The entertainers fans pay to see on stage are often vastly different personalities when the spotlight is turned off.
With Darryl Worley, though, the respect and appreciation he gives to his fans during a show doesn't shut down when he exits stage left.
During Saturday's 14th annual Tennessee River Run concert, Worley and event organizers provided the Franklin Free Press backstage access to the daylong music event. The concert was one of many events during last week's annual fund-raiser for the Darryl Worley Foundation, formed in 2002 to help local causes in Worley's native Hardin County, Tenn.
Worley's frenzied Saturday schedule included two musical sets, a meet and greet with fans, several media interviews, and an afternoon full of playing host to Tracy Lawrence, Lorrie Morgan and Wade Hayes, whose musical talents filled the schedule.
The foundation provides funds to help citizens battle addiction, supports area students through the “Leader in Me” program, supports the Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center in Savannah as well as several other local and regional charities.
“We're going to raise more money this year for this foundation than we've ever raised before,” Worley told fans during his Saturday night set. “And that's only because of people like you. Thanks to every one of you for making this the largest fund-raiser we've seen in 14 years.”
On a day when temperatures dipped into the low 50s, Worley remained as cool as the weather, in spite of rainy skies and weather-related problems that put the afternoon schedule more than an hour behind.
While many stars lend their name only to charitable causes, Worley remains an active part of his foundation. He served as concert emcee, but the 50-year-old Worley didn't retreat to his bus once the music started.
Not only a star, Worley remains a country music fan as well. As Lawrence's set capped off the evening of music well after 10 p.m., Worley could be found among fans and friends in the large crowd. And when the music finally stopped, Worley didn't. The hometown boy remained until the last autograph was signed and the final fan photo was taken.
“It's a real labor of love doing this event each year, but admittedly it's not easy,” Worley said. “There are times you want to take a break, but I can hear my mom and dad's voices reminding me this is where you came from son. To see what we've been able to do (through the foundation) right here at home, it's hard to beat that,” Worley added.
After Hayes' mid-afternoon set, Worley raced back on stage to introduce a local band. Shortly thereafter, Worley juggled responsibilities of press interviews and meeting with fans while simultaneously searching for his manager, his car keys and a wine bottle opener for Morgan's bus.
Considered by industry brethren as one of country music's 'nice guys,' Worley manages to book impressive musical lineups year after year, a process he admits isn't always easy.
“Sometimes we've had to pay them more than we should have to get them here and sometimes they'll give us a deal like Tracy (Lawrence) did this year,” Worley said. “He called me recently and asked me to play his turkey fry (an annual fund-raiser for the Nashville Rescue Mission), so I'll go return the favor.
“That's how it should be. This year we hit everybody up for deals and they came through. Some people might say we don't have any of today's current acts, but (Lawrence, Morgan and Hayes) are what country music is really about,” Worley added.
The country music industry has evolved significantly over the last 15 years, but Worley doesn't begrudge the popularity of country's new sound.
“Obviously, on the business side the newer stuff is seeing a lot of success. I'm proud of the success of these young guns,” Worley said. “But I think the labels and radio have diluted what was once an amazing artistic genre.
If we can expose today's young fans to the right music, we can turn them into real country lovers. I can't complain about this business though because it's blessed my life and family so much,” Worley added.
Moments before he performed I Miss My Friend, his first number one country single from 2002, Worley reflected on just how far his career had come while once again demonstrating his genuine humility.
“Who would have thought that some ol' redneck from Hardin County, Tennessee, would have the number one song on country radio? Certainly not me,” Worley said.
And who would have thought that same Hardin County native would see his foundation raise more than $1.5 million for programs vital to the Mid-South area? And who would have thought that same fella would come through on a pledge to raise $600,000 toward the construction of a state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility in Savannah?
Worley might have doubted himself, but the continued success and growth of his foundation has proven him wrong. And Worley's just fine with that.
“I see things that just constantly remind me that what we're here for—all of us—is to help other people, our fellow man,” Worley said. “The fact of the matter is all that music stuff is good. But when I'm gone, what we're doing here today is what's going to matter.”
