Thread by @fiddlinDan, ABOUT LAST NIGHT...It was my great privilege to play fiddle with@dierksbentley @brothersosborne@ashleymcbrydeand@Jason

ABOUT LAST NIGHT...

It was my great privilege to play fiddle with

@dierksbentley
@brothersosborne
@ashleymcbryde
and
@Jason_Adean

for the #cmaawards tribute to @CharlieDaniels.

A little backstory...

1/13

Like most (all?!) fiddle players, I’ve played The Devil Went Down to Georgia more times than I can count.

It’s the quintessential fiddle song in American popular music. Period.

2/13

Way back in 1998, I played that song in my high school’s talent contest. The band was thrown together last-minute and we barely had a chance to rehearse.

I used a distortion pedal on my fiddle because I thought it was cool.

(Narrator: it was not)

We won. $100!

3/13

Fast forward to 2004. I had been in Nashville for about two years and was touring with Lonestar. We were scheduled to play a festival and Charlie Daniels was on the bill.

I desperately wanted to meet him and see if he would sign my fiddle.

4/13

Fortunately, Lonestar’s bass player was friends with one of Charlie’s guitar players and they helped pull a few strings.

I got the word that Charlie had invited me onto his bus.

He didn’t know me from Adam, but he graciously signed my fiddle and shook my hand.

5/13

As I tried to leave, he invited me to sit down and chat. He asked me where I was from, how long I’d been in Nashville, and if I knew any of his songs.

“Um, yeah. All of them.”

Then he did something that still blows my mind.

6/13

He invited me up to play a song with him.

He had never met me. He had never heard me play. And he invited me up to play a song in his set in front of 20,000 rowdy fans.

The Devil Went Down To Georgia.

I was invited to play THAT song with THE MAN.

Are you kidding me?

7/13

I stood side-stage, fiddle in hand, for his entire set. I was fully expecting him to forget or change his mind, but towards the end of his 60 minutes, he introduced me and brought me out on stage.

I hardly remember it. I was way too nervous and excited. Totally surreal.

8/13

Fast forward to Monday night.

My friend (and total badass) Jenee Fleenor was originally scheduled to play fiddle on the #CMAAwards tribute to Charlie Daniels.

She is the reigning CMA Musician of the Year, you’ve seen her play with @BlakeShelton and on @NBCTheVoice...

9/13

...You’ve heard her fiddle on a ton of records. Like I said. Badass.

But as I’m about to head to bed, my phone rings.

“Jenee can’t do the show. Can you?”

If I’m being honest, by first reaction was heartbreak for Jenee. This was supposed to be her moment.

10/13

My next reaction was full-on panic.

I don’t normally get too nervous, but I’m not normally asked to honor the most famous fiddle player to ever live either.

So I just started practicing. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t eat. Just practiced to get ready for the next day.

11/13

Fast forward to today. It was a total honor to be a part of last night’s special performance.

Thanks to Robert Deaton and the CMA ( @countrymusic) for trusting me with such a tall order.

Thanks to Danny Rader ( @Raderator) for getting my name in the conversation.

12/13

And a huge thanks to @JeneeMusic for being so gracious.

I know it was not easy to stay at home last night, but your support and words of encouragement meant the world to me.

Thank you.

13/13

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