Country Music Special returned on Friday for a night of celebration of country music’s rich history and its impact on the music industry.
Host Patrick Kielty was joined by some of the biggest stars in Irish country music, such as Nathan Carter, Una Healy, Ashley Campbell, and Cliona Hagan, who were among the singer-songwriters to open Friday night’s show with a special rendition of
Country music up-and-comer Jesse Sludds, who was the winner of Opening Act competition back in April, was back in studio on Friday night alongside Tipperary singer Una Healy.
Sludds, who went on to open for Shania Twain at Thomond Park in Limerick in July in front of 25,000 people, spoke about what life has been like since winning the competition.
Speaking about being acknowledged from stage by the queen of country pop, Shania Twain, who said he was “going places”, Sludds said: “It was absolutely fantastic”.
Una Healy, who launched Opening Act search and was part of the judging panel, offered some advice to Sludds, encouraging him to focus on songwriting and refining his unique folk-influenced sound.
“I’m sorry, but opening for Shania Twain, that is not a small thing, and you nailed it. I heard you sing there, and you even heard Shania herself. She said, “This guy is going to go places”. So, you’re doing all the right things. You’re off to an amazing start. Just keep doing what you’re doing and working on your songwriting and really figuring out what exactly your sound is. But that will come in time. But I hear that lovely folk in your voice as well.”
Sludds also announced the release of his second single called on October 8, while Healy announced her involvement in a new musical project that deviates from her usual country genre.
Healy will join Duncan James, Anthony Costa, and Samantha Mumba to form the ABBA All Stars, which will tour the UK from February next year and Irish tour dates are expected to be announced soon.
Friday night’s country special included a whole array of performances by the well-known country singers and songwriters who appeared in the studio.
As well as an upbeat opening rendition of there were performances by Una Healy, Clodagh Lawlor, and Claudia Buckley, and by Michael English and Chantelle Padden, Jimmy Buckley, and Nathan Carter.
As part of their tribute to the late and great Dolly Parton, Cliona Hagan sang and and Michael English and Chantelle Padden sang a duet of
Ashley Campbell, daughter of country star Glen Campbell, performed a special rendition of a classic song by her late father.
Jimmy Buckley also remembered Glen Campbell with a performance of
Nathan Carter also joined Kielty on Friday’s episode, performing his single for the first time.
The country special wrapped with a performance of and
Dolly Parton’s life and legacy was remembered on Friday night’s show, with special interviews with those who encountered Dolly’s talent and warmth over the years and performances from those who have been inspired by her songwriting.
Cliona Hagan said that Dolly, to her and so many others, was “everything and more”, describing her as “a triple threat” who excelled as a singer, songwriter, and actor.
Hagan said the enduring popularity of her work is attributed to her character as a kind and decent human being, and highlighted the importance of Dolly’s Imagination Library Foundation, which provides books to children globally.
“She gave so many books to children all over the world so that they could have the opportunity to be able to read and I know that was very personal for Dolly as well, because, of course, her daddy didn’t get that opportunity,” Hagan said.
“She won so many awards, she smashed so many records but still the thing she was most proud of was giving back and I think that’s why Dolly Rebecca Parton will always be remembered in the history books.”
Also paying tribute to Dolly on Friday night’s show was Father Brian who first encountered her music in 1972 in Nashville during the era of Porter Wagner, highlighting her ability to write brilliant songs that reflect authentic country life.
Clips of Dolly performing an impromptu acoustic version of at Páidí Ó Sé’s Pub in Ventry, County Kerry, while holidaying in Ireland in 1990 were also shown on Friday night’s show.
Michael English acknowledged how Dolly Parton successfully made country music “cool” for diverse audiences, her popularity attracting various age demographics, ranging from children to grandparents.
English said there is a direct link between her influence and the current influx of young musicians and singers entering the industry in Ireland and the younger audiences that can be seen attending country music gigs across the country, and further afield.
Chantelle Padden spoke about what Dolly Parton meant to her as a girl from a country town with a big dream.
“I grew up in Belmullet, Co Mayo and for as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a singer and always wanted the chance to step on a stage in front of loads of people and just sing. And growing up in such a small place where opportunities don’t come knocking very often, it takes a lot of hard work… Dolly was such an influence and an inspiration to me because she came from the Smoky Mountains and she was able to make herself known to the world,” she said.
Country singer-songwriter Ashley Campbell from Phoenix, Arizona appeared on Friday’s country special to perform a rendition of a classic song by her father, Glen Campbell.
Campbell mentioned that she first visited Ireland in 2011 to play at Vicar Street with her father and discussed her recent return to record a new album called in Strangford Lough in Co Down as part of a musical duo called Campbell Jensen.
She reflected on growing up with her father, noting that she only realised his legendary status once she began playing music herself.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t understand that he was this amazing, legendary musician. Like, I knew he was famous, but he was just dad. You know, he was goofy and he made me laugh, and he just loved his children so much. It wasn’t really until I started playing music myself that I started going, “Oh, oh, this is… he’s way, way cool”. I just feel so privileged to have grown up with him as a father and a mentor, and to have gotten to play in his band as I grew up,” she said.
She also touched on meeting Dolly Parton in 2013 during a vocal session for an album by her godfather, Carl Jackson, who was her father’s banjo player.
“It was amazing and I got to chat with her for a bit, and she did a little video for my dad because at that time he was in a memory care facility, so she just gave him a little message of love, and she was so kind,” Campbell said.
Joining Kielty and Campbell was Jimmy Buckley, who shared personal memories of performing with Glen Campbell and discussed the artist’s legacy before performing a rendition of
Nathan Carter joined Kielty to discuss his upcoming album release and his first performance at Carnegie Hall on October 31.
Treating studio audiences and those at home to the first-ever performance of his new song Carter announced that his new album will be released next Friday after two years of work.
Touching on his upcoming gig at Carnegie Hall, he described it as a significant milestone for his family, particularly his grandfather who told him that practice and more practice would get him there one day.
He also spoke about how his grandmother, who is 86, recently joined him on tour in Scotland and continues to help sell merchandise.
Nathan Carter was joined in the studio during Friday’s episode by the most recent inductee of the Late Late Country Music Hall of Fame Sandy Kelly.
Kelly spoke about how shocked she was when she received the Hall of Fame recognition last year.
She said it has been a restful place to be, watching up-and-coming talent excel in the industry, before revealing she was there to announce Carter as the next Hall of Fame recipient.
“Is this me? What,” he exclaimed, before his mother, father and grandmother arrived into the studio.
Carter’s mother Noreen, dad Ian and grandmother Anne McCoy spoke about how proud they are of him.
“The proudest moment for me is when he was born,” his dad said.
Messages of congratulations from his grandfather John and brother Jake were also played for Carter.
“Ah, it’s unbelievable. I just didn’t expect this, thank you so much. It’s been 15 or 16 years since I left Liverpool. And funny enough, we opened with tonight, and that was the first song I sang on as a single 13 years ago. So it came around, full circle,” he said.
