‘A Country Christmas’ Part Of Many Residents’ Holiday Tradition
November 22, 2022 at 2:28 a.m.
By David [email protected]
The free event with Gospel country singer Susie McEntire and guest Grammy-winning country music singer Linda Davis is in its ninth year. Another guest for this year’s concert will be Texas-born singer and musician Jenifer Wrinkle.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at Lakeview Middle School, with the concert starting at 7 p.m. While there’s no charge, those who attend are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys For Tots. Elementary choirs participating this year are Lincoln, Eisenhower, Madison and Washington schools.
“I’m excited about the show coming up. I look forward to it every year,” Davis said in a telephone interview Monday.
While Davis has been a part of the Christmas concert for the last several years, McEntire joked she’s been doing it “longer than George Jones was performing, I guarantee it.”
She’s thinking about bringing a new song to this year’s concert.
“Me and (husband) Mark are working on some music and, with a schedule like we have, it’s good just to be able to sing Christmas songs and get together and encourage people this time of year because there’s a lot of folks that are having trouble even post-Covid. They’re trying to get back into their lives,” McEntire said. “For me, and I know for Linda, (Linda’s husband) Lang and Mark, we all try to pick songs that are encouraging to folks that maybe are going through a struggle.”
Davis said, “Another thing, Susie, you probably agree, if we stray too far off of the traditional Christmas songs, folks really want to hear what they are used to. They want to sing along because I think that fills them with joy, just like hearing some of the messages that you’re talking about of hope, but if you can sing along, there’s something about singing together that just makes you happy. You kind of forget about your cares for a little bit.”
McEntire agreed, and then teased a surprise.
“We’re going to have a little bit different of an opening. We’re going to incorporate some kids and ... we don’t really want to tell this because I want it to be something fresh and something that people are a little bit surprised by,” she said.
On guest Wrinkle, McEntire said, “What an entertainer she is. Linda finally has someone who can sing ‘Does He Love Me?’ with her.”
Davis said she was all about McEntire singing the song with her, but agreed that the audience will love Wrinkle’s performance.
“We worked with her a long time when she was in the Reba (McEntire) band. She worked long after Lang and I had left. She’s played on so many records and sung on so many records, what a treat!” Davis said. “I was so happy to see ... the information that she was going to do it with us. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness! What a perfect addition!’”
McEntire said Wrinkle is “so talented.” Wrinkle also has worked with country artists Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood.
“Those were two other smart ladies who had her in their band, just like Reba,” Davis said.
Wrinkle’s husband plays the drums for the band Pure Prairie League.
“We’re going to have a great show,” McEntire said. “We’re just going to bring the Christmas spirit to this show and do the very best we can. We’ve got some awesome sponsors. We’ve got a great committee that (promoter) Mike (Loher) has used for years. The town is behind this. We’ve got a great billboard up. There’s always a buzz about this Christmas concert in Warsaw and I can’t think of a better place to have this than Warsaw. It’s just a beautiful spot for Christmas time.”
Davis said children will benefit from the toys donated to Toys For Tots at the concert.
“That just warms my heart. Whether I was a part of this or not, Susie, that you’ve been doing this for so long, and that beautiful community has been a part of making the lives and the season for so many kids happy. I bet, after this many years, there are probably families, that’s like two generations, that have enjoyed and benefitted from the big hearts of Toys For Tots and all the work that you all do for the show,” Davis said.
McEntire said they just want everyone to come out and enjoy the show.
“Sit back, relax and feel like you’re sitting in our living rooms and we’re just sharing the Christmas spirit with you,” she said.
The reason for the season, Davis stated, “is the birth of our Lord Jesus. And we always bring that in throughout the show, because that’s what the good news is.”
After the conference call with McEntire and Davis, Loher - who has organized “A Country Christmas with Susie McEntire” since the beginning - was excited about the Dec. 17 concert.
He said, “It’s exciting and humbling as the promoter to see the excitement and to get calls from local individuals, businesses and schools that want to know how they can be a part of this event that has become a tradition in Warsaw. It’s also extremely exciting to see how we have been notified on a national level. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this event. None of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors and volunteers.”
Sponsors include Leesburg United Methodist Church, Stookey Construction, Everest Excavating, Bailey Moore Foundation, Windstar Park, Franger Gas, Lewis Salvage, Wishbone Medical, Grossnickle Eye Center, American Concrete Pumping, Deb Patton-Showley Group, Core Mechanical, Blue River Digital, Oswego Mini-Mart, Family Express; In memory of the Honorable Judge David Cates, Kimberly Cates; Eaton Leadership Foundation, Lake City Saver, Dragonfly Catering, Bishop Farms, Eagle Outdoor Advertising, Willie 103.5, Times-Union, Allegra Marketing Print Mail, Hartzell Farm Feed and Supply, Snyder Trucking; WIOE, Oldies 101.1, 104.3 and stereo 1450; Michael Kinder & Sons, Stafford Solid Waste, Robinson Construction, Avalign Cutting Instruments, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Warsaw, Rabb Water, McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Louis Dreyfus, Spectacle Shoppe, Expressions Salon and Day Spa, Culligan Water and more. Even organized by Seven25Events.
For more information, call 574-376-0193 or visit the website at www.countrychristmaswarsaw.com, which includes a full list of sponsors.
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The free event with Gospel country singer Susie McEntire and guest Grammy-winning country music singer Linda Davis is in its ninth year. Another guest for this year’s concert will be Texas-born singer and musician Jenifer Wrinkle.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at Lakeview Middle School, with the concert starting at 7 p.m. While there’s no charge, those who attend are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys For Tots. Elementary choirs participating this year are Lincoln, Eisenhower, Madison and Washington schools.
“I’m excited about the show coming up. I look forward to it every year,” Davis said in a telephone interview Monday.
While Davis has been a part of the Christmas concert for the last several years, McEntire joked she’s been doing it “longer than George Jones was performing, I guarantee it.”
She’s thinking about bringing a new song to this year’s concert.
“Me and (husband) Mark are working on some music and, with a schedule like we have, it’s good just to be able to sing Christmas songs and get together and encourage people this time of year because there’s a lot of folks that are having trouble even post-Covid. They’re trying to get back into their lives,” McEntire said. “For me, and I know for Linda, (Linda’s husband) Lang and Mark, we all try to pick songs that are encouraging to folks that maybe are going through a struggle.”
Davis said, “Another thing, Susie, you probably agree, if we stray too far off of the traditional Christmas songs, folks really want to hear what they are used to. They want to sing along because I think that fills them with joy, just like hearing some of the messages that you’re talking about of hope, but if you can sing along, there’s something about singing together that just makes you happy. You kind of forget about your cares for a little bit.”
McEntire agreed, and then teased a surprise.
“We’re going to have a little bit different of an opening. We’re going to incorporate some kids and ... we don’t really want to tell this because I want it to be something fresh and something that people are a little bit surprised by,” she said.
On guest Wrinkle, McEntire said, “What an entertainer she is. Linda finally has someone who can sing ‘Does He Love Me?’ with her.”
Davis said she was all about McEntire singing the song with her, but agreed that the audience will love Wrinkle’s performance.
“We worked with her a long time when she was in the Reba (McEntire) band. She worked long after Lang and I had left. She’s played on so many records and sung on so many records, what a treat!” Davis said. “I was so happy to see ... the information that she was going to do it with us. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness! What a perfect addition!’”
McEntire said Wrinkle is “so talented.” Wrinkle also has worked with country artists Martina McBride and Trisha Yearwood.
“Those were two other smart ladies who had her in their band, just like Reba,” Davis said.
Wrinkle’s husband plays the drums for the band Pure Prairie League.
“We’re going to have a great show,” McEntire said. “We’re just going to bring the Christmas spirit to this show and do the very best we can. We’ve got some awesome sponsors. We’ve got a great committee that (promoter) Mike (Loher) has used for years. The town is behind this. We’ve got a great billboard up. There’s always a buzz about this Christmas concert in Warsaw and I can’t think of a better place to have this than Warsaw. It’s just a beautiful spot for Christmas time.”
Davis said children will benefit from the toys donated to Toys For Tots at the concert.
“That just warms my heart. Whether I was a part of this or not, Susie, that you’ve been doing this for so long, and that beautiful community has been a part of making the lives and the season for so many kids happy. I bet, after this many years, there are probably families, that’s like two generations, that have enjoyed and benefitted from the big hearts of Toys For Tots and all the work that you all do for the show,” Davis said.
McEntire said they just want everyone to come out and enjoy the show.
“Sit back, relax and feel like you’re sitting in our living rooms and we’re just sharing the Christmas spirit with you,” she said.
The reason for the season, Davis stated, “is the birth of our Lord Jesus. And we always bring that in throughout the show, because that’s what the good news is.”
After the conference call with McEntire and Davis, Loher - who has organized “A Country Christmas with Susie McEntire” since the beginning - was excited about the Dec. 17 concert.
He said, “It’s exciting and humbling as the promoter to see the excitement and to get calls from local individuals, businesses and schools that want to know how they can be a part of this event that has become a tradition in Warsaw. It’s also extremely exciting to see how we have been notified on a national level. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this event. None of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors and volunteers.”
Sponsors include Leesburg United Methodist Church, Stookey Construction, Everest Excavating, Bailey Moore Foundation, Windstar Park, Franger Gas, Lewis Salvage, Wishbone Medical, Grossnickle Eye Center, American Concrete Pumping, Deb Patton-Showley Group, Core Mechanical, Blue River Digital, Oswego Mini-Mart, Family Express; In memory of the Honorable Judge David Cates, Kimberly Cates; Eaton Leadership Foundation, Lake City Saver, Dragonfly Catering, Bishop Farms, Eagle Outdoor Advertising, Willie 103.5, Times-Union, Allegra Marketing Print Mail, Hartzell Farm Feed and Supply, Snyder Trucking; WIOE, Oldies 101.1, 104.3 and stereo 1450; Michael Kinder & Sons, Stafford Solid Waste, Robinson Construction, Avalign Cutting Instruments, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Warsaw, Rabb Water, McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Louis Dreyfus, Spectacle Shoppe, Expressions Salon and Day Spa, Culligan Water and more. Even organized by Seven25Events.
For more information, call 574-376-0193 or visit the website at www.countrychristmaswarsaw.com, which includes a full list of sponsors.
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