Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 02/12/24

Looks like they made it. Music legend T.G. Sheppard will be the first to tell that, ever since he burst onto the country music scene in the 1970s, his has been a blessed life – especially after he married the love of his life, singer-songwriter Kelly Lang, in 2007. As Valentine’s Day 2024 approaches, the duo has released their first single together (following up on the success of their Iconic Duets album). You’re Still the One, first released by Shania Twain in 1998, is an anthem for couples who have “beat the odds together.” Never released before as a duet, their romantic rendition of the song is currently available on all streaming platforms and is set to be included on their second duets album due out later this spring.

JWK: So, why did you and your wife decide to cover You’re Still the One?

T.G. Sheppard: We did an album years ago called Iconic Duets. It did really, really well. People kept saying to us “When are you going to another album?” So, about a year and a half ago we decided to get back in the studio again and start (a new) album. We’re just now finishing it. It’s a labor of love being able to work with your wife on something. I’m very blessed to be able to be married to somebody who knows what I do for a living. It’s a labor of love.

JWK: And just before Valentine’s Day is a good time to release You’re Still the One as a single.

TGS: We were in Las Vegas a year or so ago and we caught Shania’s show. We caught ourselves humming that song a lot after we saw her show and we thought, well, that might make a good duet. So, we went in (and did it) and it turned out to be the first one off the album right here at Valentine’s Day for all the romantics.

JWK: I know you and your wife are both songwriters as well. What do you and your wife look for in a song? What makes a good song?

TGS: What you look for in any song is you want a song that will hit you in the heart, a song that you can relate to. Most songs that become big hits are those great songs that feel as though they were written just for you when you hear them. So, I guess that’s what we look for. I look for not only a great lyric that I can relate to but I look and wait for that melody that I will catch myself whistling or humming after hearing a song a few times. Sometimes the melody is just as important because it kinda sticks in your head and you can’t get rid of it. When you find a great song with a great melody then you’ve usually got a pretty good-sized record. 

JWK: How did you and Kelly meet?

TGS: Oh, gosh. Kelly’s father was Conway Twitty‘s road manager for 25 years. So, I’ve always known Kelly. It seems like she was opening up shows for me when she was just in her teens. I remember her coming out on the road with us. I can’t remember a time when she really wasn’t in my life (but) we found each other kind of late in life. We both had marriages and had children with other people. Then 23 years ago we kinda met up again and it just kind of happened for us. I’m just really proud that I’m able to call her my wife. I married the girl of my dreams.

JWK: That’s great. How did you meet again?

TGS: We actually saw each other a lot through the years at different functions, awards shows, concert dates and things like that. So, we have always been friends but we never had any aspirations of, you know, being husband and wife one day. That just kinda happened. It’s been an incredible thing for me to marry Kelly because, like I say, she’s not only a great singer and performer, she’s a great songwriter – and has written her autobiography about her journey through cancer which has helped a lot of women.

JWK: A friendship is a great thing to build a marriage on, right?

TGS: It is. You’ve got a better chance of succeeding in marriage if you’ve got a good solid friendship base, I think.

JWK: What are your Valentine’s Day plans?

TGS: Valentine’s Day for us is always special. We’re both kind of romantics anyway. We actually we’re going to see the Tina Turner tribute revue on Broadway in New York but we didn’t get a chance to go. They canceled the Broadway show (in 2020 due covid). So on February 14th, Valentine’s Day, I’m taking Kelly to see the Tina Turner Broadway play that’s coming to Nashville. I’m looking forward to that. Then I jump on a plane after that and head to Texas to do some shows.

JWK: I see you have a busy concert schedule ahead.

TGS: Yeah – and it’s getting busier every day. Every day we keep adding dates. It’s an exciting time to still be touring after all these years because I’m looking out into the audience, John, and I’m seeing the audience getting younger, getting larger and they’re getting louder – and they’re singing the songs back to you! I ask a lot of these people in their teens and twenties at the meet and greets after the concerts “How do you know the words to these songs?” and they’ll go “Well, we heard our moms and dads play your songs in the car or at home. So, we grew up with them.” So, it’s kind of an exciting time now to be touring.

JWK: Besides your touring and recording, you’ve been doing a show on SiriusXM Elvis Radio, right?

TGS: Well, I took a little break from that because we’re in the process of working on another project and we couldn’t do both. We’ll probably return to SiriusXM in the latter part of the year, maybe next year. It’s a great place to work and have your music heard. I’ve spent four years at SiriusXM but I’m on a little hiatus right now.

JWK: May I ask what your other project is?

TGS: We’re in the process of putting together our own video podcast. That will consume a couple of days a week each week to have guest come in and film a show or do a Zoom with a guest.

JWK: This will be you and Kelly hosting?

TGS: It’s Kelly and I together as  a couple. We’ll have other couples on their too that are in the business – or maybe a sports figure or movie star who whoever wants to do the show.

JWK: That sound interesting. When will that start?

TGS: I hope that it will start in maybe April or May. We’re mapping it out now on how we want to present it – how we want to do it and how we want to film it. I think it’s important to do video along audio if you can, so we’re going to go the full route.

JWK: So, you’ll be like the Joe Rogan of country.

TGS: (laughs) Yeah, maybe – if I can only be as big as Joe Rogan! I mean he’s huge! Joe Rogan is huge.

JWK: Podcasts are definitely a big thing right now. Let me know – or your publicist can let me know – when you’re launching. I’ll be glad make a mention of it here when it begins and promote it a little bit.

TGS: That’s nice of you do that. Thank you, so much.

JWK: You’re very welcome.

TGS: I think it’ll be a lot of fun. It’s gonna be time consuming, of course but we love working. As long as we’re working we’re happy.

JWK: Will this be a weekly podcast?

TGS: Yeah, it will an hour-a-week show. Of course, it will be able to be picked up wherever you catch podcasts – Spotify, Amazon or wherever. Like I say, there’s a lot to putting a podcast together. We want to make sure we do it right.

JWK: Getting back to your Sirius XM show on Elvis Radio, I just want to touch on that a little bit because you were actually a personal friend of Elvis, right?

TGS: Yeah, I met Elvis when I was 15. He befriended me. It was the start of an incredible friendship that really kind of altered my life in a lot of ways. I mean he really and truly was an incredible human being – and a very smart man, a very intuitive guy, a well-read man. He read a lot of books. He conversed with me on a lot of different topics. That friendship was a great one. Getting the chance to have a radio show on SiriusXM live from Graceland each week was an honor.

JWK: Do you feel like the general public has an accurate image of Elvis? It sounds like maybe he was more learned than people might think?

TGS: Man, that’s a great question! No one’s ever asked me that question quite that way. Yeah, I think people have a pretty good understanding of who he was. He was a a very simple man, in a lot of ways. I mean he didn’t have a very large ego. He enjoyed talking more about other people than himself. He was very spiritual. I mean here’s a guy that would sit down and open up The Bible and (offer) me his interpretation of the Scriptures. How many people that big in life – like Elvis Presley – would take the time to do that with someone. He was a very different human being – a very giving, caring, down-to-earth guy. To answer your question, I think most people know that he was a great guy that came from humble beginnings, from a poor family and did well. He was quite the guy. He was a great dear friend.

JWK: You mention his faith, may I ask how faith has played a role in your life?

TGS: It’s the most important part of my life. I couldn’t get through the day without it. I mean I end my day with it and I start my day with my faith. I don’t know how anybody gets through the world that we’re living in now without having something stronger to lean on. I’ve been a Christian for a lot of years. I don’t stand on a soapbox and try to pound it into people’s heads but I let people know my belief. I think it’s played a big part in my life and it’s very comforting to have that belief.

JWK: That’s great. Is there anything you’d like to say as we wrap up?

TGS: I celebrate my 50th year (of live concerts) next year. I was thinking today “How in the world have I been here 50 years doing this – still doing it as much, or more than, I ever was – and enjoying it more?!” I’m very fortunate. I’m very blessed to still love what I do. When it gets old that’s when I’ll quit – but, as long as there are people sitting out that that want to hear what I have to say, I’ll do it. I’m having more fun now with my career than I did the first year. Next year will be our 50th year of touring. I’m looking forward to that year. I hope to make it a very magical year.

JWK: Do you have any special plans to celebrate?

TGS: I’m just now starting to think about it. I need to make it a special thing. A 50th anniversary is always very special in anything. I don’t know what that will be yet but I’ve got a few months yet before the 50th rolls around in January of next year – but I’ll have to get to work on it pretty quick because you have to plan ahead. We’ll do some type of 50th anniversary tour, along with maybe some other things. I’m not sure yet but I want to make it a very special year.

JWK: Great! Hopefully, we’ll talk again when that comes around.

TGS: I thank you for your time today. You know, you have asked me some interesting questions. I interview people a lot on my shows that I do on Sirius and I’d like to pay you a compliment if I could. You ask incredible questions. Talking with you is not an interview. It’s a conversation. I can truthfully tell you I think you’ve mastered the art of conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

JWK: Thank you! I appreciate that! I enjoyed speaking with, as well. I’ve been doing this a while and have produced several talk shows, including at one time a morning show at SiriusXM. Like you, I enjoy what I do.

TGS: You do it well, I can tell you that. I do hope we can talk again in the future.

JWK: I do too. Thank you. Have a great day and a great Valentine’s Day with your wife.

TGS: Thank you. You too. Take care.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.