Q & A with Country Star John Berry!
Country star John Berry is a Grammy Award-Winning artist ready to make his 28th Annual ‘Christmas With John Berry’ Tour this Christmas season. Active as a recording artist since 1979, John Berry has recorded more than 20 studio albums, including one platinum album and two gold albums. I recently had a chance to speak with this artist famous for songs like “Kiss Me in the Car” “Your Love Amazes Me” and more to find out what keeps him on the road year after year. During a 30-minute phone call, I got the answers and insight into this faith filled man. I love the chance to write about country music, attractions, and musicians!
What do you love about the Christmas tour?
“I love getting to go and share this music about the birth of Christ that is what it’s all about,” John Berry shared.
In a previous interview, when a promoter had called his program a holiday show, he said he responded. “I appreciate the holiday stuff, but this is not a holiday show, it is a Christmas – Jesus came to earth died and rose again on the 3rd day and will return show.”
Through his music, John Berry shares his faith. “I talk about it mainly in how we present what we do and even without Christmas I talk about my faith,” he responded. “In recent years with the gospel record “I Found My Joy’, we end the show with 3 songs “Find My Joy”, and some may not know. Three years ago, I had throat cancer and the healing, it wasn’t that easy going through it. I share a lot about that.”
Besides throat cancer, John Berry also suffered another major health setback when he had brain surgery for a cyst. “I do share a lot when we get to Christmas,” Berry said. “I talk a lot about Christ coming, His birth and why He came and I share the gospel message to make a way for us a pathway to God, I share my faith and beliefs.”
Is your family involved with your music?
John Berry’s wife Robin is by his side when he is on stage. “She sings with me and we have been married for 36 years,” Berry shared. “She’s been singing with me for 32 years.”
Together the couple have three children, three in-laws and two grandchildren. “My son Caelan plays drums for us.”
John Berry said that his son’s name has a special meaning. “It means mighty in battle. He was born four weeks early and he needed a strong name. Caelan James.”
Besides Caelan that plays the drums, they have another son Sean who lives in Texas. “Both my boys married girls named Kayla. Caelan who live in Gallatin has a son Issac, he’s two and half he’s my buddy. My son in Texas Sean and his wife have a little girl Olivia Joy. She is a pistol, she is four.”
Berry shared a recent escapade by little Olivia. “My son’s father in law Tim has become a dear friend he sent me a video he had camera and said, “I live for moments like this”
The video showed little Olivia in the pool with mom and grandma and Sean trying their darn desk to get her out. Olivia paid them no mind. Berry said, “She was ignoring them we had the biggest laugh.”
Robin and John’s daughter TaylorMarie is a flight attendant with Delta. She and her husband married seven years.
Farm Connection?
This country star has a bit of country living in his past! Although today the Berrys live in the town of Gallatin, Tennessee, that has only been a relatively recent move. “We used to live on a farm in Athens. I started off with five acres before I met Robin, then before we left we had 150 acres.”
Touring questions!
John Berry offers up a nice variety of Christmas songs during his tour and I wondered if he had a favorite. He said, “My favorite Christmas song is probably ‘O Holy Night’”.
During our interview, I learned that John Berry has been almost everywhere in the US touring. “About the only place we haven’t been in the US is Alsaska hoping opportunity arises.”
When asked if he has a favorite place to tour, he said, “Anyplace they want to hear me sing. I love going everywhere. I have such a good time. The beach is one of my favorite places.”
He especially loves the South Carolina and Georgia coast.
New Music, wish lists?
While John Berry did’t have a new album he said, “We have got an album we are kicking around.”
His most recent work was his gospel album ‘Find My Joy’ which was released on March 25, 2022 only two years ago.
Each album he has produced has something special he loves. “I’ve don’e so many records. There are things about all of them that I like and things I would like to do differently.”
When not singing, John Berry said he likes to spend time looking for places to sing. “I love singing it’s a lot of fun love to go out nd be with people and have the opportunity to do this for a living.”
What brings you back touring year after year?
Loving what he does John Berry made it clear that getting out on the road is a joy. He loves meeting the people and forging relationships with those that come back again and again. “It has just been amazing, I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of great people, and make good friends.”
He said those that he tours with are like family as well as some of the fans that have been with him since day one. “This is my 28th year doing a Christmas tour and I look so forward to it. It is amazing to get to do this and there are people that come year after year. This will be our 28th year playing in Macon Georgia. One family in-particular, a husband wife and two girls who were four and five have a picture book where they have taken pictures every year.”
It is stories like these, the consistent fans, the songs he loves, and he said, “We’ll have a great time singing some songs and we hope to bring memories of Christmas past and Christmas ahead.”
