09/03/2024
Good morning, my friends. The humble reminders of the blessings that I’ve had over the years have continued into late last night/early this morning.
I was talking to my dear friend Cindy on messenger last night. I directed her to the clip of the song that I remembered the other day that mentally transported me back to the 1995 CMA awards. It was John Berry’s solo acoustic performance of “If I Had Any Pride Left At All”.

As I was looking through the clips to send her, I noticed that there are videos up now of that entire broadcast. There were plenty of moments there that I did not remember, of course, because it was nearly 30 years ago.
In my mind’s eye, I can still see Vince Gill horsing around with his fellow artist friends during the commercial breaks. His antics that you didn’t see on TV were hysterical. In the video attached, right around the 1 hr, 2 minute mark, as Rhett Akins is doing the pre-commercial bump, you can see me just behind his right shoulder as the camera pushes in. It may be a little burry, but trust me. I’m there. 😊
The longer I watched last night, the more humbled I became. A lot of those legendary artists and music industry leaders like Ralph Emery, who I met at the after party, and Jo Walker-Meador have been gone for many years now. And I was only 40 to 50 feet away from all of them.
There aren’t too many people who can say that. George Jones, Johnny and June Carter Cash, Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, Eddie Arnold, Jimmy Dean, Naomi Judd and so many others who have gone on ahead that, at the time, I did not fully realize just how impactful it was at the moment. I very much do now. 🙏🏼
At the end of the show, they did a tribute to Roger Miller. It was Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Marty Stuart, Dwight Yoakam, and Merle Haggard. And I was there in real time watching it as a young 21 year-old kid. I got to live through that kid again last night. 😊
It was meant to be for me, as it always was. As hard as it is to believe, the night before I won that contest, I was sitting at my parents house talking to my buddy Brook Meador, and I promise this is true: I told him, “hey man, I have a really good feeling I’m gonna win this contest tomorrow. Do you wanna go with me?”
The very next morning, I won.
Strangely enough, and just as meaningful in the grand scheme of things, I ended up winning another contest 3 years later to go to Nashville from another radio station. It was for Tim McGraw, The Dixie Chicks, and The Wilkinsons on New Year’s Eve of that year. I had only heard of that contest that very day and it was a call-in for the 93rd caller. And I won. And yes, I do still have that ticket stub. 😊

If you’re reading this, and you supported my album project and have been waiting patiently, I promise that this is the breakthrough I needed to be able to push myself back through. I’m re-strengthening my fingers, redeveloping my calluses, but more importantly my mind is refocused and is stronger than it has been in a while.
It may have taken longer than any of us wanted, but my mental state as of the last few years has been compromised, especially with the recent death of David and Mary Clarke. But I also know in my heart of hearts that they would not like to see me continuing to mourn their loss, especially David. He was always one of my biggest fans, and came to many shows of mine and even hosted a couple.
Things are starting to come back full circle and I am extraordinarily grateful for that. Thank you all for being so supportive of me over the years. I will endeavor to try and make things better not only for you, but for myself. I am truly blessed. 
❤️🙏🏼🤘🏼
