Mt. Vernon - Rockcastle County Tourism

AN ALWAYS LORETTA CHRISTMAS WITH THE COALMINERS AT RENFRO VALLEY
2023-12-08 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Like so many successful performers, native Kentuckian Emily Portman cut her musical teeth singing in church and learning to read music as a member of her high school band. Inspired by her parents’ music, her influences were an amalgamation of classic country and classic rock, with a little ‘80s music mixed in and included Merle Haggard, Jim Croce, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. In college, she joined a choral group, learned the guitar, and began performing professionally at the Corydon Jamboree just across the border in neighboring Indiana. However, when she covered the music of Loretta Lynn, people took notice.
At an early age, perhaps due to her Kentucky roots and natural inflection, Emily was told that she, “sounded a lot like” country music legend, Loretta Lynn, so she became a student of her artistry. Emily pored over the singer’s entire catalogue of music and began working to emulate Loretta’s vocal style and her onstage mannerisms.In the summer of 2004, Emily entered a “Sing Like” contest at the Kentucky Opry and won $1,000 for her portrayal of Loretta.
Just a couple years later, after posting a video of herself performing a Loretta Lynn song on YouTube, she was discovered by Michael Twitty (eldest son of the great Conway Twitty) who cast her to portray Loretta in the nationally touring musical “It’s Only MakeBelieve.” The musical was instrumental in establishing Portman’s career. Over the next two decades, herportrayal of the Coal Miner’s Daughter would carry to the most prestigious stages (including the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry), where she would rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business, including George Jones, Archie Campbell, Vern Gosdin, Toby Keith, Chris Cagle, and even Loretta Lynn, herself, with whom she formed a close friendship.
Emily made frequent trips to Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills,TN. During one of her visits, the two singers were enjoying a casual conversation when, in mid-sentence, Lynn paused, looked at her straight in the eyes and said, “ya’ know, we have a real connection, don’t we?” If you ever saw the two performers together, the connection they shared was obvious.After Ms. Lynn’s unfortunate recent passing, Emily Portman connected with Loretta’s longtime backup band, The Coalminers. They agreed to join talents and collaborate to honor the memory and music of this true country music trail blazer with “Always Loretta”—a show authorized by the Loretta Lynn family that includes all the greatest hits and shares intimate stories of Loretta’s life through the eyes of those who knew her best.
Authorized and Approved by the Loretta Lynn Family!
www.alwaysloretta.com

THE ISAACS CHRISTMAS AT RENFRO VALLEY
2023-12-03 16:00 - 18:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
The Isaacs have been performing for 50 years this year (2021) After performing as guests for 30 years, The Isaacs were officially inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry on September 14, 2021. In 2020 the Isaacs were inducted into the GMA (Gospel Music Hall of Fame). They have been frequent guests on RFD network’s ‘Larry’s Country Diner’, and also appeared on the Gaither Homecoming Videos and Tours for over 20 years. The Isaacs have won 9 Dove Awards and their latest 3 albums have received Grammy nominations! They have performed the National Anthem at many professional sporting events including NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL games. The Isaacs and it’s members have been invited to perform on many gospel, bluegrass and country artist albums and stages including: Dolly Parton,Paul Simon, The Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Alabama, Craig Morgan, Josh Turner, Alison Krauss, Natalie Grant, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, and many others. The Isaacs have a non-profit organization called The Isaacs Foundation that blesses the less fortunate in America. They also have a branch called the Fishman Isaacs Israel Initiative that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to bless Israel, specifically Holocaust Survivors, Israeli “Lone” Soldiers and orphans.

ONE CHRISTMAS NIGHT IN MEMPHIS AT RENFRO VALLEY
2023-12-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
One Christmas Night in Memphis recreates the night of December 4, 1956, when four of the biggest names in early Rock ‘N’ Roll just happened to end up at Sun Records at the same time. The studio engineer kept the tape rolling and the impromptu session was quickly nicknamed the “Million Dollar Quartet” in the media. The cast will transport the audience to Memphis for this one night in rock ‘n’ roll history, bringing to life the music of Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
For more information: www.onenightinmemphis.com

Noel Night Market
2023-12-02 16:00 - 21:00 | City of Mt. Vernon, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Noel Night Market will be held December 2nd in downtown Mt. Vernon complete with Parade and Craft Vendors along Main Street. The event will feature vendors that specialize in handmade and handcrafted goods, art, and wares. Our main goal is to support our local artisans and create a space for them come together to showcase and sell their pieces. We will definitely be adding more information regarding activities and vendor applications in the coming months!

We can now announce the theme for the Christmas parade that will kick off the event at 4:00……. CHRISTMAS SONGS

and we heard that Santa plans to spend the evening with us again this year!

Studio London Christmas Recital at KY Music Hall of Fame
2023-12-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, 2590 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, 40456, United States
Hark the angels sing as you can listen to the sweet Christmas songs performed by the Studio London students at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Event is free to attend and starts at 1:00 PM.

OAK RIDGE BOYS DOWN HOME CHRISTMAS AT RENFRO VALLEY
2023-12-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
The Oak Ridge Boys’ Down Home Christmas Tour Comes To RENFRO VALLEY!
Theirs is one of the most distinctive and timeless sounds in the country music industry, and now The Oak Ridge Boys are bringing their Down Home Christmas Tour to Renfro Valley on December 1st, 2023 for an unforgettable night of holiday entertainment for the entire family.
The show will feature both traditional and contemporary songs from the group’s eight bestselling Christmas albums, as well as some of their classic country-pop hits, beautiful visuals, Christmas trees, falling snow—and a Visit from Santa!
The group has scored dozens of country hits and two pop smashes, earned Grammy, Dove, CMA, and ACM awards, and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. Every time they step before an audience, they bring decades of charted singles and 50 years of tradition to the stage.
“When I go on stage, I get the same feeling I had the first time I sang with The Oak Ridge Boys,” says lead singer Duane Allen. “This is the only job I’ve ever wanted to have.”
“Nobody does Christmas quite like The Oak Ridge Boys,” says tenor Joe Bonsall.
Allen and Bonsall, along with baritone, William Lee Golden, and bass, Richard Sterban, make up The Oak Ridge Boys, the legendary group whose appeal crosses generations.
Together they have earned 12 gold, three platinum, and one double platinum album—plus a double platinum single—and had more than a dozen national Number One singles and over 30 Top Ten hits—with more than 41 million records sold! Some of their best-known hits include “Elvira,” “Thank God for Kids,” “Bobbie Sue,” and “American Made,” among many others.

Holiday Market at Kentucky Music Hall of Fame
2023-11-11 10:00 - 17:00 | Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, 2590 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, 40456, United States
Join us for our annual Holiday Market at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum, located at 2590 Richmond Street in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. Over 30 vendors will be inside selling their Christmas décor to get you in the holiday spirit. Spots are already filled. It is free to attend the event.

Renfro Rock N Run Half Marathon/5K
2023-10-28 08:00 - 17:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Get ready for the 11th Annual Renfro Rock ‘N Run Half Marathon and 5K Run/Walk! The Renfro Rock N Run Half Marathon has a tradition of being one of Kentucky’s most unique and fun races.
Renfro Valley, Kentucky, home of the world-famous entertainment center and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, is known for its music, from Bluegrass to classic country to rock. Rockcastle County is home to a rock-solid, enthusiastic bunch who has taken to running and dare you to keep up. At the Rock N Run, they share the road, and their countryside, with you.
You’ll dash past rustic cabins, trot alongside a beautiful lake, and pass through some of Kentucky’s prettiest farmscapes.
Part of the Rockcastle Regional Countywide Stride run/walk series, and winner of the Jackson Healthcare Hospital Charitable Services Program of Excellence Award.
So, come on, y’all, Rock N Run!

Hallelujah Halloween on Main Street Street
2023-10-21 18:00 - 21:00 | City of Mt. Vernon, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Hallelujah Halloween on Main Street Street in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. Live Music, Trick or Treat, and Fun Games from 6PM to 9PM. Hosted by Unbridled Church.

Moonshiner's Ball at Rockcastle Riverside
2023-10-12 - 2023-10-15 | Rockcastle Riverside, 4211 Lower River Road, Livingston, KY, 40456, United States
The Moonshiner’s Ball is an annual music festival that was started in 2014 by a rag-tag group of musicians and music-loving friends, including members of the band Blind Corn Liquor Pickers. Since 2018, the fest has taken place at Rockcastle Riverside, a beautiful and secluded private concert venue and campground located in the Daniel Boone National Forest, a little over an hour southeast from Lexington, Kentucky. With an average attendance of 1200-1500 kind souls, this small, grassroots festival allows plenty of space to spread out, steal away from the crowds and commune with nature.
Meticulously curated by a team of music lovers, The Moonshiner’s Ball embraces a diverse variety of music, with the unofficial tagline “folk by day, funk by night.” We take great pride in our region, and love to spotlight our favorite Kentucky acts, but are also excited to host some of our favorite musical discoveries from well beyond our state on our two stages. Genres range from bluegrass, Americana and singer-songwriter to funk, R&B, electronica and beyond.
Beyond the music, festival features include camping, kayaking / canoeing (arrange for a paddle experience on-site!), community bonfires, tons of kids’ activities, top-shelf culinary vendors, creative arts and craft vendors, and tons of new friends you didn’t know you needed in your life. The vibe is blissful, friendly and laid-back. We’re pretty sure you’re never gonna wanna leave.
2023 Lineup includes Galactic featuring Anjelika Jelly Joseph, Neal Francis, Sierra Hull, Adia Victoria, The Brothers Comatose, Larry Keel Experience, Kelsey Waldon, Sunny War, Thumpasaurus, The Rumble, Magnolia Boulevard, Vintage Pistol, Boulevards, Happy Landing, Good Mornign Bedlam, Hot Brown Smackdown, Eric Bolander, Mama Said String Band, Jeremy Short, Driftwood Gypsy, Houseplant, Brother Smith, Nolan Taylor, Jory Bowling, Them Lasses, Hunter Flynn, Joel’s Front Porch Jam, Blind Corn Liquor Pickers.
Tickets: https://themoonshinersball.com/

Yard Sale - Kentucky Boone's Way Yard Sale
2023-10-06 - 2023-10-07
100’s of yard sales along a 200 mile stretch of US 25, from Richwood to Williamsburg, KY. Contact Randy Coffey 859-779-3005 for details.

Southeast Kentucky Antique Tractor Association Annual Tractor Show
2023-10-06 - 2023-10-07 | Brodhead Fairgrounds, Castle Village Dr, Brodhead, Kentucky
Southeast Kentucky Antique Tractor Association will have their Annual Tractor Show on October 6-7, 2023 at Brodhead, Kentucky Fairgrounds, located on Castle Village Drive in Brodhead. Friday will start at Noon and Saturday will start at 10:00 AM. Event is free to attend.
Event will feature Ford Tractors, but any make/model of antique tractors, trucks, semis, tools, engines, garden tractors, and more are invited to show. Event is free to attend. There will be food trucks, tractor games, auction items, vendors, camper sites, demonstrations, and kid activities.
Event Contact: Aaron Roberts 606-875-2421

Bittersweet Festival
2023-10-05 - 2023-10-07 | City of Mt. Vernon, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Bittersweet Festival will be held in downtown Mount Vernon, Kentucky on October 5th – 7th, 2023
Thursday, October 5th
Car Show 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Friday, October 6th
Festival with vendors and live music 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Saturday, October 7th
Festival with vendors and live music 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Friday After Five Series
2023-09-15 17:00 - 20:00
Our Final Friday After Five for 2023 will be on September 15th featuring a Classic Car Cruise In & Bike Night on Main Street in Mt. Vernon. Donovan Howard Trio will kick things off on the porch of Los Cazadores with 21 Dust inside Down on Main. Rockcastle Arts Association will have an art gallery show as well. It is FREE to attend.

Renfro Valley - The Lacs
2023-09-09 20:00 - 22:00 | Old Barn Theater at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Renfro Valley – The Lacs
Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
Old Barn
Tickets available at www.renfrovalley.com

Renfro Valley - KC & The Sunshine Band
2023-09-09 20:00 - 22:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Renfro Valley – KC & the Sunshine Band
Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
New Barn
Tickets available at www.renfrovalley.com

Kentucky Food Truck State Championship
2023-09-09 11:00 - 17:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Kentucky Food Truck State Championship. Over 20 food trucks compete for the Grand Prize of $5000, as well as category winners eligible for $500 each. The event features food trucks, arts & craft vendors, antique tractor show, kid’s activities, live entertainment, and much more!

Renfro Valley - Old Crow Medicine Show with Harper O'Neill
2023-09-08 20:00 - 22:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Renfro Valley – Old Crow Medicine Show with Harper O’Neill
Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
New Barn
Tickets available at www.renfrovalley.com

Rocktember Blast Fireworks and Live Music
2023-09-03 16:00 - 22:00
Rock-tember Blast will happen on Sunday, September 3rd at the Rockcastle Industrial Park on Progress Drive just off US-150 in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. Things kick off at 4PM with live music, food trucks (Cameron’s BBQ, Rolling Stove, and Winks Ice Cream), and inflatables located towards the backside of the Industrial Park. Fireworks will be lit at dusk for your enjoyment.

Live Music Schedule
Tone Control 4:00 – 5:30
Spitten Image 5:45 – 7:15
Nic Cassetta & Company 7:30 – 9:00

Free to attend.

Events are done in partnership between City of Mount Vernon, Kentucky, Rockcastle County Fiscal Court and Mount Vernon – Mount Vernon Rockcastle Tourism.

Renfro Valley - Emmylou Harris
2023-09-02 20:00 - 22:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Emmylou Harris
Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
New Barn
Tickets available at www.renfrovalley.com

51st Livingston Homecoming Weekend
2023-09-01 19:00 - 2023-09-02 23:00 | City of Livingston, KY, 9317 Main Street, Livingston, KY, United States
City of Livingston is celebrating their 51st Homecoming this upcoming weekend!
Friday, September 1st at 7:00 PM
Stage at the Jerry Mink Building (Old Firehouse) at 9317 Main Street in Livingston, KY
Gospel Singing featuring Brother Jason Medley leading along with Ralph Allen & Friends, The Blackburns, The Jones Family, and The Petreys
Saturday, September 2nd
8:00 Breakfast at the Livingston School Cafeteria
10:00 Parade Lineup
11:00 Parade with Grand Marshals Senator Brandon Storm and Representative Josh Bray
12:00 Award Ceremony, Livingston Homecoming Queen, & Pretty Baby Contest
2:00 Live Music
4:00 Auction, Paul Yonder Pink Pig Cake Auction
5:00 Live Music + More Events
9:00 Travis Wayne & Contraband
Live Music features Donovan Howard, D.Boone Pittman, John Kelly, Travis Wayne and Contraband, John Mountjoy and the Street Cats, and Aubree Isaccs.
Vendors on Hand include Bert’s Speakcheezy, Twisted Stache Coffee & Creamery, Mt. Vernon Inflatables, and Hair by Shelby French

Friday After Five Concert Series
2023-08-25 17:00 - 20:00 | City of Mt. Vernon, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Mount Vernon Rockcastle Tourism in partnership with the City of Mount Vernon, Kentucky will host FRIDAY AFTER FIVE summer series. Each month there will be live music and events on Main Street. Here are the details:

Friday, August 25th
5:00-8:00 Car Show Cruise In (free non-judged show) on Main St
5:30 – 7:00 Donovan Howard Music Trio performing on Main Street
7:00 – 10:00 Whiskey Train performing inside Down on Main Bar & Grill

It is FREE to attend and all ages are invited. Main Street will be blocked off during this time except for those showing in the Car Show Cruise In (June/August) or Bike Night (July).

Parker Hastings Album Release Party at KY Music Hall of Fame
2023-07-29 14:00 - 17:00 | Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, 2590 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, 40456, United States
Mark your calendars as we will be welcoming the wonderfully talented Parker Hastings Music back to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 29th from 2PM to 4PM! Parker will be having his Album Release Party so come and help us celebrate!
Parker is our 2023 KMHOF Artist in Residence and has excited us with his talent of guitar playing, story telling, and music knowledge. Museum admission is just $5 that day and tickets will be in person. Join us as we welcome Parker Hastings back onto the KY Songbird Stage at the Hall of Fame!

Friday After Five in Downtown Mt. Vernon, KY
2023-07-28 17:00 - 20:00 | City of Mt. Vernon, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Mount Vernon Rockcastle Tourism in partnership with the City of Mount Vernon, Kentucky will host FRIDAY AFTER FIVE summer series. Each month there will be live music and events on Main Street. Here are the details:

Friday, July 28th
5:00-8:00 Bike Night (free non-judged show) on Main St
5:30 – 7:00 The Lost Patience Band performing on Main Street
8:00 – 10:00 Cadillac Tractor performing inside Down on Main Bar & Grill

It is FREE to attend and all ages are invited. Main Street will be blocked off during this time except for those showing in the Car Show Cruise In (June/August) or Bike Night (July).

A MidSummer Night Talent Contest
2023-07-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Amphitheater, 2590 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
The Midsummer Night event this year will not be a vendor market on Main Street. It will be a talent show at the amphitheater at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in Renfro on 7/21/23.

SAVE THE DATE! CASH PRIZES will be awarded! The Rockcastle Arts Association is donating the prize money. The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum has now offered to double the best overall performance prize by donating $500! Who will win the top prize of $1000??

Please see flyer for more information.

Registration is now open until June 30th via Google Form at https://forms.gle/xiQZ2pHK5Vv5LpYR7

Kentucky Singer-Songwriter Series
2023-07-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, 2590 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, 40456, United States
Join us as we welcome Kentucky singer songwriters for our Singer-Songwriter In the Round Series at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. It is free to attend the event, which will take place inside the Hall of Fame lobby area. Come in anytime between 2PM to 4PM to hear the songs and stories from:
Stoner Creek Shakedown of Bourbon County, KY
Cody Powers of Springfield, KY
Willy James of Richmond, KY

Donovan Howard is our host for each event, which takes place monthly on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Stay tune for future dates.

Sweet Land of Liberty Music Festival
2023-07-07 12:00 - 2023-07-08 23:30 | Rockcastle Riverside, 4211 Lower River Road, Livingston, KY, 40456, United States
Come celebrate your independence with your favorite regional musicians, artisans, craftsmen, and food vendors. Nestled on the banks of the Rockcastle River in Livingston KY, you’ll find one of the best campground music venues you have ever experienced, Rockcastle Riverside, the home of Trash Bash, Moonshiners Ball and returning for the third year, the Sweet Land of Liberty music festival.
2023 Lineup includes Jason Leech, Hot Brown Smackdown, Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle, The Local Honeys, Wayne Graham, Blind Corn Liquor Pickers, The Settlement, Brother Smith, Charlie Woods & Deep Hollow, Don Rogers & THe Apostlebillies, Them Lasses, Jenn Marie & Blackwater Station, Sarah Kate Morgan, and Ethan Wayne & the Mountain Revue.
Purchase Tickets at: https://sweetlandfest.com/

Community Yard Sale
2023-07-07 - 2023-07-08 | Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, 2590 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, 40456, United States
We will be hosting a Community Yard Sale on July 7th and 8th from 8am-5pm in front of the Lair House in Renfro Valley. If you would like to set up, call 606-256-1000 or stop in at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Gift Shop to purchase your spot. Deadline to purchase a spot is 7/6/2023.

Kentucky Blues Music Festival
2023-06-17 17:00 - 23:00 | Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Amphitheater, 2590 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
Join the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame 2022 Inductee Tee Dee Young as he performs at the first Kentucky Blues Music Festival on June 17th, 2023. Opening up for Tee Dee is his son, Treyvon King Band. The show will take place in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Amphitheater, behind the HOF, at 2590 Richmond Street in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. It is free admission and open to all ages. Gates open at 5:00 with music starting at 5:30. Limited VIP Sponsorship packages will be available. Bring your own chair. Food Trucks and Concessions will be available to purchase.

Josh Turner and Mo Pitney at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center
2023-06-10 19:30 - 22:00 | Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, 2380 Richmond Street, Mt. Vernon, KY, 40456, United States
MCA Nashville recording artist Josh Turner, while a multi-platinum-selling star himself, is a country music fan first and foremost. He’s even concocted his own version of Mount Rushmore conceived solely of country music legends. Turner’s “Mount Rushmore of Country Music” boasts five faces rather than four (it’s his mountain, after all) — Randy Travis, John Anderson, Johnny Cash, Vern Gosdin, and Hank Williams.
The giants carved into the granite of Turner’s musical soul form the core of his aptly titled new album, Country State of Mind. “I’ve always said that any song you hear coming from my voice, you’re going to hear bits and pieces of those five guys,” he says. “They taught me how to be Josh Turner.”
“When I was growing up, before I moved to Nashville, I was crazy about sad songs,” he says. “There has always been a part of my heart that has loved those sad, lonesome, and slow songs.”
Turner chose his guests as carefully as he did his material, selecting artists who shared his love and respect for the material. “I wanted artists I knew have an appreciation for traditional country music,” he says. Besides heroes Travis and Anderson, Turner invited Country Music Hall of Famer Kris Kristofferson to record a new version of his 1973 chart-topper “Why Me” with him. The title track, originally a 1986 hit for Hank Williams Jr., becomes a duet with fellow Grand Ole Opry member Chris Janson. The members of Runaway June take George Jones’ part on “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me,” and Maddie & Tae sing with Turner on “Desperately,” a 2004 single for George Strait and the album’s newest song. Country State of Mind also includes songs originally made famous by Keith Whitley (“I’m No Stranger to the Rain”), Waylon Jennings (“Good Ol’ Boys” Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard), and Alan Jackson (“Midnight in Montgomery”).
From the very start of his career through chart-topping hits like “Your Man,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” and “All Over Me,” Turner has immersed himself in country music’s history and its iconic figures. After all, this is someone who, as a student at Nashville’s Belmont University, took an open gate on Johnny Cash’s property as a sign he should knock on the legendary singer’s door and introduce himself.
“The doorknob wiggles, the door swings open, and there stands Johnny Cash,” Turner recalls. “He and I both jump back, because he didn’t expect to see me, and I sure didn’t expect him to answer the door.”
Later, as the hits came, along with multiple GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM nominations, Turner joined the Grand Ole Opry. One of country music’s oldest and most hallowed traditions, the Opry once counted Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, and George Jones among its ranks; now, Turner shares membership with heroes like Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, and Patty Loveless, as well as guest Chris Janson.
For nearly two decades, Turner has been one of country music’s most recognizable voices, selling more than 8.5 million units and amassing more than 2.5 billion global streams. He has never kept his reverence for traditional country music a secret, but, with this latest album, Josh Turner is definitely in a Country State of Mind.
Really, though, he always has been.
