Shaping Our Appalachian Region has released a portion of its lineup for the Country Music Highway Tribute Show. The FREE event is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 in downtown Russell. It is presented by Addiction Recovery Care and Kentucky Power.
The Country Music Highway Tribute Show launched two years ago at Ashland’s Paramount Arts Center as part of the SOAR Mini Summit focused on downtown revitalization and tourism. Last year, Shaping Our Appalachian Region made the event part of the organization’s annual events strategy. The 2023 shows were in Paintsville, Whitesburg, and Prestonsburg. Check out a recap of last year’s shows HERE.
Mark your calendars for the 2024 Country Music Highway Tribute Shows. All events are FREE!
- June 1 in downtown Russell
- July 13 in downtown Louisa
- August 2-3 in downtown Ashland
Meet Our Headliners
Bobby and Teddi Cyrus and special guests will headline the Russell show.
Bobby, the cousin of Billy Ray Cyrus, is no stranger to the many facets of the music industry, having quite literally grown up with it all around him in the little town of Louisa, Kentucky.
He also pays Waylon Jennings, Ricky Skaggs, Larry Cordle, Kris Kristofferson, and Keith Whitley, his respect among his professional influences, as well as the one individual who has had a particularly profound and personal impact on Cyrus’ life: the legendary Tom T. Hall.
The story of how Bobby Cyrus and Tom T. Hall met is fascinating. It was near the end of his father Bob’s life when Bobby approached Tom T. about cutting a demo recording of one of the songs his father had written nearly two decades before. Hall graciously obliged, and a friendship was born that resulted in Bobby writing for the iconic songwriter’s publishing company, Good Home Grown Music, for many years.
Both Hall and Bobby’s dad make an appearance on his first album “Homeplace”. Tom T. guests on the haunting “A Rose For Marie,” a song written by Hall and his wife, Dixie, and handpicked specifically for the debut project. The personal and reflective title track includes a poem recitation, recorded years earlier by Cyrus’ father, which inspired the song. Part of that recording is heard in the spoken word introduction to “Homeplace,” which Bobby counts among his favorites on the record.
The first single and music video from the “Homeplace” album, is a track Cyrus cut with Billy Ray Cyrus, a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek duet called “Milkman’s Eyes.” The video, shot by acclaimed filmmaker John Lloyd Miller, gives an entertaining glimpse into the chemistry between the Cyrus cousins.
Over the years Bobby Cyrus has traveled the country performing with the late Johnny Paycheck and Charlie Daniels, among others. All the while he is continuing with his passion for songwriting and performing his music.
Teddi grew up in the town of Drift in Floyd County. Teddi first began singing with her family in her Papaw, Teddy Shannon’s church.
She was only 12 years old when she landed a spot with the Jenny Wiley Theatre where she went on to perform in countless productions. It didn’t take long for Teddi to capture the attention of Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry. She became a member of the Opry at just 13 years old.
On May 9, 2015, Teddi and Bobby were married. Following their nuptials, the newlyweds soon began to entertain the thought of fusing their talents and recording an album together. Not long after they were finished recording their album, they landed a recording contract with Pinecastle Records.
A Jam-Packed Day of Music
Other confirmed acts for the Russell show include:
- Joe Clark
- Johnathon Cox
- Cory Michael Harris
- Taylor Hughes
- August Roots
- Mattox Hale
- Mason Adkins
- Casey Hensley
- Will Case
- Possum Up a Gum Stump
The Russell show will also have a dedicated Bluegrass Block picked by WellCare.
Stay tuned! We’ll be releasing information such as shuttle and parking information soon.
Our Why
Shaping Our Appalachian Region decided to create the collaboration and launch the Country Music Highway Tribute Show as a way to create a stage for future stars to shine. The organization hosts events throughout the year recognized as among the best in rural America.
The Country Music Highway Tribute Show will feature a state-of-the-art mobile stage, lights, sound, and even a large video wall. It’s first class, and it is all done by small businesses and individuals from Eastern Kentucky.
Proceeds from the Country Music Highway Tribute Show will go to organizations supporting music and the arts along the Highway.
The three FREE shows will feature a variety of local and regional food vendors and a variety of artisans and crafters from across Central Appalachia.
Bid on Memorabilia and Experiences in Our Silent Auction
Shaping Our Appalachian Region has created an online Silent Auction thanks to the support of stars along the Country Music Highway, as well as the organization’s partners and event sponsors.
The Silent Auction is live and items are being added weekly. Thus far, the auction has:
- An autographed handmade Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Company mandolin by Ricky Skaggs.
- A pair of Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman tickets with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder on July 25 in Nashville.
- An autographed guitar from Wynonna Judd.
- An autographed guitar by Billy Ray Cyrus.
You can view items and place your bid HERE.
A True Collaboration
Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR) is coordinating events with tourism agencies and venues all along the Country Music Highway. They include Boyd County Tourism and Convention Bureau, Visit AKY, the Paramount Arts Center, Lawrence County Tourism Commission, Paintsville Tourism, Prestonsburg Tourism, Elliott County Tourism, The Mountain Arts Center, Pikeville Tourism, Pikeville/Pike County Tourism, the Appalachian Wireless Arena, and Letcher County Tourism.
The Russell stop is the first of three this summer across the northern counties of the Country Music Highway.
“This collaboration has exceeded our expectations,” said Joshua Ball, Chief Operating Officer at SOAR. “We have received more than 80 performer applications, as well as vendor applications. Our communities and the region have rallied around this, and we are excited to provide a first-class experience for locals and those who travel to our region to take in one, or all of our shows.”
There’s not a stretch of road in the world that has been the home to more Country Music stars and icons. From The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless, Dwight Yoakum, Gary Stewart, Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, Larry Cordle, and the late Naomi Judd, Keith Whitley, and Loretta Lynn.
The Country Music Highway Tribute Show is presented by Addiction Recovery Care and Kentucky Power. It is sponsored by Kentucky Tourism, Whitaker Bank, Backroads of Appalachia, Foothills Communication, Ashland Community and Technical College, Pikeville Medical Center, Appalachian Wireless, Rajant, Rye Development, Wellcare, SPEDA, UK Healthcare, Three Sisters Catering and Events, Masterpiece Cafe, Masterpiece Kitchen, and Ale-8-One.
Want to become a sponsor? Contact us to learn more or view our sponsorship opportunities HERE.
For more information, visit www.cmhtributeshow.com.