The Annual Dutton Ranch Night Is One Week Away
She ran up and down the aisles, back and forth from the street level of the theatre all the way up to the orchestra pit before the stage, and she knew every inch of the Capitol Music Hall before she was double-digits old.
The row of dressing rooms and the side alley load-in, the concession stand and radio station, the box office and projector room high above the balcony, and the ballroom and side stages were all play areas for Kelly and her sisters and brother, and that was because Kelly Tucker’s mother, Kathy, did everything and worked everywhere when it came to the country music that made the historic downtown venue a legend in the live music industry.
Before her unexpected passing in September 2022, Kathy was a tour escort, a gift shop cashier, a day-trip coordinator, the director of Jamboree Tours, the merchandise manager, and marketing and sponsorship manager for Jamboree in the Hills, and even an usher during thousands of live shows inside the historic Capitol Theatre.
That’s why the path was paved for Kelly to follow in her mother’s footsteps with brother Ryan and sister Casey by her side, and now she’s the executive director of the Greater Wheeling Sports & Entertainment Authority.
That means she’s in charge of scheduling events at both the historic downtown Wheeling playhouse and Wesbanco Arena, and country music is always her favored option when making those imperative decisions.
“Well, as everyone knows, this valley and this community is a large country fan base from Jamboree USA days to Jamboree in the Hills. This town loves country music,” Tucker explained. “And it definitely sells more tickets than some of the different alternative groups that we’ve tried to do.
“And no doubt, I love country music, too,” she said. “I have a lot of history in the country music business and so does my family. I grew up at the Capitol Theatre, and then at Jamboree in the Hills for a lot of years before I became the general manager of the event.
“It’s deep in my roots. I love it. It’s nostalgia for me in a lot of ways.”
Yes, Tucker loves country, but that’s not why artists like Clint Black and Jamey Johnson performed at The Capitol Theatre earlier this year and why Dwight Yoakam is scheduled to appear on August 27th.
“Performers like Clint Black or Dwight Yoakum work here because this area really relates to the country in the ‘90s, because that’s when country really took off and all of the big stars performed at Jamboree in the Hills,” Tucker recalled. “When I was in high school and college, I was listening to Garth Brooks, Terri Clark, Jo Dee Messina, and Trisha Yearwood, and a lot of others.
“Country music has been a big part of my career,” she said. “Of course, Brad Paisley is one of my favorites, and I always loved Toby Keith, but I’m a huge fan of Brian White, too. There were some really amazing country artists back in the 1990s, and their music made a big impact on me.”
Country Music Matters
It was announced following the 2017 music festival that Jamboree in the Hills was placed on “hiatus,” and since it’s proven permanent to the thousands who flocked to East Ohio for that third week in July each and every year.
Since Chris Dutton and his sister, Nina, created and presented the Blame My Roots Country Music Festival for a few years before Chris opted for the one-day Dutton Ranch Night concert that this year will feature local favorite Neal McCoy at the Dutton Cattle ranch on June 6th.
That’s why Tucker may be Dutton’s biggest fan these days, but does that mean she no longer misses what many consider the best country music festival in the country?
“Oh, no, I still miss it,” she said quickly. “I just wish there was some way we could still do that because it was more than a music festival. It was a passion, and for thousands, it was the vacation they took every year,” Tucker said. “It meant something. Jamboree in the Hills was definitely different than any other event or festival I’ve been involved with during my career.
“But when it comes to music, this valley is still full of country music fans,” she added. “Dutton Ranch Night is a terrific piece of that history, and having Neal McCoy as the headliner this year is perfect because he was a big part of the history of Jamboree in the Hills.
“Neal loves the country music fans in this area, so I’m sure it’s going to be a very special show.”
This year’s annual Dutton Ranch Night will be the third consecutive after superstars Sammy Kershaw and Tracey Byrd were the headliners for the first two shows. The event also features farm-to-table fare like smoked brisket, burnt ends, and smash burgers, and there will be several performers warming up the crowd before McCoy takes the stage.
“What Chris is doing with Ranch Night is terrific,” Tucker said. “We were all devastated when Jamboree in the Hills went away, but I love what Chris is doing with bringing back at least a beautiful piece of it for the fans out there. He brings those fans together and the fans absolutely love it.
“Plus, enjoying a concert outside is much different than seeing a show inside a building,” she said. “Plus, it gives those fans something to look forward to when it comes to kicking off their summer. I think it’s great and I’m extremely supportive of Chris and the event.”
While other genres like rock and pop have evolved, country music has returned to its hometown roots over the last decade with headliners like Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson. Not only do the country music’s writers tell the American story, Tucker believes, there’s also a difference when it comes to the one-on-one interaction among those in the country music industry.
“Country artists are on a different level. They are much more friendly when they interact with the staff,” Tucker said. “That’s probably one of the reasons why I love country music so much. One year, Dierks Bentley even sang “Happy Birthday” before a show and that’s something I’ll never forget.
“Becoming the general manager of Jamboree in the Hills was a dream come true,” she said. “Our family had been involved with it for such a long time, and it was an honor to accept that position. It meant everything to me, and Ranch Night tells me I’m not alone with loving country music and its history in this valley.”
