The Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent has had a busy summer this year as she has started touring again, officially becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry and she just released a new album entitled, Music Is What I See. 

Recently, The CMBeat got to interview Rhonda Vincent about all the latest things she’s been doing before hosting the final Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree at the Texas Troubadour Theater, before the Midnight Jamboree moved back to its original location in Downtown Nashville on Broadway at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.

“It’s a life long dream come true, it was so amazing.” said Vincent as she was describing her experience becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry, “I think I’ve been on there seven times now since I was first inducted and it just almost seems surreal every time I’m there.” She said she’s never taking it for granted, “it’s always special.” 

Click the image to download the album on iTunes

The singer songwriter just released a brand new album on May 29th entitled, Music Is What I See. She talked about how the title track was her favorite among the new album. “It’s because it says god is great and god is good to me.” said Vincent, “I’m anxious to learn it just because I get to say that every time and just for people to know how very thankful I am.”

There is twelve brand new songs on Rhonda Vincent’s new album and it includes the very first bluegrass version of The Righteous Brothers’ hit, Unchained Melody. When asked about how it was decided to be put on the record, Vincent said it was a dedication to her husband, Herb. 

“I was thinking about songs we do, so many that are sad and something I was just thinking about is, what would I sing to my husband? He and I have been married 37 years.” Vincent continued, “I’m like, what is a song that I would sing to him and somehow that song came up in my mind. I really love singing it as a dedication to him and our marriage and just how much that I love him.”

Since the new album features original songs and some covers, I asked Rhonda Vincent how she picks out songs to record for her albums. “They just have to make my heart jump and something that I love listening to.” said Vincent, “There’s a few phases like first of all I love the song, then can I sing this song. Then I just get with a guitar and I sing it and its like does this feel like a great song, can I project that song just singing with the guitar cause then you figure once you put the band with it, it’s just going to enhance it.”

Jeannie Seely and Rhonda Vincent

The first single from the album, Like I Could was co-written by Jeannie Seely, Bobby Tomberlin and Erin Enderlin and the bluegrass artist admitted she loved the song instantly. “It was a #1 bluegrass song and I love singing it.” said Vincent, “I’m excited Jeannie Seely is going to be here tonight with us at the Troubadour Theater because she wanted to. She said this is very special to her also and so we’re going to be singing it. It will be one of the last songs that is sang at the Midnight Jamboree at the Texas Troubadour Theater.”

The original location of the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree was in Downtown Nashville until it moved to Music Valley drive near the Grand Ole Opry and has been bringing joy at the Texas Troubadour Theater since January in 1995. Now, the Midnight Jamboree is moving back to its original location at the #1 Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Downtown Nashville. 

Rhonda Vincent and her band, The Rage had the honor of hosting the last show at the Music Valley drive location. “If we’re going to have to shut it down here at the Texas Troubadour Theater, I’m excited I’m the one who gets to be the one who does this because I was here so many times.”

The singer songwriter has many fond memories of the Midnight Jamboree and shared about her very first time hosting the show. “I don’t remember the year, I was literally in the shop waiting for the Midnight Jamboree to start, Justin Tubb hadn’t arrived to host the show. Three minutes before they went on the air, they came and they grabbed me and they said ‘Hey, can you sing Walkin’ The Floor Over You? You know, while Justin is getting here to host.’ I said I never have but I’ll give it a shot! So I went literally jumped up there, sang Walkin’ The Floor Over You, ended up hosting the show, he never did show up and that was my first time to host the show here.”

Along with that, Vincent also shared another memory about one of her first experiences being backstage. “I remember we were at a Sally Mountain show. We were waiting for our time and Ernest Tubb walked by it was one of the first times being backstage and watching the other entertainers and I remember just being memorized by that.” Vincent continued, “Always many many memories of the Midnight Jamboree and here at the Texas Troubadour Theater, so it’ll be sad to say goodbye, I guess not goodbye but so long.”

Rhonda Vincent and her band, The Rage performed a phenomenal show to mark the end of an era of the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree being at the Music Valley location at the Texas Troubadour Theater! Thank you to Rhonda Vincent for taking the time to chat with me!

If you’d like to watch this show from Rhonda Vincent and The Rage hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree, click the link HERE to watch, thanks to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop for recording the show! Be sure to follow Rhonda Vincent on her social media including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and at her website, www.rhondavincent.com.

Have you listened to Rhonda Vincent’s new album, Music Is What I See? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment below or on social media!