star to follow! My guesses for the country names are: Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, and Brad Paisley. I’m definitely a country fan, too!
I LOVE Country music!! Especially the older stuff I grew up on. My sisters are older than me, and I liked their rock, too, but in 1976 I went back to my roots when I couldn’t stand the disco stuff. It’s been country, country gospel, bluegrass, gospel since!! Your artists: Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Ray Hadley, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, and Dirks Bentley. Your book sounds great!!
Hi Susan! You are entered in the drawing! Thanks for playing!
Thank you Trudy! You are entered. My hubby only listens to music from the 50s through 70s. He was definitely born in the wrong decade!
I am not sure, I listen to it on my laptop for free by going to air1.com
My favorite is Alan Jackson. Our couple song is Shania Twain’s The Woman In Me.
Brook Garthson – Garth Brooks
Bryan Lucas – Luke Bryan
Radley Ray – Brad Paisley
Keith Olson – Keith Urban
Jason Dean – Jason Aldean
Bentley Dirks – Dierks Bentley
Great job! You are entered!
He’s a smart man!! Lol!! I love oldies rock, oldies country, and what they used to call “pop” music!! My Mom loved big band, I can handle it, and my Daddy was country. We’d watch both Lawrence Welk and HeeHaw!!
Thanks for sharing the wedding photos.
My guesses are Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Jason Andean, and Dierks Bentley. Some of my favorites are George Strait, Alan Jackson, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. I went to an Oak Ridge Boys concert recently. They are all in their mid 70’s but they can still sing and perform. Lots of fun!
I live in Australia:)
I am also Aussie and had heard of a couple of the names. (Rascal flats cos a friend is mad about them) I was going to guess, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban and I thought one may have been Billy Ray Cyrus. I like some country music but mostly listen to Christian music
Well of course you’d say Keith Urban — he’s Aussie himself! :)
Great job, you are entered! I saw the Oak Ridge Boys way back in the early 80s in concert. They sure have longevity.
You are so welcome. The day was perfect and special. No problems came up and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time.
Hi Laurie, Your post has shown me how little I know about American country music! Keith Urban and the Aussie singers Wemble mentioned are familiar to me. Like Jenny has said, I do remember when Billy Ray Cyrus’ ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ was in the charts here. Congratulations on your son’s wedding. :)
Ha, love the redesigned names.
Brad Paisley is one of my favorites too. Am going to see Alabama this fall, who were one of the first concerts I saw at the state fair when I was a teen. Think that might have been because my dad wanted to see the opening act at the time, K.T. Oslin. (Am refusing to acknowledge that Alabama is billing this as a 50th anniversary tour, because that can’t possibly be right.) ?
Yes, Brad is my absolute favorite. I must’ve seen him 6 or 7 times in concert and he’s always great. In fact, Brad even did a single with Alabama, remember? Alabama was the opening act of the Carolina Country Music Fest that I attended recently.
Hi Narelle! Country music has really exploded in popularity in the US in the last ten years or so. I remember when Carrie Underwood won American Idol, and she chose to go into country the judges thought her career wouldn’t be very lucrative. Boy, were they wrong!