Grand Ole Opry

What started as a routine night for Ms. B's Restaurant, 30 N. Main St., turned into the dream of a lifetime for the owner. The staff of the recently opened restaurant had prepared dinner for Rhonda Vincent, a country music star, who was performing Friday evening at the Leeds Center for the Arts and her staff of five. "We had put the big pot into the little one," Beverly A. Perkins Chism, restaurant owner, said. "The good china, crystal and silver. " "When the crew came in, I sat down to chat with Ms. Vincent, and she told me some of upcoming plans, including the 17th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show Thursday night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Dear Editor, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of the hit country duo Montgomery Gentry on their induction into the Grand Ole Opry. I can't think of any two people more deserving of this honor than two good old boys from Kentucky. I have been a longtime fan of theirs, and I am so proud of them. Montgomery Gentry has a huge fan base. Like Eddie would say, "We don't call them fans, we call them friends," and he is absolutely correct.

Eddie Montgomery had "no clue" what was coming when he heard a voice telling Montgomery Gentry to stop playing during a performance Tuesday night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. "Charlie Daniels, one of my heroes, had snuck into the audience and took his hat off so we didn't know it was him," said Montgomery. "They were running a little late and we had already played two songs, so we thought they were going to tell us just to cut it short. " Instead, Daniels asked them to join the Grand Ole Opry nine years after they made their Grand Ole Opry debut.

Nicholasville's Denise Beaty, right, posed with Ben "Cooter" Jones of the Dukes of Hazzard at Dukes Music Fest 2007. Beaty wrote the song, "A Kid Again" about her son-in-law's love of the classic television show. Jones recorded the song, and it was performed June 2 at the Grand Ole Opry. Jones introduced Beaty to the audience. The Dukes Music Fest 2007 DVD will be on sale at www.cootersplace.com in late summer or early fall. The Country Music Television channel will broadcast the Dukes Music Fest 2007 this weekend.

Multiple award winning bluegrass group IIIrd Tyme Out will be in concert at the Meadowgreen Music Park Hall in Clay City for two performances Saturday, Jan. 24 at 3 and 8 p.m. The band is noted as one of the world's top bluegrass groups and has won seven consecutive International Bluegrass Music Association of the Year Awards and has garnered over 50 industry awards since 1992. They have performed regularly on the Grand Ole Opry as well as on Great American Country and RFD television networks.

SALVISA - A Magic Moment that started in January still is not over for a young Salvisa songstress. Jordan Young, 15, was surprised earlier this year by her idol Dolly Parton on a CBS "The Early Show" segment called "Magic Moments. " But Jordan's moment isn't over just yet. Parton pulled some strings, and Jordan will fulfill yet another dream by performing Tuesday at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. She will perform a pre-show set, so to speak, for friends and family so CBS cameras can film her. "If it was empty and the lights were off, I'd still be tickled to death," Jordan said.

Oct. 27, 1957 Mount Sterling - Radio station WMST went on the air at 6 a.m. earlier this week, general manager Herbert Arms announced Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Dave Huls, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Gatson and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hardy of Lexington were weekend visitors in Nashville, Tenn. While there, they attended the evening performance of the "Grand Ole Opry. " Winchester High School students are preparing for a gala weekend in celebration of the Mt. Sterling-homecoming game Friday night at 7 o'clock with a bonfire and pep rally to be held on the Little League baseball diamond behind Hannah McClure School.

For all the "American Idol" fans out there, here's an additional reason to watch tonight's show - Boyle County native Ashley Gorley's new song he co-wrote with Brad Paisley and Chris DuBois will debut by Paisley on the show tonight. "American Idol" can be seen on Fox 56 at 9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Tuesdays. This week's shows have a "Grand Ole Opry" theme. Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis also are set to perform tonight. Gorley's song is titled "Then" and is on his new album, "American Saturday Night," which is set for release June 30. Gorley's dad, Boyle resident Glenn Gorley, said his son also wrote the title song for Paisley's new album.

Dixieland music on tap The Pi R Square Dixieland Band will be performing at the Stonebridge Summer Music Concert Series at Wilmore's Downtown Green Saturday, July 12. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tables and chairs will be provided and a local food vendor will be selling in the pavilion. In case of rain, the concert will be moved the Wilmore Campground Tabernacle, located on East Main Street. There is no cost for the event. Wolf Run seeking donations Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge & Educational Facility, located on Old Danville Road in Nicholasville, is in need of donations to help care for the many animals it rescues.

Bluegrass music on KET's 'Jubilee' The Cumberlands, a traditional bluegrass band, will perform "Jubilee," airing Wednesday, June 13 at 8 p.m. on KET1. The performance was recorded at the Kentucky Bluegrass Music Festival in Louisville. Beginning as a folk trio, the group has been performing since the 1960s. They have played in nearly every state in the nation, recorded 12 albums, had their own TV series, appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and performed at diverse venues. The Cumberlands' most recent CD is titled, "Civil War Tribute Collection," and includes traditional songs from the Civil War era. Members are Betty Thom on percussion, Harold Thom on guitar, Jim Smoak on banjo, Jeff Guernsey on fiddle and guitar, and Rick Harper on bass.

Growing up in Breathitt County, Richard Jett had a big dream — he wanted to be a country music superstar. It didn’t take long, however, for Jett to realize that his talents were better suited to other endeavors, instead becoming a teacher, entrepreneur and, eventually, superintendent. But the music bug never left him, and two decades ago, Jett decided that, if he couldn’t perform himself, he would make it possible for others to get their moment in the spotlight. The Appalachian Troubadours were born out of his desire to help young people from Eastern Kentucky and to find a way to become involved in the music business.

Since I was knee-high to Little Jimmy Dickens, it’s been a goal to get a record deal in Nashville. Heading south on I-65 toward Music City recently, I know in just a few hours I’ll be meeting the man committed to making my dream come true. But it’s unimaginable that my first-ever appearance on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry will occur on the same day. The lyrics to Lady J. Dalton’s “16th Avenue” cross my mind as the Nashville skyline comes into view, and I think about all “the cowboys, drunks and Christians” — even people with records — who have come before me. I have traveled the road alone in my old jalopy, but feel surrounded by the presence of many of the greats of country music.

Frank Kennon likes to call the Jamborees, which take place each year at the Leeds Center for the Arts in Winchester, as a cross between the Grand Ole Opry and "Hee-Haw. " "That's the best way I can describe it," he said. But all are welcome to come and judge for themselves when Jamboree performers take the stage on Sept. 18 and 19. The show features clogging, music and comedy, and plenty of local entertainers. Tickets are on sale now at the Cantuckee Diner on Carol Road for $7.50.

Local bluegrass band Custom Made is about to join the ranks of legendary performers like Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs and Dan Tyminski of "O Brother Where Art Thou" fame. The newly formed band has been chosen to play at the Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole Opry, on July 9. "Every summer, they have a concert series called Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman," said band member Van Ramey. "You have to send in a demo, and ours was chosen. It's based on the original songs we wrote.

Dear Editor, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of the hit country duo Montgomery Gentry on their induction into the Grand Ole Opry. I can't think of any two people more deserving of this honor than two good old boys from Kentucky. I have been a longtime fan of theirs, and I am so proud of them. Montgomery Gentry has a huge fan base. Like Eddie would say, "We don't call them fans, we call them friends," and he is absolutely correct.

Eddie Montgomery had "no clue" what was coming when he heard a voice telling Montgomery Gentry to stop playing during a performance Tuesday night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. "Charlie Daniels, one of my heroes, had snuck into the audience and took his hat off so we didn't know it was him," said Montgomery. "They were running a little late and we had already played two songs, so we thought they were going to tell us just to cut it short. " Instead, Daniels asked them to join the Grand Ole Opry nine years after they made their Grand Ole Opry debut.

For all the "American Idol" fans out there, here's an additional reason to watch tonight's show - Boyle County native Ashley Gorley's new song he co-wrote with Brad Paisley and Chris DuBois will debut by Paisley on the show tonight. "American Idol" can be seen on Fox 56 at 9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Tuesdays. This week's shows have a "Grand Ole Opry" theme. Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis also are set to perform tonight. Gorley's song is titled "Then" and is on his new album, "American Saturday Night," which is set for release June 30. Gorley's dad, Boyle resident Glenn Gorley, said his son also wrote the title song for Paisley's new album.

Multiple award winning bluegrass group IIIrd Tyme Out will be in concert at the Meadowgreen Music Park Hall in Clay City for two performances Saturday, Jan. 24 at 3 and 8 p.m. The band is noted as one of the world's top bluegrass groups and has won seven consecutive International Bluegrass Music Association of the Year Awards and has garnered over 50 industry awards since 1992. They have performed regularly on the Grand Ole Opry as well as on Great American Country and RFD television networks.

For the second year in a row, the Jamboree at Leeds Center for the Arts, 37 N. Main St., is proving to be one of the most popular events the little theater hosts. Thanks to a cast made up of local personalities and low ticket prices, brothers Frank and Bill Kennon have found a formula for success. "It's just a real clean show. It's been a dead sell-out. The first time we put it on, nobody knew what it was. My brother Frank and I came up with idea because we needed a win-win," Bill Kennon, older brother of Leeds Center director Frank Kennon, said.

SALVISA - Sixteen-year-old Jordan Leigh has accomplished more in her short music career than most would hope for in an entire lifetime. From Nashville to New York City, she has done everything from play on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry to sit down for an interview on the CBS Early Show. A Kentucky native who lives in the scenic farmland just north of Harrodsburg, Leigh has had a passion for music since her earliest days. She began singing with the children's choir at her church, and after seeing a young girl play at a local concert, she begged her father to let her take voice lessons.