Back in the mid-90s, I was working at a TV station, and every summer we got the chance to cover something in Nashville called Fan Fair. If you’ve never been, it was one of the biggest events in country music back then. For several days straight, all the stars came into town, and the fans lined up for autographs, pictures, and a chance to see their heroes. It felt like the whole country music world packed itself into Nashville.
Since I was with the TV station, our job was to reach out to the managers and set up interviews. We had a booth inside one of the big buildings—nothing fancy, just curtains hung around some lights and a couple of chairs—but it became the place where some of the biggest names of the 90s sat down with us. Me and my reporter interviewed stars like Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, and plenty more.
On the outside, I stayed professional—mic check, roll tape, ask the questions—but on the inside, I was still just a boy from Todd County grinning ear to ear. These were the same people I was hearing on the radio while circling the Dairy Dip back home, and now they were right there in front of me.
One memory that still stands out was Aaron Tippin coming by the booth. He walked in with a dip in his mouth, sat down, and I thought to myself, Now that’s a country boy. He was genuine, down-to-earth, and as real as they come.
The nights were just as exciting as the days. Each record label held concerts, bringing their stars out one at a time. With a camera on my shoulder and a press pass around my neck, I was right up at the front of the stage in the middle of the action—guitars ringing, lights flashing, the crowd roaring. It was something special to be that close to the heart of it all.
And those backstage passes opened even more doors. We weren’t sneaking around—we were invited. With those passes, we could go backstage, mingle with artists and crews, and yes, Budweiser was a big sponsor, so there were always coolers full of Budweiser on ice. It gave the whole place a laid-back, almost family reunion feel, even with the biggest stars in country music hanging around.
Another perk was that we could bypass the autograph lines. While fans waited for hours, we could walk right up to the artist with our camera, and nine times out of ten, they’d gladly step aside for an interview. They knew the TV exposure meant good publicity, so they were more than happy to give us a few minutes. Standing there, camera rolling, with fans craning their necks to get a look—it made you realize just how unique our spot was.
Looking back, our booth may have been nothing but curtains and cables, but what it gave me was priceless. Fan Fair wasn’t just a work assignment—it was an all-access pass to country music in its prime. I was proud to be part of it, but I’m not bragging—just thankful I had the chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with the very people I was hearing on the radio.