When country music legend Ronnie McDowell takes the stage Saturday, August 2nd at Russellville's Roxy Theatre, it will be the 75-year-old's first performance since he suffered a stroke during a show in Redding, Penn., last month.
Fresh off a procedure called carotid endarterectomy, where plaque buildup was removed from his jugular vein, McDowell is ready to return to the stage and said there's no better place to do so than his adopted city of Russellville.
“Russellville means a lot to me because Wanda (Myrick) brought me there,” McDowell told the FFP last week. “She ran my fan club for years and years. She put all that time and effort into Ronnie McDowell and she helped blossom my career many times. I owe a lot to Wanda and my friends like her.
“And David (Grissom), the mayor in Russellville, you won't find many better friends than David. He's a special person. Bobby Brown is one of the best people I've ever met in my life. I'm excited to return to the Roxy and the many friends I've made here through the years,” he added.
After he started slurring words while in Redding, McDowell told his oldest son (Ronnie Dean) he knew he was having a stroke. He was immediately transported to the hospital, where doctors confirmed he had indeed suffered a stroke. McDowell told physicians he preferred to return to Nashville to have the carotid endarterectomy performed at Vanderbilt Hospital.
His health scare caused McDowell to do some reflection of the time we all have in our lives and how that time goes by so fast.
One benchmark date in McDowell's life was August 16, 1977, the day McDowell lost his hero and musical inspiration in Elvis Presley. In the days after Presley's death, McDowell wrote and recorded The King is Gone, his tribute to the musical legend, which catapulted to the top of the charts. Since 1977, more than five million copies of that song have been sold.
That song elevated McDowell's career to previously unseen heights, as he went on to record 11 top 10 country songs, with two reaching number one and more than 30 in Billboard's top 40 hits.
“I think about that all the time. How has it been 48 years next month since the King is gone?,” McDowell said. “As soon as I did The King is Gone, I went on to do Wandering Eyes, Older Women and Watching Girls Go By. It was a wonderful string of hit records. I've been blessed. Just like George Bailey (in the film It's a Wonderful Life) I've had a wonderful life,” McDowell said.
Now a great-grandfather, McDowell doesn't even think about slowing down. His tour calendar for the remainder of the year includes more than 15 dates, and in January 2026, McDowell will set sail on the annual 'Ronnie McDowell Cruise,' an eight-night trip around the Caribbean.
“I don't ever think about age or slowing down. Age is just a number. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and I still love it,” McDowell said. “I love entertaining folks. I know one day Father Time will say 'hey, you're done,' but I'll be good to go until that day.”
As with his previous 30-plus Russellville shows, McDowell won't have a set list. One reason his fans remain so loyal is how each show is unique. While McDowell always includes his core hits, each show includes some surprises for the audience as well.
“I tell the band what the first song will be and then I wing it from there. And that's the way I love doing it. It keeps everyone on their toes and keeps each show fresh and that's the way I like it,” McDowell said.
McDowell's latest project is Thing About Texas, a 10-song album that includes songs McDowell recorded with Mickey Gilley, Moe Bandy, The Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley, Crystal Gayle and John Schneider.
It also contains the title track, Thing About Texas, a duet McDowell recorded with Johnny Rodriguez. The song was Rodriguez' final studio recording before his death on May 9, 2025. It also features Rodney Collins, the owner of Nashville's Troubadour. Collins contacted McDowell to encourage him to partner with Rodriguez for his last recording.
The album also marks McDowell's return to Curb Records, the company he signed with in 1984.
The Russellville show will begin at 7 p.m., with Franklin County's own Joseph Baldwin serving as the opening act. Tickets are on sale now. General admission seats are $15 and reserved seats range from $20-$35. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 256-415-3270.
