COURTLAND
“If I haven’t lived it, I haven’t sung,” Ty Herndon states on his website.

And those of you attending his concert on Saturday, Jan. 20, will learn about Herndon’s life through his music, courtesy of the Franklin-Southampton Concert Association. The show, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will be at the auditorium at Southampton High School in Courtland.

Reportedly as young as 17, Herndon has been entertaining people. He was a cast member of “Today’s Country Roads” at Opryland USA, and went to become a finalist in the first season of “Star Search,” winning in the male-vocalist.

While performing in the Lone Star State, Herndon was dubbed Texas Entertainer of the Year in 1993, which ultimately led to a record deal. Two years later, he presented “What Mattered Most,” his first No. 1 song and title track to his debut album. Other notable songs that followed in the next several years included “I Want My Goodbye Back,” “Loved Too Much,” “A Man Holding On” and “Hands of a Working Man.” “Living in a Moment,” along with his debut, were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

He’s had his share of difficulties in life like everyone else, and as stated above, put those personal ordeals into music. “Journey On,” released in 2010 is the prime evidence, which includes songs he has written, a first for him. That album earned both a Dove Award and Grammy nomination. He’s also earned nominations for County Music Awards and American Country Music honors.

“Lies I Told Myself” was produced three years later, which was made possible through Kickstarter. That enabled his fans to become invested personally, not just financially.

Late in 2014, Herndon publicly acknowledged he’s gay, making him the first major male country artist to do so. The Concert for Love and Acceptance followed that declaration.

Philanthropic causes have included Make A Wish, GLAAD, Feed the Children, HRC and the Trevor Project. He also contributed on the tribute track of “Hands,” which was a musical tribute to the people killed in the summer of 2016 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Late that year, “House on Fire” was released, and just this past summer, “That Kind of Night” started playing on the airwaves.

To learn more, visit www.tyherndon.com as well as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.