MSM 90s: Achy Breaky Heart, Don Von Tress
9/12/26
By Monica Collier
Ahh. Good morning, MSM friends.
I'm caught up in thinking back to Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s and the unexpected fun brought to us by Don Von Tress performing the song he wrote, "Achy Breaky Heart." Remembering that last (15th) performance of the first set that night back in August at Renaissance Shoals makes me smile ear-to-ear.
Yes! But also a little nope. I did not have loving Don's "Achy Breaky Heart" performance on my Bingo card. I knew it was in the lineup but I didn't really feel any sort of way about it. I was pretty sure I got my fill of the megahit, "Achy Breaky Heart" back in the day. It was everywhere, friends. Remember?
I absolutely loved Don's performance, though. I was almost immediately overwhelmed with positivity when Don took the stage, y'all. I really enjoyed hearing him sing the hit song he wrote. It felt like a secret performance. Think about it ... that doesn't happen every day. It was special, friends. The world-famous Fiddleworms were there with him. Kelvin Holly and those beautiful songbirds, the Shoals Sisters, were there, too. We were all right there with them living out loud.
The truth is, Don brought the achy breaky party. Yesiree. There was dancing taking place. I know. I know. Don't be too shocked. It's what we do, friends. It is indeed how we roll.
Who's to say if "Achy Breaky Heart" is one of those songs that would've been a hit no matter who sang it or if Billy Ray Cyrus taking on the song was the special sauce that pushed it into the stratosphere? It hit No. 1 on the country chart and No. 4 on the Billboard chart. That's some crossover goodness, y'all. It's credited with "sparking the line-dancing craze," too.
Speaking of Billy Ray Cyrus ... how cool is it that his daughter is Miley Cyrus? I love her so much. It's even cooler that Miley's godmother is/was/and forever will be, Dolly Parton. Talk about seven degrees of generational ties that connect us, friends. If you don't like one, you're sure to like the other or the other.
Both my sons were born in the 1990s. They were a little too young to remember the "Achy Breaky Heart" phenomenon. They were too old to be part of the "Hannah Montana" craze. But, they know what they need to know: Dolly Parton did a guest spot on Miley's Disney show and worlds collided. And just like that, a new generation was introduced to Dolly and her multi-generational legendary status was solidified.
I'm so thankful for music, dear friends. You’re welcome for today's earworm, BTW.
What a great way to close out the first set of Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s.
Stay tuned. More to come.
Dig Worms.
Photo by Devona Hawkins
