For as long as I can remember, there’s three questions I get asked on almost a daily basis:
#1. What songs are you currently listening to?
#2. If you could see one person in concert right now, who would it be?
BUT...the one question I ALWAYS get the most?
#3. Why country music? What made you fall in love with genre?
Maybe it’s because I got to wear boots.
Maybe it’s because I like the social side of concerts.
Or maybe it’s because of a little thing called ‘the chain of love.’
It’s simple really. The reason I fell in love with country music is because of one artist:
Clay Walker.
I’m a product of the 90’s. I was raised on the good kind of county. And while I still revisit a lot of music from the good ole days, I still find myself listening to Clay Walker more than anyone else.
Some people may not be able to pinpoint the exact moment they remember country music taking over their heart, but I do.
October 12th 2002.
Foothills Fall Festival [3 day event] in Maryville, Tennessee.
I was 10 years old and captivated by Barbies, 4th grade, and Birkenstocks….
…..until this day.
My mom and I sat in line for hours waiting for the gates to open. We sprinted in, put our chairs down, and waited for the shows to begin. I don’t remember who else was on the schedule or who else played. All I know is Travis Tritt canceled the day of the show and they let Clay play both his and Tritt’s, timeslot.
It wasn’t just a small set; it was a full Clay Walker concert and we all reaped the benefit. I’m sure he sang all his 90’s hits, I don’t really recall. All I know is it was party and I didn’t sit down or stop dancing the whole time.
Some people would guess it was the beach balls flying through the air that held my attention for the entire show, but I know otherwise. Clay Walker was AND is the reason I fell in love with country music.
So I guess I owe it all to you, Clay.
All the shows I’ve been to.
The website I’ve created dedicated to country music.
All the album reviews I’ve written.
And a little interview with Garth Brooks.
In a way, it’s all because of you.
So thanks for being my first AND FAVORITE concert and for making me a fan of country music.
Here’s hoping [13 years later] we will get to hang when you come rolling into Knoxville in August. I’ll be there. Front and center. I won’t be 10 years old, I’ll be 23. And you probably won’t have beach balls, but maybe we can have beers instead. Regardless of time that’s passed and the differences we’ll face, I’m sure it’ll still be a magical and memorable experience.
xox
Morgan Hill Sellers