Posted on 06.01.2021

A Grand Ole Evening - Soapbox Jr.

It seems like I’ve been writing an awful lot about tributes to dad recently, I guess primarily because there have been a lot of them in the past couple of weeks. Most of them have centered on the military, probably because of the proximity to Memorial Day.

This continued Saturday night which was another huge milestone, and a bit of a “Sadiversary” as it was the first time mom and I had returned to the Grand Ole Opry House since the last time dad played the Grand Ole Opry in 2019.

It was the Opry’s “Salute the Troops” night and boasted a start-studded lineup with Luke Combs, Chris Young, Lauren Alaina, Riders in the Sky, “The Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Jeannie Seely and one other artist who I’ll get to in a little bit.

First of all, everyone we saw with the Opry, from the security guards to manager “Opry Dan” Rogers, we could not have been treated any better. The one provision that was different from previous years was that we had to sit in the audience instead of backstage. Because of Covid protocols, the backstage is limited to working personal and artists, but they also wanted us out in the crowd for something very special.

We sat with retired Army Lt. General Keith Huber, who works with the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Families Center at MTSU.

The Daniels Center is the largest veteran support center on campus in the U.S. and it helps military-connected students at MTSU “seeking academic success and quality employment.”

It is also supported by the Predators Foundation, the charitable arm of Nashville’s NHL team, and Saturday night they announced that Big Machine Motorsports and the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix would also be partnering with the Daniels Center.

Apparently, MTSU & the Daniels Center sponsored the entire second half-hour of the show, because Gen. Huber got up to announce the partnering, and part of the presentation was a beautiful video tribute to dad which brought a few tears to mom and I.

The televised portion kicked off with Chris Young, and he mentioned dad’s involvement in the Daniels Center, and thanked Gen Huber for keeping dad’s legacy alive, said how much he missed dad and recognized mom and me in his remarks.

Thank you, Chris.

A photographer captured a picture of me and mom during Gen. Huber’s announcement, and while you can see the emotion on both of our faces, the blue lighting made my eyes look like I went the distance with Apollo Creed.

We parked in the backstage area, so we were walking back and I got a text from a publicist friend that Randy and Mary Travis were backstage, so we said hello before we left, it’s always good seeing them, they are very dear people.

Now about the other artist that was on the Opry that night. 

A few weekends ago, I went back to meet Gen. Jerry Boykin at World Outreach Church to get him to sign a couple of books to dad, posthumously. Christian artist, Matthew West, was leading worship at the Saturday night service and performing a short concert after. 

After Gen. Boykin signed the books and I said hello to Col. Ollie North who was also speaking that day, I headed out of the green room, and just caught a glimpse of Matthew talking to someone. I almost stopped and introduced myself, because I’m a huge fan. His music has helped me through some tough times and helped bring me closer to the Lord. But I had just left the room and thought it would be awkward. I had been there to get the books signed, mission accomplished, and I didn’t want to step back in and “gherm” (music biz term) him.

When we walked through the backstage area before the show, we saw a few people we knew, and then and low and behold, somebody introduced me to Matthew, who I didn’t even know was on the show. We talked briefly, because he had to go rehearse, but I was glad I got to talk to him briefly and get a picture… So, I got to gherm him after all. 

God’s timing may not always line up with mine, but He is always faithful.

It was a great evening, filled with lots of emotion and music.

By the way, if you haven’t checked out Rhonda Vincent’s parody of “I’ve Been Everywhere,” with a pandemic twist as “I Ain’ Been Nowhere” – which she performed that night - do yourself a favor and check it out. It’s brilliantly hilarious.

Let’s all make the day count!

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, our police, our nation and for the peace of Jerusalem

God Bless America!

#BenghaziAintGoingAway #End22

—  Charlie Daniels, Jr.

 

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU POST

Feel free to comment on soapboxes, but please refrain from profanity and anonymous posts are not allowed, we need a name and you MUST provide a valid email address. If you provide an email address, but leave the name as "Anonymous" we will pick a name for you based on your email address. No one other than website administrators will see your email address, not other posters. If you post without a valid email address, your comment (whether positive or negative) will be deleted. — TeamCDB/BW

 

 

Check out "Geechi Geechi Ya Ya Blues" from Beau Weevils - 'Songs in the Key of E'

 

 

Comments

Never To Many
Amen, Amen & Amen Charlie Jr there could never be to many tributes to your Dad, one of the greatest patriots to ever live. I'm glad to hear that you and you mom are getting out and enjoying more as the country relaxes more of the stupid restrictions that they let Facui and his comrades enslave them with.. I saw where Obiden has declared June as "National Month For Action". He laid out his five initiatives for success of this commie manifesto, AKA Covid 19, more correctly called the China Virus. He calls for a summer of freedom and joy, when they are stripping more freedom everyday, and my Joy is in the Lord, weather I'm on a mountain top or in the lowest of valleys. God only knows how this is all going to play out, but in the end I'm sure the demonrats are going to regret not dong what is right. Back to your article sir, I'm happy to hear Randy and Mary are still out and about, glad to hear God has given you more of your hearts desire. Hats of for Rhonda Vincent's recording of Chuck Mead's "I Ain't Been No Where" and God bless you for keeping #BenghaziAintGoingAway #End22....nuff said God Bless Plowboy PS and God Bless Benjamin Netanyahu for standing strong and doing the right things to protect Israel
Posted by Plowboy
The Opry
Haven't been there in years but it used to be a family tradition around Christmas to go to the Grand Ole Opry. I remember it was around 1976 that I got to see Larry, Steve and Rudy, the Gatlins to be inducted into the Opry. Used to listen to it on radio when Marty Robbins stopped in late at night and sing until it was the wee hours of the morning. Glad to see that Charlie and the Daniels Center received some more well deserved recognition! Take care of your Mom. Mark in Shelbyville
Posted by Mark
Honoring Charlie
Hello to miss Hazel and Charlie jr. I'm sorry this day is here. I love reading about the tributes and honors remembering your dad and I fear for the day that your writings might stop and everything comes to a close. Even though the comments numbers have been few I'm positive many are looking forward to reading your posts and knowing how everyone is doing. Speaking about covid I'm grateful and so happy that your dad was home with you, your mom and the CDB family when he fell ill. If its ever possible I'd love to see something like a minimal 2 to 4 hour documentary about the life and times of " Charlie Daniels " just a thought!. Thanks for everything your doing and take care of each other and keep up the good work. Your a chip off the Ole block and you know your dad was very proud of you!... Best, Sharon
Posted by Sharon
Last Perfomance
Sadly, we approach one year since our great Charlie past into heaven. RIP Charlie. I'm sure the angels of the Lord are enjoying your fiddle. I've searched the charliedaniels website and the internet and can not find posted the last performance live for Charlie. I'm pretty sure it was the concert we attended on March 13 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL. The next concert was canceled. Can anyone confirm this? Is it posted on the website anywhere. One website on the internet says Mar 7th, and I know that is wrong. The 13th's concert was great. Miss you Charlie.
Posted by Joe