In the second of this two-part episode, I continue my discussion with country music singer-songwriter, Darryl Worley. He explains why he and his wife Kimberly decided to relocate from the Nashville area back to Hardin County, TN.

Family, as well as the opportunity for his daughter Savannah to grow up in an area where friends and neighbors support each other, was an essential factor. Darryl believes that allowing his wife and daughter to develop their own identity is important. Plus, being closer to Muscle Shoals, AL, and Wishbone Studios is another reason moving made sense.

RELATED: Darryl Worley Hasn’t Forgotten His Roots, Part 1  

Manny music insiders agree the Nashville recording scene has changed much since Darryl signed his first major record deal in the late 1990s.

Compared to many country music singer-songwriters that come out of Music City, Darryl’s career hit the national scene when he was 35-years-old. Although he looks much younger than his actual age, the ability to intertwine the wisdom of a weathered performer into his songs is one reason fans gravitate to his unique style.

Part two of Darryl Worley’s Southern Americana podcast episode

The 2003 release of “Have You Forgotten” solidified Darryl as a major country music artist. Yet with the song’s phenomenal success of the hit song, came a downside. During an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt soon after the song hit number one, Darryl was shocked when the journalist attacked him for writing and singing about lingering wounds most American’s felt when New York City’s twin towers fell.

With Success, Come Lessons

Although the interview taught valuable lessons in dealing with aggressive journalists, he knew the words he and fellow veteran songwriter Walt Aldridge penned about the attack resonated with millions of patriotic Americans. And as Darryl explains, its the stories that matter in any hit song.

When listening to a Darryl Worley song, there’s no doubt the music is pure country. Merle Haggard, Gene Watson, Willie Nelson, and many others were strong influences on Darryl’s singing and songwriting. While his fans may love the traditional country sound Darryl and other artists still perform, throughout the years, Nashville record executives altered the sound to appeal to a younger and more diverse audience.

“I realized early on that I wouldn’t reach the Garth or Kenny level because I wasn’t the prototypical star Nashville executives looked for,” Darryl explained. But I knew who I was as an artist, and that’s what’s important to me.”

Looking & Moving Forward

While he appreciates the opportunities Nashville has given and still can provide his career, Darryl realizes that if he’s going to fully tap into his creative potential, being centered and around the people and things most important to him is a top priority. 

The future continues to shine for Darryl and his music. His “How Freedom Feels” project, along with the rerelease of his “Greatest Hits,” and an upcoming album of Christian hymns, is forthcoming.

Who knows; his fans may get a genuine and unvarnished glimpse into Darryl’s life in an upcoming book he’s talking about writing and publishing soon.

Darryl Worley hasn’t forgotten his roots, for they have made this talented singer-songwriter a native hero. And he plans to continue tapping into the vast amount of talent that lies within his soul.