His annual Homecoming concert is Sunday at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium
Look up in the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a … beard?
You might not have known it, but country music star Jamey Johnson and his unmistakable whiskers spent a few days here and there and above Montgomery during the pandemic.
After all, it’s been Johnson’s hometown since he was three years old. The Grammy-nominated artist, who was born in Enterprise and and lived early on in Troy, started singing in Montgomery’s Calvary Baptist Church. He learned much about music from his dad, a French horn player, and from school instructors at Floyd Jr. and Jeff Davis schools. Life in Alabama’s capital city also molded him to want to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves, which he did from 1994 to 2002. He even carries a piece of Montgomery to all his concerts — a signature-covered guitar called “Old Maple” he got in 1995 from Bailey Brothers.
During the past year and a half, Montgomery is also the place where he’s done some of his flight training on the way to becoming a commercial pilot.
“So during the pandemic, I dropped into Montgomery a few times, especially when I was down there taking checkrides (FAA examinations),” said Johnson. “I’ve been doing all my checkrides down there. And while I’m in town, I’ll drop in and visit with some folks and that sort of thing.”
HOMECOMING CONCERT: Jamey Johnson Homecoming concert back in Riverwalk Stadium on Sunday
Johnson will be much more down-to-earth Sunday at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium, where he and several music friends are banding together for Johnson’s annual Homecoming concert. It’s a fundraiser for the Nikki Mitchell Foundation, which assists families facing a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Gates open at 5 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at jameyjohnson.com. Field level standing only tickets are $50, and bowl seating is $35.
Life of a touring musician
People often ask Johnson when his next album is coming out. His last one — “Living For a Song” was in 2012. But recording is simply not where his heart’s been.
“No, I don’t have anything in the works. I’m not doing anything,” Johnson said. “You know, right now I’m a touring musician. That’s what I do. Yeah, that’s what I enjoy.”
It’s not an easy life. Touring acts, and everything and everyone associated with them, ground to a halt last year during the pandemic. This year’s been better for Johnson, who said he and his band have been busy. Some other artists aren’t as fortunate.
“People who want to go on tour are still finding that it’s not even possible,” Johnson said. “Sometimes because we have now a shortage of bus drivers and truck drivers, to go along with the already present pandemic concerns. We want to do shows that are safe for our listeners, but at the same time we also have a band and crew that we’re trying to keep safe. Part of keeping them safe means making them money. When you set them at the house and they don’t make money, that’s not keeping them safe. That’s keeping them broke.”
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He said there has to be a “happy medium” with safety precautions. He said they had that kind of balance in September when he performed during Farm Aid. Johnson said the concert was a hit with the audience and was “as safe as they could possibly make it.”
He’s hopeful for that kind of balance at Sunday’s Homecoming concert.
“You know, the thing that exists this year that wasn’t there last year is that vaccination,” Johnson said. “It ain’t a cure all. It ain’t a 100% safety protocol. But it’s something. It’s something that wasn’t there last year that’s there this year.”
Johnson reaching new heights
So why did Johnson become a pilot during the pandemic? Honestly, he thought it would be cool to be able to fly himself whenever he wanted to go. Johnson’s already been flying on tours for close to six years, studying and training with others, and has logged a little over 500 hours.
“I spent my down time during COVID studying,” Johnson said. “I’m a private pilot. A multi-engine, private pilot. I got my instrument ratings on single and multi engine. I’m working on getting my commercial. Right now I’ve already passed the written test. I gotta find some time to go take that checkride. I’ll get my commercial license.”
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So no, that bearded man you might spot flying above Montgomery again soon isn’t Santa on an early jaunt.
So what’s Johnson going to do when he gets his commercial license?
“I may fly myself to vacations and whatever else I want to do. There’s always somewhere to go,” Johnson said. “I keep having this dream of loading up some fishing gear and taking an airplane out to Montana or Alaska or somewhere. Landing on the side of a river, go do some fly fishing or that sort of thing. Who knows? Maybe that dream will come true, too.”
You can follow his travels, at least the touring ones, at jameyjohnson.com.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.
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