Before I get into this week, I want to pause to pay tribute. On Tuesday, Dolly Parton passed away at 80, after what her family called a brief battle with cancer. I am not going to pretend I have some untold personal Dolly story to add to the thousands of personal tributes already out there this week, and honestly, that is not the story I want to lead with today. What I will share is one line of hers has been sitting with me since her death, “You gotta keep trying to find your niche and trying to fit into whatever slot that's left for you, or to make one of your own.” Dolly built an entire empire on knowing exactly what her place was. That line is exactly why, this week, for us at Degy, the story that mattered most happened on a pier in a parking lot at Naval Station Norfolk.
On Saturday, August 29, we produced an Operation MWR concert at Naval Station Norfolk, headlined by Teddy Swims with special guest Miranda Lambert, opened by DJ Vito Corleone. Operation MWR launched in 2024 as a resiliency and morale program, and its whole mission is simple to say and hard to execute: put performers of every level, from openers to headliners, on Navy bases and ships around the world so our sailors and their families get a night that feels normal in a life that rarely is. On paper, that is already a special thing to be part of. But some of what happened in Norfolk this weekend reminded me of something bigger than any single show. I was again reminded what my actual place in this industry has become.
Shows are shows. Concerts are concerts. I book plenty of both, and I love… well, most of them. But military events are different, and if you do enough of them, something shifts. You stop being “the guy who books concerts” and you become the guy who gets a call when the military needs something, anything, for our service members anywhere in the world. That is when you start to understand your purpose instead of just your job title. Twenty-ish years ago, I booked my first military show. I had no idea at the time that it would end up defining more of my career than any arena date or stadium event ever would.
This weekend I had the honor of meeting some of our Gold Star Families backstage in Norfolk. It is not a designation anyone wants or ever asks for. Those families lost an immediate family member while that person was serving our country, and there is nothing fair about that kind of loss. When I get to walk one of those families down a meet and greet line, introduce them to a performer, and then watch that performer's face change, sometimes tear up, sometimes just go quiet, right there in front of everyone, I recognize my purpose.
And then there was a moment I did not see coming. A familiar face showed up in that Norfolk crowd, someone I had not seen since March. We just hugged. We cried a little too, both of us, thinking about the last time we had been together. That man is the Fun Boss on the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, which just wrapped one of the longest carrier deployments in modern U.S. Navy history at 326 straight days at sea. During that deployment the ship also fought through a serious fire onboard that displaced hundreds of sailors and forced a stop in Souda Bay, Crete for repairs, while their carrier served on the front line during the conflict with Iran. What most people reading this do not know is that I got a phone call in March, under operational security, and I was on a plane to Greece three days later to meet that ship during a brief break in an incredibly intense stretch of their deployment. We cried in Greece too. A lot. We found a small way to help boost morale for those warfighters so they could get through the rest of that deployment and make it home safely. Every single one of them came home.
These are times when I really understood my purpose, my mission, and my place both in this industry and in the career that I chose. Most people search their whole life for purpose, and sometimes it finds you instead. Sure, I book and execute shows every day, and I make people happy for a couple of hours, that part is real and I would not trade it. We’re in the business of giving people fun every night, in locations around the world. But there is something deeper running underneath it now. It has become a mission. Getting our warfighters through some of the toughest stretches of their service, helping families cope with loss they never signed up for, being the guy who shows up when it is needed, whatever “it” turns out to be. I did not plan any of this twenty years ago. I just kept saying yes, kept showing up, and somewhere along the way I found my niche, exactly the way Dolly said you have to.
G-d bless our service members, their families, and those willing to give their lives for the safety, security, and freedom of the rest of us. We often send our Navy sailors off with the phrase, ‘fair winds and following seas’, and welcome them back with ‘welcome home and BZ (Bravo Zulu)’. And a special note to those sailors I met and spent time with on the USS Gerald R. Ford in March 2026 along with their resilient, determined, inspirational and morale-boosting Fun Boss: THANK YOU for reminding me of my purpose this year.
Beyond Norfolk, this was a loaded week for touring news. Wu-Tang Clan is deep into its “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber” run with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, hitting Darien Center, Atlantic City, and Hartford this week, with all nine surviving original members on stage together. When a group with that much history gets closer to shutting the book, it is a reminder that even legacy acts eventually have to decide what their final chapter looks like.
On the pop and R&B side, The Weeknd jumped back to number one on Pollstar's Artist Power Index this week, his second time on top in 2026 alone. And on the sports and live crossover front, Ayra Starr was announced as the halftime performer for the 2026 NFL London Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, another example of live music finding its way into spaces that used to belong strictly to sports.
Two acts worth watching right now. Tiny Habits just kicked off “The Keepers Tour” behind harmony-driven songwriting that is building a real word-of-mouth following, the kind of act that overperforms every room they play. And Skilla Baby launched “The Price of Fame Tour” this week, riding a run of momentum that has him squarely on the radar for buyers looking to book hip-hop that still feels grounded rather than manufactured. Neither is a headline you saw on trade sites this week, and that is exactly why they belong as a ‘hidden gem’.
Nashville paused this weekend for a sold-out Grand Ole Opry tribute to Dolly Parton on Saturday night. Carly Pearce, who got her start performing at Dollywood, opened the night, Kathy Mattea sang “Jolene,” Molly Tuttle and Ketch Secor teamed up on “Just Someone I Used to Know,” and Jelly Roll made a surprise appearance to close the night out on “9 to 5” with the full room. It was a special, fitting type of night that only happens when an entire industry agrees, without needing to be asked, that someone mattered. As a few folks have mentioned, she may have been the only person in America that everyone could agree that we loved.
With the military tribute and the week's biggest headlines covered above, let me pivot to five completely different artists who belong on buyer's radar for fairs, festivals, colleges, and corporate dates.
Chase Matthew built his entire following from the ground up on social media before labels took notice. His grassroots fan base translates directly into ticket sales at fairs and festivals, where his blend of country and hip-hop energy plays especially well with younger crowds. He was great for a college show in Michigan for us this spring, and remains a top choice for our buyers.
Larry Fleet has one of the most lived-in voices in country music right now. It’s a blend of a traditional, soulful sound that works just as well at a state fair grandstand as it does opening an amphitheater date. A few European ID250 military dates in July for us this summer offered our team a first-hand look at this rising star.
Corey Kent has spent the last two years turning steady streaming growth into a real live draw, and buyers who booked him early are already seeing the payoff as his audience keeps expanding.
Chayce Beckham came out of American Idol and has quietly become a reliable ticket seller in his lane, with a rowdy, road-tested live show that fits college and corporate stages just as easily as it fits a festival slot.
Tigirlily Gold rounds out my week’s Top 5 list. The sister duo brings tight harmonies and a fun, high-energy live show, and they are still priced at a level where most buyers reading this can afford to book them, not just admire them from a distance.
I will be honest; this was a heavier week and tougher blog to write than most. Losing Dolly, then turning around and standing on another military base in Norfolk watching Gold Star Families meet performers who did not have to show up but did anyway, then hugging a friend I had not seen since a secret meet-up in Greece back in March. It is a lot to hold in one week. But it is also exactly the kind of week that reminds me why I still love what I do each day, even twenty years in. My friends often joke and make fun of me about my travels and my secret trips. Candidly, I wouldn’t trade a single mile of the travel it takes to see and support our service members around the world. I found my purpose and will keep showing up for those that need ‘me’ to help them get through the rest of their journey and find their way home. I’ll see you next weekend!
Degy Entertainment has spent more than 25 years buying and booking talent for nearly 3,000 events a year across 30 countries, everything from college concerts and state and county fairs to corporate events, festivals, and, closest to my heart, military and Department of War installations around the globe. Whether it is a headliner on a football stadium stage or an opener on a pier at a Navy base, our job is the same: find the right artist for the room and make the show happen.
Want to talk booking, or just talk shop? Reach out to Ari Nisman or visit www.degy.com to learn more.
What is Operation MWR and how does it support service members?
Operation MWR is a Navy resiliency and morale program launched in 2024 that brings free live entertainment to military installations worldwide. The program provides sailors and their families access to quality performances and entertainment experiences that help them maintain normalcy and connection during deployments and separation. It supports overall force readiness and wellbeing through cultural and entertainment programming.
Why is military entertainment different from commercial concert programming?
Military entertainment serves dual purposes beyond entertainment: it provides morale support and resiliency programming for service members and families facing unique stressors including deployments, separation, and operational stress. Military events often occur in austere or challenging environments and require understanding of military culture, values, and operational requirements that differ significantly from commercial touring.
How long has Degy been involved in military entertainment?
Degy has been booking and producing military entertainment for approximately 20 years, evolving from initial military show bookings to comprehensive military programming including Navy MWR concerts at installations worldwide. This experience has shaped the organization's mission and provided deep expertise in military entertainment and service member morale.
What types of artists perform at military installations?
Military entertainment features artists across all genres including country, pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, comedy, and more. Artists range from emerging performers to established headliners. The key difference from commercial touring is that performances prioritize entertainment value and morale impact for service members and families, often including meet-and-greet opportunities and direct audience engagement.
How do military entertainment programs handle logistics and security?
Military entertainment requires navigating operational security, base access protocols, equipment transport through military channels, venue specifications unique to military environments, weather considerations in overseas locations, and coordination with military command structures. These logistics are more complex than commercial touring and require specialized expertise.
What role do Gold Star Families play in military entertainment events?
Gold Star Families, who have lost immediate family members in military service, are honored guests at military entertainment events. Many military entertainment programs include dedicated meet-and-greet opportunities for Gold Star Families with performers, providing connection and recognition of their sacrifice.
How does military entertainment support overall force readiness?
Military entertainment contributes to force readiness by supporting service member wellbeing, reducing stress and isolation, strengthening family bonds, building unit cohesion, and boosting morale during challenging operational periods. These factors directly impact retention, readiness, and overall military effectiveness.
What makes military deployments particularly challenging for service members and families?
Extended deployments (like 326-day carrier deployments) create separation stress, operational danger, limited communication, confinement in austere environments, and family stress at home. Entertainment and morale events provide critical psychological support and connection during these demanding periods.
How do military entertainment programs differ for shipboard versus shore-based installations?
Shipboard entertainment faces unique constraints including limited space, weather considerations at sea, integration with operational schedules, and limited access to outside entertainment. Shore-based installations offer more traditional venue and logistics but must address family-inclusive programming and diverse military community needs.
Why is military entertainment considered a "morale program" rather than just entertainment?
Military entertainment explicitly supports morale, wellbeing, and resilience as programmatic goals rather than entertainment as a standalone commodity. Programming choices prioritize emotional connection, family engagement, recognition of sacrifice, and psychological support alongside musical and performance quality.
What challenges do military entertainment programs face?
Challenges include: extreme weather in deployments, operational security requirements, budget constraints, logistical complexity in remote locations, maintaining programming during conflicts, ensuring inclusive and appropriate programming for diverse military audiences, and adapting to rapid operational changes.
How are military entertainment programs funded?
Military entertainment programs like Operation MWR are funded through military morale, welfare, and recreation budgets, often with support from entertainment industry partnerships. Programming is provided free to service members and families as part of military benefits and morale support.
What's the connection between military entertainment and force retention?
Quality entertainment and morale programming influence retention by: improving service member quality of life, strengthening family support and connection, reducing isolation stress, acknowledging sacrifice and service, and creating positive command climate. These factors contribute to retention decisions particularly during high-stress operational periods.
How does military entertainment address family needs?
Many military entertainment programs include family-inclusive activities, partner/spouse recognition, children's programming, and multi-generational entertainment options. This acknowledges that military service impacts entire families and that family wellbeing directly affects service member morale and performance.
What role do classified or covert military entertainment operations play?
Some military entertainment coordination occurs under operational security protocols, where timing, location, or programming details are classified to support ongoing operations. This includes emergency morale support during crises or high-stress operational periods where maintaining operational security is critical.
How do military entertainment programs recognize military sacrifice?
Programs honor sacrifice through: Gold Star Family recognition and special programming, service member appreciation and acknowledgment, veteran engagement, display of military traditions and values in programming, and intentional messaging connecting entertainment to service and sacrifice.
What's the relationship between military entertainment and command structure?
Military entertainment programs coordinate with and receive authorization from naval and military command structures. Commanders value morale programming as a force readiness tool and often actively support or request entertainment programming for their units and families.
How has military entertainment evolved over the past 20 years?
Evolution includes: expanded global reach to multiple installation types, integration with force readiness and resilience programs, development of formalized programs like Operation MWR, increased corporate and entertainment industry partnerships, and growing recognition of entertainment's role in military morale and retention.
What's the personal significance of military entertainment work for entertainment professionals?
For many entertainment professionals, military entertainment becomes a mission beyond commercial touring. The direct impact on service member wellbeing, the relationships formed with military personnel and families, and the recognition of sacrifice creates deeper purpose than commercial entertainment alone provides.
How can entertainment professionals get involved in military entertainment programming?
Entertainment professionals can engage through direct relationships with military morale offices, partnerships with established military entertainment providers like Degy, responding to military entertainment RFPs, and volunteering for military benefit events and fundraisers.