I guess it just came natural. The gift of music that is. My grandmother Irene loved to play and sing Bluegrass music and my dad, Dale Evans (And that really is his name) grew up singing Bluegrass, country, and southern Gospel Music. So, when I, my older brother, and my younger sister came into the world, Dad started a family gospel group! “The Evans Family” traveled Throughout East Tennessee singing an average of three to four times a week. Then in 1992 I heard a new sound in country music and I knew then what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to be a country music star. I immediately put a band together and started writing my own songs. We would eventually play some shows that would put me in the path of the woman that would change my life forever. This beautiful lady also had a little boy named Tyler.
After falling in love with Maryann and Tyler, they soon learned my dreams of becoming a country music star and were very supportive. Wedding bells rang on Dec. 18 1994 when I roped my little cowgirl Maryann at my show in Pigeon Forge. Then it got even better. I adopted Tyler!
Then in April, 1995 I got the call. Entertainment Concepts, a Booking Agency from Orlando Florida called wanting me to start touring the U.S.A. and to be the opening act for some of the leading stars in country music. Just four months after getting married I had to decide, is this what I want to do. This would mean being away from home between 275 and 300 days a year. My trooper of a wife was behind me 100%.
I went on the road and soon found out that my first opening act would be for none other than Kenny Chesney in Greenville, South Carolina. I would eventually tour and do concerts with, Charlie Daniels, Chris Ledoux, Tracy Bird, Lonestar, and the list goes on. I opened concerts for probably 99% of the country music stars through the 1990’s. In 1997 I signed a management and production deal with two of Nashville’s leading producers. My music was being played on country radio, I was making television appearances, and I was playing some of the biggest venues in America.
Although things were great in my career my personal life was in turmoil. I had fallen into Satan’s trap of Drugs, alcohol, and adultery and I was miserable. Then in January 1998. Late one Saturday night the guilt and conviction were too much and I confessed all of my sinful lifestyle to my wife. Not only did she forgive me, but she was right beside me the next morning in the altar when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was finally set free from the guilt and shame because of Christ and his presence in my life.
I continued over the next several months opening for some big names. Then the biggest blow of my life. In the summer of 1998 I was touring Florida when I heard the voice of God. Yes, God was calling me to preach! What? This is ridiculous I thought. I am on the verge of becoming a superstar. Although God didn’t change his mind, I tried manipulating the system. I told God that I would allow him to use me in country music. What I didn’t want to accept is the fact that I am now a child of the king and he calls the shots, not me. But, stubborn ole Kenny kept right on truckin’.
I continued playing the road and meeting some giants in the industry when God tried to get my attention one more time. I was on stage opening for Tracy Bird (Watermelon Crawl) when I was stricken with Bells Palsy. This is a disease that paralyzes one side of your face. My doctors told me this would probably be with me for the rest of my life. We immediately called our home church (Beech Park Baptist Church) and started a prayer chain. It was a miracle. Three weeks later I was healed and back on the road. The whole time I was praying “Thank You Lord”, I was still out of his will.
Now let’s jump up to June, 1999. My first single was released to radio. I had landed an independent record deal on THB Records and my first song titled “Teardrop Texas” was being played on the radio. That same month I did a concert with T. Graham Brown. He shared his testimony with me and told me to listen to the Lord. But guess what, I kept doing what I wanted.
We were fixing to shoot the video for “Tear drop Texas” for CMT in August. Two weeks before the shoot I was headed to South Dakota for a concert. On the evening of August, 27 I was struck head on by a drunk driver going 65 m.p.h. I was now in a position where I could go nowhere but to Jesus.
As I struggled to breathe I offered this simple prayer, “God, Everything that I am is now yours”. Shortly after that prayer someone came to my door and spoke with me. I don’t remember what they looked like, but I do remember what they said. They told me to lay my head back and that everything would be O.K. I laid my head back for a couple seconds, and then looked up and they were gone. This was 12 minutes before the ambulance arrived. What’s strange is no one else remembers this person. Not only that, but the paramedics were the first on the scene. Was it an angel? I think so.
After this ordeal I had the sweetest peace come over my body. Later I found out that my liver was bleeding and I had severe internal injuries. But I knew the great physician, and he wasn’t finished with me. After accepting God’s call on my life I played my last concert in January of 2000 with Billy Ray Cyrus and Toby Keith at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Maryann and I now have two boys very active in sports. Tyler, 18 has graduated high school and is entering the field of youth ministry and Lane is 10 years old. God also blessed us on May, 22 2002 with a little angel named Savanna, and she has me wrapped around her pinky!
I’ve had the privilege of serving full time as Associate Pastor at two different churches and have now been called to full time evangelism. I’m performing 5 shows a week in Pigeon Forge, TN where God allows me to share my testimony with thousands of people throughout the world, and travel on weekends to churches all over the country singing and preaching.
I am so thankful for the life changing power of Jesus Christ. My favorite scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature- Old things are past away; behold, all things are become new”.
Friend, when Jesus saved me, he changed me. He is not only my Savior, he is my Lord and I love serving him.
My Testimony