What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1384619
LARA JO HIGHTOWER NWA Democrat-Gazette T here's no two ways about it: People love Jenee Fleenor. Even if you haven't heard of the Springdale native — whose maiden name was Keener — it's a good bet you've heard (and love) her fiddle playing. She regularly tours with country music star Blake Shelton, has toured and recorded with rock legend Steven Tyler, plays in the band for the NBC television show "The Voice" and is a session player for countless musicians in Nashville. In addition to the fiddle, which she's played since she was 3, she also plays the mandolin and acoustic guitar and has written songs recorded by luminaries like Dolly Parton. Her achievements are so impressive, in fact, that, in 2019, Fleenor became the first woman to win the Country Music Association's Musician of the Year award — also the first time a fiddler had been recognized for the award in two decades. She then repeated the victory in 2020. She's also been nominated for two successive years for the Academy of Country Music Awards Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year and has won two Arkansas CMA Awards. Despite the superstar resume, talking about the upcoming June 25-27 Hometown Celebration Springdale has planned to honor her many successes brings this humble talent to tears. "I was just beside myself when people started reaching out to me, saying, 'We really want to celebrate you — what can we do to make this happen?'" Fleenor says, getting choked up. "I'm just so overwhelmed and blessed by all of the messages I've received. You've heard the saying 'I'm over the moon' — well, I'm over the moon, sun, stars, galaxy." In a testament to how down-to- earth and accessible Fleenor is, the plan to celebrate her the weekend of June 25 started in a conversation on Facebook between Fleenor and Sarah King, a fan of Fleenor's. King had written a letter to the editor, published in this newspaper, asking why Springdale doesn't brag more about its homegrown superstar. "Is it just Ozark humility that makes us afraid to brag? That's the only explanation I can figure for why Springdale doesn't have a giant 'Home of Jenee Fleenor' sign at the city limits," King wrote. She closed out the letter with: "As we work to put these hard times behind us, let's celebrate one of the world's best fiddlers! Come on, Springdale!" "I heard Jenee play years ago at a house concert at Mike Shirkey's on Block Avenue in Fayetteville around Christmastime," says King. "She was a young teen, playing with these experienced musicians and just shining. My dad, Gary King, brought up that the city ought to have a city limits sign saying that we're the proud hometown of Jenee. When I was a little kid, my mom called me Carrie Nation, because I have a tendency to get a bee in my bonnet and not let go. It seemed like such a missed opportunity — not only to celebrate a woman who has broken the glass ceiling in her field, but also for Springdale to hitch our wagon to a star." King posted the published letter on Facebook, and one of Fleenor's friends tagged her. "I'm simply overwhelmed," Fleenor posted as a reply. "I'll always be proud to say I'm from Springdale." King saw her chance and asked if there was a possibility Fleenor could appear in the Rodeo of the Ozarks parade, driving an "awesome classic convertible." "Looks like I'm free then!" Fleenor replied. "Hey — what about an old turquoise truck? (My obsession.)" "After the letter was published, Mayor Sprouse and Kevin Flores reached out to me," says King. "Understandably, big community celebrations were not the highest priority in the past year, but, by March, we were cautiously optimistic that by summer it would be safe to gather. It was a unique opportunity; because touring music had ground to a halt, Jenee had the time to return to Springdale. The JUNE 20-26, 2021 WHAT'S UP! 3 Hometown Honors Springdale celebrates award-winning fiddler SPRINGDALE See Fleenor Page 4 "I'm just so used to being kind of in the 'side spotlight,' I guess, and, oh my goodness, this is actually all about me," Fleenor says of the upcoming celebration. "A couple times, I kind of stopped in my tracks and thought about it, and a few times, honestly, I just broke down and bawled — which I could probably do right now. It's very humbling. I can think of the times, before I moved to Nashville, when everyone was so supportive. I can think of people who prayed for me before my journey to Nashville. All the people who have been so supportive and been with me along the way — I'm so grateful." (Courtesy Photo) FYI Jenee Fleenor Hometown Celebration Schedule of Events NWA Old Time Fiddlers Jam — 6 p.m. June 25, The Apollo on Emma in Springdale. Free. Rodeo of the Ozarks Parade — With Jenee Fleenor as Grand Marshal, 3 p.m. June 26, Emma Avenue in Springdale. Free. Rodeo of the Ozarks — With Fleenor performing the National Anthem, 7:30 p.m. June 26, Parsons Stadium in Springdale. Tickets: rodeoof theozarks.org/2021-schedule Jenee Fleenor & Friends in Concert — Featuring Jimmy Fortune, Mike Rogers and Barry Bales, 6:30 p.m. June 27, Walter Turnbow Park in Springdale. Free.