Patty Loveless Celebrates "No Trouble With the Truth" Exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame

By Alannah Moore

Patty Loveless at the CMA Theater ©Alannah Moore

This week at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was one of celebrating the career of the one and only, Patty Loveless. On August 22nd, the singer was welcomed by fans and colleagues alike as her exhibit was previewed ahead of its grand opening on August 23rd.

On Saturday, August 26th, Patty sat down with Hall of Fame senior writer-editor, Michael McCall, to reflect on her decades long career in a “sold out” CMA Theater. The singer reminisced on her early career and shared memories of her childhood and journey to stardom.

Upon traveling back to those early years, Patty shared memories of working with The Wilburn Brothers, meeting Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, meeting Vince Gill for the first time, and even being arrested! Yes, arrested!

“Speakeasies were against the law. It was a huge club and always full. We were the band. I saw so many walks of life… the club was raided one time and I ended up being arrested. They arrested me for aiding and abetting because I was singing in a band. Are you kidding me??”, the singer joked while reflecting on playing speakeasies in North Carolina in the late 70’s.

She also reminisced on family and growing up without very much money.

“Daddy would give us lunch money for the week, and it was hard. So, what I would do… There was this little ole store that a lot of teenagers at the high school would go to. It was just right across the road where the buses come through, and during lunch I would pop over to that store and spend my lunch money in the jukebox. Well, I missed out on eating lunch. So, daddy found out about it, and he goes, “Little girl, now I don’t give you that money to spend on playing records, that money is to feed you.” And I wanted to say, “But, daddy, the music’s feeding me!””

To open the evening, Patty performed her hit, “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am”. She then serenaded the audience with, “Don’t Toss Us Away”, “Too Many Memories”, and closed her performance with an upbeat acoustic version of “Blame It On Your Heart”, which had the audience up on their feet and singing along.

The energy in the room was evident of the love and respect Patty Loveless has amongst country music fans. Her exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame is not one to be missed.

Congratulations to Kentucky native, Patty Loveless, on her well-deserved recognition for the impact she has made on country music!

Patty Loveless Exhibit at the CMHoF

Patty Loveless Exhibit at the CMHoF

Patty Loveless Exhibit at the CMHoF

Patty Loveless Exhibit at the CMHoF

Patty Loveless Exhibit at the CMHoF

Patty Loveless Exhibit at the CMHoF

Patty Loveless Exhibit at the CMHoF

Catch A Rising Star: Kassi Ashton

Kassi Ashton, 29, brings a whole new attitude to country music. The California, Missouri singer/songwriter touched down with a string of critically acclaimed tracks released by UMG Nashville in conjunction with Interscope Records. Named on Ones to Watch lists by publications like Huffington Post and The Tennessean as well as radio personality Bobby Bones.

Kassi Ashton performing at CMA Fest ©Tammie Arroyo/AFF-USA

With a little bit of rock, a hell of a lot of soul, and a throwback R&B groove, Ashton has crash-landed on country radio. “Dates In Pickup Trucks,” her irresistible debut radio single dropped in February. Speaking about the song’s playfulness, she adds, “I want it to show that there are many sides to me.” The simmering new song, it turns out, has a surprising origin story: an uncharacteristically giddy phone call between Ashton and her grandmother. One of nine children and known for her take-no-prisoners attitude, the singer was shocked when, one day, her elder fell into a fit of giggles on the other end of the line. “She’s like, ‘Me and your grandpa went on a date last night,’” Ashton recalls. “‘I made dinner, we packed it up in the truck, and we drove around all the roads we hadn’t seen in a long time.’”

Ashton got to thinking about the nights she stepped out under the stars in her own pickup, back in her one-stoplight hometown of California, Missouri. (“You can gravel road for hours, where I come from” she quips.)

Ashton brought the idea into a co-writing session with Luke Laird, who, while having served as the pen behind massive hits by Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, and Carrie Underwood, is also, as Ashton explains affectionately, the “other half of my creative brain,” and David Garcia. Initially, her collaborators both balked at what they considered a kitschy title. “They’re like, ‘This is not the girl I know!’” Ashton says, laughing.

Within the day, the three had twisted a simple memory shared between generations into something they couldn’t turn off. “We were joking about how if Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg got high in a Chevy pickup truck and rode around, this is what they would listen to,” says Ashton. “If I were to see a song called ‘Dates in Pickup Trucks’, I would go, ugh,” she jokes. “But this is how I grew up, and we used the idea in way that felt fresh.”

Kassi Ashton performing at CMA Fest ©Tammie Arroyo/AFF-USA

“I’ve lived real life,” Ashton explains. “I’ve had shit happen to me.” Raised between two homes. Bullying in school. Cancer. “I’m telling the truth.” It’s become the thread that ties each of her releases, which dance between modern and classic influences, together. “There’s a gritty, soulful bottom end to my music,” she says. Ashton debuted the cut live not two days later at a showcase in Nashville and felt the room react immediately. It wasn’t a fluke. The same thing happened each night on the GIRL tour later that year. After every show, her DMs would fill with fans telling her they loved “the truck song”.

Now, Ashton files music—hers and that of others—into two camps, regardless of their genre or mood. “I think about bing-bing music and boom-boom music,” she says. The latter has weight. Eric Church. Rihanna. Adele. They all register, deep in your core. Or, as Ashton says, “They make your gut pulse.” “Dates In Pickup Trucks,” with its visceral imagery, sweet-as-summer melody, and intoxicating rhythm certainly goes boom.

Kassi's all over country radio right now with her catchy 'Drive You Out Of My Mind'.

Get tickets for the NO BAD VIBES tour now !!

• 07 Sep 27 LIVE Nashville, TN

• 09 Sep KNCI's Country in the Park 2 Sacramento, CA

• 16 Sep NashFest 757 Norfolk, VA

• 20 Sep Lexington Opera House Lexington, KY

• 21 Sep TD Garden Boston, MA

• 22 Sep Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT

• 23 Sep UBS Arena Belmont Park, NY

The Prime Family Reveals Schedule For 2023 “You Got Gold: Celebrating The Songs of John Prine”

Several events added to second-annual celebration, October 7-10 in Nashville. All proceeds to benefit the Hello in There Foundation.

Following the massive success of last year's inaugural event, The Prine Family will present the second annual "You Got Gold: Celebrating the Songs of John Prine" October 7-10 in Nashville, TN. In addition to previously announced shows at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's CMA Theater (Oct 8), The Basement East (Oct 9) and the historic Ryman Auditorium (Oct 10). The four-day gathering will also include several special events such as pop-ups, film screenings, song circles, etc.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7

• 11:00am-3:00pm, Rochester Dam (Rochester, KY): Prine Park Day – celebrating John Prine month in Muhlenberg County with an open jam session for anyone who wants to come and play John’s music, along with food trucks and other festivities.

• 7:00-10:00pm, imogene + willie: “You Got Gold” kickoff party – Nashville apparel brand imogene + willie will host songwriters singing the John Prine songs that have influenced them and their music. All ages backyard event, 2601 12th Ave S.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8

• 3:00pm, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater: “Conversation and Performance: Prine Time Chicago” – a conversation with journalist Mark Guarino and singer-songwriter Bonnie Koloc as well as brief performances. Additional guests to be announced.

  • Tickets for this event go on-sale this Friday, August 25

• 6:30pm doors/7:30pm show, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater: “You Got Gold” show (SOLD OUT)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 9

• 10:30am, Trolley Tour of Prine’s favorite places in Nashville

• 11:00am-2:00pm, Arnold’s Country Kitchen: Official Pop Up

• 11:30am, Trolley Tour of Prine’s favorite places in Nashville

• 12:00pm, Brown’s Diner: John Prine song circle

• 3:00-5:00pm, Gibson Garage: Gibson-hosted event

• 6:30pm doors/7:30pm show, The Basement East: “You Got Gold” show (SOLD OUT)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10

• 10:30am, Trolley Tour of Prine’s favorite places in Nashville

• 11:00am-2:00pm, Arnold’s Country Kitchen: Official Pop Up

• 11:30am, Trolley Tour of Prine’s favorite places in Nashville

• 12:45pm doors/1:00pm show, Belcourt Theatre: Daddy and Them screening, followed by a Q&A with surprise special guests

• 4:00pm, White Castle: White Castle pre-show party

• 6:30pm doors/7:30pm show, The Ryman: “You Got Gold” show

Proceeds from the event benefit The Hello in There Foundation.