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Song and Fellowship at the National Quartet Convention

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Each fall, folks from around the country gather to celebrate the people who bless them with the Word in song—on radio, from pulpits, and on stages. For more than half a century, the week-long National Quartet Convention has been the mainstay of the Southern Gospel music calendar. Today that reunion of sorts takes place in the mountains of East Tennessee, at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge.

It is a week of stage appearances, visits with artists at their booths, the Singing News Fan Awards, and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductions—this year Phil Cross, Clarke Beasley, Clayton Inman, and Conrad Cook—along with record-label receptions and get-togethers hosted by artists for the people who follow their careers.

For lovers of quartets, mixed groups, and soloists, there is no better place to catch up, get a photo, buy the latest release, share a piece of anniversary cake, or congratulate an artist on an award.

Shaye Smith and Nick Poe of the Chuck Wagon Gang and Randy Shelnut, Sr. of the Dixie Echoes with Randall Franks fiddling on Great Speckled Bird.

I was blessed to attend this year’s event. From the moment I entered the building, I found friends at every turn. I sat and visited a while, then moved through the exhibit halls, seeing groups I knew and many that were new to me. Some of those newer names would later share their gifts on a showcase stage, and sometimes on the main stage.

The musical sets are timed to the minute. Ministries including The Inspirations (2026 Singing News Favorite Quartet, and favorites in the Musician, Lead, Baritone, Bass, and Tenor categories), Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road (Favorite Band and Young Artist), The Troy Burns Family, Karen Peck and New River (Favorite Soprano and Favorite Song, “I Speak Jesus”), The Chuck Wagon Gang, The Dixie Echoes, Jeff & Sheri Easter (Favorite Duet and Alto), The Perrys, The Kingsmen, Eleton House, and so many others bless the thousands gathered. Day after day, song after song, the love of God flows and lifts those who are there and willing to be carried higher.

The early part of each day includes special musical showcases and preaching from pastors from around the country. You can also catch artists giving television interviews, recording radio-station liners in a quiet corner, or talking with print media.

I would equate the NQC to a recharging station, where artists and music lovers alike can receive a full charge and go out for another year to spread the gospel in song—in small towns, mid-size towns, and big cities across this land.

Whether I was sitting in the audience, standing and talking with artists in the exhibit area, or taking out my fiddle to play a few tunes with longtime friends, I came away happier, hopeful, and more content to face the world.

I encourage you to make plans to attend the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge next fall (natqc.com). More than that, I ask you to support the gospel groups who come to your town. If you see them in concert at a local auditorium, buy a ticket, fill a seat, bring a smile, and go home blessed. If they are in a nearby church, attend and put a generous donation in the offering.

The life they lead to uplift us is not an easy one. Your support could make the difference in a bill being paid, the bus being filled with fuel, or the group choosing between hamburgers and bologna.

Bless others so they may bless you with their gifts. If you love gospel music, show love to those who leave their homes and families to share it with us.

Read more of Randall’s writings through his books in our Store.

American music brings smiles

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When the sounds of Southern gospel music fill Pigeon Forge, Tenn., it must be time for the National Quartet Convention.

The LeConte Center hosts the annual event each September providing an opportunity for fans of all ages to hear and meet their very favorite traveling gospel singers since 1957.

I was able to attend this year and enjoy some of the most talented stars and up and coming performers on the main stage and on showcases at the event.

Jeff & Sheri Easter, the Troy Burns Family, the Inspirations, Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road, the Kingsmen, the Down East Boys, the Dixie Echoes, the Perrys, Gold City and many others that play a part in Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Friends kept the attendees smiling, laughing, tapping their toes and praising the Lord for show after show.

Radio and television personalities catch them for special interviews and they spend hours around their merchandise tables talking with friends.

The Singing News Fan Awards – seeing groups such as the Inspirations sweep many categories, Ray Dean Reese honored for Lifetime Achievement and Karen Peck Gooch as Favorite Soprano and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductions honoring Herb Henry, Mike Holcomb, Kelly Nelon Clark and Jeff Stice are major highlights of the week.

I remember the earliest conventions I attended in Nashville, then Louisville and now Pigeon Forge. The genre still allows for the personal touch between the music stars and the fans, much as it has been done throughout its history. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the tradition in 2025, visit https://www.natqc.com/ to watch for future events.

Another destination of my recent travels was to participate in the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, N.C. where I was enthusiastically impressed with the large number of youth I found smiling and jamming in corners around the convention center between special conference events, concerts, the annual awards and exhibition hall where current performers share their latest and talk with fans. I was honored to direct segments of the award show this year working with my talented hosts Mike Compton and Joe Newberry. Compton’s work is well known for his many associations in numerous genres and for the hit film and recording “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

The annual IBMA Awards saw the Del McCoury Band win Entertainer of the Year; Deanie Richardson as Fiddle Player of the Year; Album of the Year by Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway; Vocal Group of the Year is Authentic Unlimited; among other award winners and Laurie Lewis received a Distinguished Achievement Award; Wyatt Ellis received the Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year and Dobroist Jerry Douglas, banjo player Alan Munde and Radio Host Katy Daley were inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. For 2025, the IBMA World of Bluegrass will move to Chattanooga, Tenn. Watch www.IBMA.org for future news.

On the heels of both these amazing events, many of the musical participants and attendees returned to their homes across the Appalachians and the South finding devastation in their communities brought on my Hurricane Helene. I encourage any of you reading these words to seek out local organizations across Western North Carolina, East Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in the affected areas. Send monies to those that are closest to the victims that can make the greatest difference in the recoveries and eventually rebuilding of these communities. I pray for all affected. I fear the story to be told in the future will be one of greatest loss and sadness seen across these regions since the Civil War. That sadness will likely be recorded as not only from the impact of the storm but also from the lack of early response from authorities and others outside the region after the fact.