Greylan James Reveals How a Kenny Chesney Concert Sparked His Country Music Dream
“…that was definitely the moment I was like, ‘Alright, that’s what I wanna do.’ ”
Kenny Chesney, Greylan James; Photo via Instagram
Greylan James has been chasing his country music dreams for as long as he can remember, and growing up in East Tennessee, he didn’t have to look far for inspiration. Right about the time he was taking an interest in music, fellow East Tennessee native Kenny Chesney was blowing up. It made the dream of becoming a country singer feel a little more within reach for Greylan.
“I grew up in East Tennessee, so there was always music around, and right when I was a kid, Kenny Chesney was becoming a massive superstar. And so, when I was starting to take guitar lessons, starting to take singing lessons, everybody had a story about how they saw Kenny Chesney come up. And they were like, ‘If you keep on, you’ll become the next Kenny Chesney.’”
What happened next proved to be a life-altering moment for young Greylan James.
“My parents got tickets when I was seven years old to Kenny Chesney at Neyland Stadium, and it was my first ever concert. So, I was two years removed from getting that first guitar, and seeing it in action, seeing somebody on that big of a stage was insane for me. And so, that was definitely the moment I was like, ‘Alright, that’s what I wanna do.’ It was a life changing experience,” he shared.
When he was 10, Greylan had the chance to meet Chesney in what would become a moment he’s never forget.
“I first met him briefly when I was about 10 years old. My bluegrass band was playing at a fundraiser. He was there. Peyton Manning was there too, and 10-year-old me was freaking out,” he previously revealed to Country Now. “I got to walk up to him with my dad. I had also just gotten my first C on a science test, which devastated my family. I remember telling my dad about my report card, and he was like, ‘No. That’s unacceptable.’ But I said, ‘It doesn’t matter. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be a country music star.’ It just happened to be that night that I met Kenny.”
When Greylan’s dad asked Chesney if he had any advice for the young singer, he told him a valuable message.
“Kenny was like, ‘Two pieces of advice. Stay in school and learn to write songs because songwriting will be your ticket.’ I never forgot that,” Greylan promised.
Greylan James experienced a full-circle moment when Kenny Chesney recorded “Happy Does,” a song he co-wrote. It’s a moment he’ll never forget, and one he’ll always be grateful for.
Now, Greylan is continuing his journey as a solo artist with the release of “Greylan James • “Water At A Wedding”,” out this Friday. The song has already generated major buzz, racking up nearly 10 million views across platforms ahead of its release.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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