Jo Dee Messina Makes Her Ryman Debut With Unforgettable Sold-Out Show
Messina took fans on a journey through her life and career.
Jo Dee Messina; Photo by Louie Waddle
With a storied career that includes nine chart-topping hits, 16 Top 40s songs, and recognition from the ACMs, CMAs, and the GRAMMYs, it’s hard to believe that Jo Dee Messina has never headlined The Ryman. That all changed when she made her debut at the “Mother Church of Country Music” with a sold-out show on Saturday (April 27).
The memorable evening found Messina reflecting on her life and career in a unique format, one that she dubbed the “Road to the Ryman.” She told her story through words and songs, painting the picture of her life growing up in Massachusetts and sharing her first memories of country music.
She performed bits and pieces of songs that shaped her, like “Baby, I Lied,” “Break It To Me Gently,” “Whoever’s In New England,” “Rumor Has It,” “Girl’s Night Out,” and more, and recalled being discovered during a talent competition that took place at Nashville’s the Pink Elephant. This led to her producers Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw, whom she admitted greatly impacted her early success as an artist.
The hits started and didn’t stop as she performed the fan-favorite tracks that led her to become one of the most successful female country artists of the late 1990s/ early 2000s. Her setlist included the empowering “I’m Alright,” the emotional “Bring On The Rain,” the sassy “My Give A Damn’s Busted,” and the slightly revenge-filled “Lesson In Leaving.”
Her performance of “Heads Carolina, Tails California” prompted a massive sing-along with fans singing from every corner of the iconic Music City venue.
Continuing to share her personal story, Messina then devoted part of the show to her journey to find Christ and detailed her relationship with God before, during, and after her cancer diagnosis. Her testimony resonated with the audience who then joined her in worship as she welcomed a Gospel choir from Three Oaks Church in Gallatin, Tenn. to sing “My Jesus,” “Bigger Than This,” “Child of Love,” and “Reckless Love.”
Before closing out the show with “Bye, Bye” Messina admitted that she thought “no one would show up” if she headlined the Ryman. She couldn’t have been more wrong. The venue sold out so quickly that additional chairs had to be added to the floor to meet the overwhelming demand from fans. Their dedicated to the singer and her music was evident throughout the entire night as they sang along to every word and chanted her name between songs.
This show proved Messina’s continued ability to entertain and connect with a crowd and also shined a light on her catalog of timeless country hits.
“I was blown away by the crowd and its enthusiasm. Industry, family, friends, fans — the room was filled with that mixture. It was a one-of-a-kind experience,” the country star shared after the show.
The night kicked off with a private reception where Messina was honored with plaques recognizing five new RIAA Certifications, further cementing her place in country music history. These accolades included Double Platinum status for “I’m Alright” and “Bye Bye,” Gold and Platinum status for “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” and Gold status for both “Bring on the Rain” and “Lesson In Leavin.’”
Messina’s Heads Carolina, Tails California (HCTC2) Tour will run through the remainder of the year, with shows around the country. Soon, she will return to her home state of Massachusetts for a highly anticipated homecoming concert and appearance at Fenway Park ahead of a Boston Red Sox game.
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.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
