Photo by Jason Myers / Courtesy of charlieworsham.com
Last Tuesday night, Charlie Worsham took the stage to a packed house at Station Inn in Nashville to not only play music but also read excerpts from his debut book, Follow Your Heart.
The title of Worsham’s book comes from the three simple words that have become his life mantra. These words of wisdom were bestowed on him by legendary artist Marty Stuart, who wrote them in a book he autographed for Charlie Worsham years ago. Worsham took them to heart so much so that he had them tattooed on us forearm in Stuart’s handwriting, so that he’d always be able to see them when playing. Years later, as he debuted his new book in Nashville, Charlie revealed that Stuart, the inspiration for this all, wrote the book’s foreword.
In an evening of good music, great company, and boisterous laughter, Worsham shared vignettes from his book while playing both new songs and fan favorites, along with some covers of songs that have inspired him (and some Christmas tunes thrown in for good measure).
Worsham had the crowd laughing as he read passages from Follow Your Heart, recounting stories from his childhood through early days on the road with his band, including a memory of a hot dog fight resulting in a trip to the local police station—you’ll have to read the book to find out how that tale ends. Throughout the book, Worsham details stories from his incredible journey in music, from being inspired by the greats as a young boy and playing for troops in the Middle East to opening for the likes of Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Taylor Swift.
Readers will also get a glimpse at Worsham’s gratitude for his hometown of Grenada, Mississippi, and his desire to give back to the community that helped raise him. He established the Follow Your Heart Scholarship Fund to aid young people in his hometown who are interested in the arts, and his mother worked to further the cause by helping establish the Follow Your Heart Arts Program, to provide instruments to youth and connect them with music teachers.
Throughout the evening, Charlie took requests and carried on conversations with fans to the point that it felt more like a jam at a house show than a show at a venue. With his contagious laugh and undeniable charm, the atmosphere truly reflected Charlie Worsham: relaxed, fun, and filled with good energy and soulful music.
As he played and shared his story, Worsham’s heart was clearly evident that night. His heart for good music and his desire to share it with others, his heart for paying homage to the legends, and his heart for helping others by providing students in need with hope to inspire them through the art of music. Follow Your Heart is the perfect gift for any music lover this holiday season.
Proceeds from the book will be contributed to Worsham’s Follow Your Heart Arts Program, which provides music lessons and instruments to youth in need.