Saturday Song: Brett Eldredge “She Calls Me Raymond”

Alzheimer’s and county music blend here today.  But first I want to acknowledge a wonderful event for a singer and song writer. 

Last weekend Brett Eldredge stepped onto the Grand Ole Opry stage for the first time to sing.  I want to recognize that moment, and the comments that Eldredge made.  What he had to say was what I hope all would feel if given the chance to stand in the famed circle.

Not only was the young artist introduced by his mentor, the legendary Bill Anderson, but his performance was witnessed first-hand by a large crowd from his hometown of Paris, Illinois which included Brett’s grandparents Shirley and Spizz Eldredge, who traveled to Nashville, Tenn. to see their friend, relative and hometown boy’s dream come true.

“I remember standing by the stage and thinking about all those people who have stepped in that (wooden) circle before me … Hank Williams, Johnny Cash … all the people that are part of the Opry history, the legends, the people who have made music what it is today,” Eldredge said following his debut. “I was nervous but it was kind of a cool nervous. It was almost like an energy. I remember looking out in the crowd and feeling like I was having an out-of-body experience like it wasn’t really happening.”

One of the songs that Brett Eldredge is known for is one that deals with a most dreadful disease.  Alzheimer’s afflicts an ever-growing number of people, and more research is needed to find the answer at slowing it down. Hopefully someday ending it.

The young man was excited that his grandparents were going to be in the audience to see his debut.

“It will be great that my grandpa is going to be here,” Brett said with a big smile. “I kept bugging my agent about when am I going to get to do the Opry and when he told me I was invited to perform the first thing I did was call my grandpa.”

Brett’s grandma suffers from Alzeheimer’s and he was afraid his grandparents might not be able to make the trip due to complications with the disease.

“The disease makes me so angry,” he stressed. “I think one of the ways I wrote the song (Raymond) was out of anger. I was so frustrated and it helped me through this time.”

The song that Eldredge wrote called “She Calls Me Raymond” was the second song that he performed at the Mother Church of Country Music.   I use a radio studio singing for the video today.