The next kid to hand a bouquet to Chris Young might one day be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
It happened for Young, himself. As a youngster growing up near Nashville in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Young once made the trip to the Opry in order to give flowers to a certain coal miner’s daughter.
In October, Young, 32, was made a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Whether the two events are matters of correlation or coincidence will remain one of those unsolvable country-music mysteries.
As he readied for a winter tour in support of his latest chart-topping album, “Losing Sleep,” Young recalled the bouquet and explained why he’s excited to come to Highland Heights this month.
Q: Do you remember your first trip to the Opry?
A: I do have a memory of giving Loretta Lynn roses when I was a kid. I definitely have some cool memories.
Q: Was it your parents’ idea for you to give her roses?
A: I think that was my idea. I’m not quite sure. If it was encouraged by anyone, it probably would have been my mom.
Q: Have you told Loretta that story?
A: I don’t think I’ve ever told that to her.
Q: I bet she remembers the roses.
A: I bet, as awesome as she is, she’s gotten roses a lot.
Q: Does it mean any more to you that it was Vince Gill who invited you to join the Opry?
A: I think that’s a huge thing, the fact that it was Vince that asked me to join, and Brad (Paisley) was the guy that inducted me. It was really, really special. I love both those guys and obviously got a chance to have Vince guest on a song that went to number one on the chart, “Sober Saturday Night,” but just a huge, huge fan of his. I’ve had a chance to tour with Brad quite a bit. Just an incredible dude. It was a very, very cool night.
Q: You and Corey Crowder have produced your last two albums. Does that mean you’ve settled on the production team moving forward?
A: I don’t think I’ve ever settled on anything permanent forever. I’ve made some really, really great records with (producer) James Stroud and then Corey and I have been producing together for quite a while and for the foreseeable future, but you never say never. You never know what’s going to happen with music and where it’s gonna take you and what I’m going to do in the future. Right now, we’re just making some really, really great music together.
Q: Why did you choose to be out on the road in January and route though chilly Northern Kentucky?
A: (laughs) I’m not really afraid of weather. We’re also going to Minneapolis, and we’re kind of all over the place at the beginning of the year, so Northern Kentucky’s actually probably going to be a little bit warm compared to some of the places we’re going. This tour is going to be the biggest thing that I’ve ever done. Not only the number of trucks and people and busses and lights and everything else, but also music-wise. It’s going to be huge and we’re re-working a lot of the stuff in my show to be special to this year, and I’m so excited. Anytime you can tour at all anywhere at any level is special, but being able to do a full arena tour like this and really make it my year and make it a world tour is special.
If you go
What: Chris Young with Kane Brown and Lanco
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18
Where: BB&T Arena, 500 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights; 859-442-2652
Tickets: $202-$38