The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee was the place to be in country music Friday and Saturday night as Cody Jinks, Ward Davis, and Sunny Sweeney took the most prestigious stage in all of country music for two nights of sold out shows at the Mother Church of Country Music.

To call these shows important is an incredible understatement. The first show, announced back in July, sold out in record time. Let me repeat that. Cody Jinks sold out the Ryman Auditorium in record time. When you stop and think about all the legendary names and events that have taken place there, that really says something. A second show was announced almost immediately, and it sold out in a breathtaking amount of time as well. Fans were beating down the doors to be there for this huge night.

The meteoric rise of Cody Jinks has been nothing short of spectacular over the last two years. His music, with it’s traditional foundation, raw honesty, down to Earth appeal, and subtle defiance has gained the attention and following of fans of all different genres of music. To the country fans, he’s a hero out there doing what needs to be done to bring the change we all yearn for to country music, to fans of other genres he’s a guy out there who is real speaking from the heart in an age where we are increasingly seeking out the kind of individuals who do those things.

In just a couple short years Cody has risen from a regionally touring artist to a national star whose rise doesn’t appear to have an end in sight. Just this year alone for Cody has been stellar. The first big news came late in the winter when he announced a show with Jamey Johnson at a nice casino in Oklahoma. How does he top that? Being named one of the top acts of the Tumbleweed festival later in the summer. How does he top that? By playing a hometown show with the living legend Kris Kristofferson late in the summer. How did he top that? Playing the Mother Church. How will he top that? Only time will, and if history is an indicator you should place that bet quickly.

But this weekend wasn’t only about Cody Jinks. He brought along his good buddy Ward Davis for the weekend. Ward and Cody’s friendship has blossomed over the last year and a half. The two wrote the title track of Cody’s latest album “I’m Not The Devil” and the rest, as they say, is history. The two have been touring around together for most of the year, also joined with such names as Whitey Morgan and the 78’s, Colter Wall, and Paul Cauthen to name a select few. Jinks has bee instrumental in introducing the music of Davis to his audience, and it was only fitting that Ward be on the Ryman shows as well. Ward is a tried and true veteran of the music business, and his spot on that stage was earned the hard way, same as Jinks.

The lovely Sunny Sweeney rounded out the shows. Sweeney has played shows with both Jinks and Davis throughout the year, and with 4 albums to her own name and countless years of touring and blazing the trail of her own there is no question she belonged on that stage. In a weekend full of bearded men, she was the rose among the thorns. Unlike Davis and Jinks though, Sweeney is no stranger to the legendary stage of the Ryman. “I’ve been onstage at the Ryman before at the Opry so there was a certain level of comfort when I was up there, but it was also completely different, too. It was just so badass because it was something new, being up there with my own band” Sweeney said after the show. When jokingly asked if she had given any advice or pointers to her bearded counterparts and she laughed and said she had not. Sweeney’s set both nights got a great response from the crowd, and turned plenty of heads and ears her way.

Speaking with Cody “Cooder” Bennett, Ward Davis’ lead guitar player, before the show he opened up about how he was feeling. “I’m nervous. It feels like every nerve is just rattled, you know? It’s hard to put into words. I grew up understanding what playing here means. I’ve only been here (with Ward) about a year so to be here at the Ryman it’s like ‘wow!’ A year ago I was struggling to get by and now I’ve gone from raman to the Ryman.”

Ward’s set is always a crowd pleaser. Ward is such a cool guy. Ward is the kind of guy who could go out there and tell stories and jokes all night long and still be more than worth the price of admission. Ward’s set included a healthy mix of old and new material. He’s got a new album coming soon, and he played several tracks from that including “Geronimo”, and “Colorado”, a song he and Cody wrote before a show in Louisville earlier this year.

One of the staple’s of Ward’s set is the legendary song “Highwayman”. Any time I’ve seen Ward play the song on a show with Jinks, Cody always comes out and sings a verse with him, and this night was no different. The surprise didn’t end there, however, because following Jinks out onstage was none other than Jamey Johnson making an unscheduled appearance. The crowd all rose to their feet as the three men sang the song and embraced one another afterwards.

That wasn’t the only time Ward’s set got the crowd on their feet, Friday night, however. Quite possibly the highlight of the weekend came during shortly after the Jinks and Johnson surprise appearance. He spoke briefly about his time in country music, and the struggle he’s endured with the Nashville system and what they have done to the music before launching into the title track from his last album “15 Years In A 10 Year Town”. As the song ended Ward and company received a genuine standing ovation from the capacity crowd. It was a moment that brought tears to my eyes for how real it was. Ward told us all to cut it out or we were going to make him emotional. A standing ovation for that song in that setting was a truly special moment in what was a truly special weekend.

I was unable to catch up with Ward during the weekend to speak with him, but I did get a chance to once again speak with Cooder about the experience. When asked what it was like he breathed a deep breath and said “Angelic. Really, it was like something was taking over. Like a presence, if you will. It’s unexplainable compared to anything I’ve ever played before.” I asked him if he thought he would be as nervous again for the second night as he was the first. “Probably,” he said with a laugh. “We’re at the Ryman and every seat is filled. I don’t know if I can’t not be nervous when I think about that.”

Ward and his crew have worked tirelessly to spread their craft. The crowd at the Ryman over the weekend ate up everything they served, and were still ready for more. It may have been Ward’s first time playing in that hallowed hall of country music, but I feel entirely confident that it will not be his last.

The toast of the weekend, however, was Cody Jinks. Being in a position to take that stage, his success coming not from the help of any big name record labels, major marketing firms, or pandering gimmicks but hard work, a shared passion with his fans, and staying true to himself made for something undeniably special. The success that allowed Cody to live out that dream was born of his hard work, and his fan’s relentless dedication to him and his music. It had the feel of a celebration for everyone.

Sunny Sweeney wasn’t the only Ryman veteran to take the stage during the weekend. Jinks’ guitarist Chris Claridy had played there once before. “It’s an honor to play there, obviously. I’m psyched up for it. I actually played there once on a show that Ricky Skaggs used to tape there when I was with Jack White. I remember it well because Jerry Lee Lewis was the headliner. I think I’ll appreciate it more this time, though.”

Bassist Josh Thompson, who has been with Cody almost his entire career, had a different approach to the weekend. “Honestly, I think everyone else is more excited for it than I am. I personally have to take it as just another show so I don’t over-excite myself. I don’t want to freak myself out,” he said with a laugh.

Cody himself wasn’t able to share Josh’s mentality, however. During a show in late September at The Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana Cody told the crowd “There were a lot of years that I didn’t think they’d ever even let me in the building. I’m gonna be

nervous as hell.” The three weeks between that comment and Friday afternoon didn’t bring change that. Speaking with Cody before Friday’s show he told me “I’m trying not to let it get too big, but it means an awful lot. I’m trying to treat it like any other show, but that’s real hard to do considering it’s the Ryman[laughing].” When I asked him to describe his excitement level he gave me a smile and said “I’m more nervous than excited. It’s big, you know? It’s big.”

The growth I have seen out of Cody as a performer over the last few years has been immense. In the 30+ times I have seen Cody (It’s probably closer to 40+ now. I’ve seen him 10 times alone this year.) I have never seen him say that he was nervous on stage. Even when you could tell he was. He gave a wave to the crowd after opening the show with “No Guarantees” and told us all “I’m nervous as hell.” It never affected him, though. He did what he knows how to do, worked the crowd into a frenzy, and just a couple of songs later said “I’m having fun and I’m a lot

less nervous now.” Cody and the Tone Deaf Hippies performed song after song after song, employing a perfect mix of the old and the new, and the fast and the slow. Cody brought Ward back out to a thunderous ovation for “I’m Not The Devil”, which has become a staple of Cody’s show when Ward is also on the bill. The brotherhood between the two is as undeniable as their talent. They love to share the stage together.

Ward wasn’t the only guest to the stage during Cody’s set, however, as Jamey Johnson returned to the stage wearing his own guitar to join Cody for Merle Haggard’s “The Way I Am”, which elicited a standing ovation from the crowd.

(Images Courtesy Johnny Ringo)

Friday night saw yet another special moment as Cody pointed out his mother sitting in the middle of the room, thanking her for helping him realize his dreams, and then dedicated “Momma’s Song” to her, making sure to tell everyone that all of the things said in that song are true.

After the night’s encore of “Hippies and Cowboys” Cody walked to the back corner of the stage where his wife stood with their children. Cody hugged his family and embraced his children as everyone in attendance roared in approval.

Catching back up with Josh Thompson after the show he still wasn’t sure what it all meant to him. “I think it will all hit me in a few days when I’ve really had some down time. After I’ve had a few days to sit back and really process it all. Right now it’s all just still so surreal to me.”

The Friday night show at the Ryman was a special one. Seeing Cody take that stage for the first time brought me to tears. Seeing all of the hard work pay off in such a rewarding way for someone I am honored to call my friend was nothing short of incredible.

And that was only half the weekend.

(Courtesy Johnny Ringo)

The air around the event was just as electric Saturday night. A very large portion of the crowd stayed in town for both shows. The Flockers, the Wardens, and Sunny fans took over the Broadway scene Saturday. It was like a giant family reunion. Robert’s Western World was the sight of the official meetups, but there were gatherings in many of the bars off Broadway, and the alley between the Ryman and Broadway was constantly full of “our people”.

Saturday night’s shows brought the same energy. Noticeably absent from Ward’s set was “15 Years In A 10 Year Town” that had earned the heartfelt ovation of the crowd the night before. I think it made what took place Friday night that much more special.

Saturday brought another special guest to the stage as Whitey Morgan joined Cody and

Ward for “Highwayman”. The crowd rose to their feet and showered down their appreciation on the three men on the stage. Whitey joined Cody later in the night during “The Way I Am”, and Whitey and Ward joined Cody to sing “Cast No Stones”.

As Cody came out for his encore he stopped and took the time to thank several people. His family, his supporters, a special thanks and a hug for Josh Thompson for sticking with him for so long. After he finished the last verse of “Hippies and Cowboys” Cody invited his family on stage. The kids danced. Cody danced with them. A curtain call after the music had ended punctuated an incredible night and weekend.

It was, simply put, and epic weekend. Some of the best music in country music today took inside the most prestigious venue in all of country music, and showed with a force that there is a market for this kind of music. It was a celebration. Of hard work. Good music. Good fans. Great friends. Of the accomplishment of our artists. It was a celebration that was as real and fitting as the artists who made it happen.

It was the kind of weekend that artists and fans alike dream of. And fortunately for us, even if they did take the dreams out back to die this one survived. This one survived, and it came true. Who told all the vampires of the world they were welcome, anyway?