First Album To Drop Soon

(Lancaster, KY - July 15, 2021) — “I’d crawl to Nashville to be on the Ryman Auditorium stage.”

That’s how Alex Miller, 18, responded when Rhonda Vincent, the Queen of Bluegrass and a member of the Grand Ole Opry, called and asked the Garrard Countian if he would like to be her special guest Thursday for a performance at the historic venue. 

While Miller’s star is rising after winning over the hearts of American Idol viewers this spring, he had yet to cross playing in Nashville off his bucket list. Not only did the recent Garrard County HS graduate get to mark that off his list, he did so by performing at a place so iconic it is referred to as “The Mother Church of Country Music.”

“What a place to start,” Miller recollected his thoughts during his experience at Ryman Auditorium. “This is my Nashville debut. I’ve dreamed of being down there and being on those stages, and now to be performing…”

Miller’s work ethic when it comes to honing his craft is second to none, yet he does recognize that many of these opportunities have been afforded him because of his time on television.

“It’s kind of like I cut in line,” he explained,

While he would’ve gladly waited his turn, Miller is determined to make the most of the opportunities he’s being given. He understands that without hard work and determination, his flame could blow out.

“I went from not knowing if I’d go to college or what, if I had a career in this or not, but a lot of great opportunities have come up through the Lord, thank goodness,” Miller said. “I’ve gotten to know what I’m going to do for the rest of my life -- writing songs and entertaining folks. That would be kind of neat to be an established artist. I’ve definitely grown up in the last six months and feel more like a man, I guess you could say.”

There’s a lot of history in connection to the Ryman Auditorium, a 2,000-plus seat theatre. It is considered a downtown Nashville iconic {perhaps even ‘sacred’} venue. It was built as a gospel tabernacle in the late 19th century and is probably best known as being the permanent home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1977. 

The greatest of the greats performed here.

When the Opry began verging from just a radio show and into live shows, it had a host of issues finding venues because of the “rowdy crowds” that auditorium owners complained left the cloth-covered seats torn to shreds. Luckily for the Opry, since it was once a church, the Ryman had wooden pews and was a perfect fit. Nothing to destroy. To this day, the seating in the auditorium consists of wooden church pews.

Needless to say, playing at the Ryman Auditorium means to perform where legends’ glorious presences once roamed.

“There was definitely some hillbilly dust in the halls of the Ryman Auditorium,” Miller laughed, referring to the greats whose spirits still grace the facility. “It’s unbelievable -- thinking about everyone that has played there and has been down there. The Opry was there for years and years. To think that I got to stand where all those legends had stood, and walk the same halls -- that was definitely a neat thing for me to be a part of. Something I’ll never forget, that’s for sure.”

Especially unforgettable is that he got to share it with family. His grandfather, GB Miller, 74, kindled and supported Miller’s love for country music. He even acted as Miller’s manager in the early years.

“GB didn’t really know what to think about it until we got backstage and he got to walk out on the stage,” Miller described his grandfather’s thoughts. “He had watched Merle Haggard perform there years ago, saw the Opry there and stuff, so I think it was neat for him to be up there on the stage where he used to watch from. That was cool.”

The spotlight during the performance was on Miller, but the moment belonged to everyone who had supported his dreams along the way.

“That was something [GB and I] had both worked for for the last 17 to 18 years, and for him to get to be there and witness me sing there for the first time was definitely a moment for the both of us. Him being such a huge country music fan already, but him seeing his grandson up there had to be something else. Plus the rest of my family was there -- it was just great to have them there supporting me. They’re why I was able to be there in the first place.”

Miller knew he had hit the bigtime because he had his own dressing room.

“That was kind of neat -- I could kick people out if I wanted to,” he joked.

But just prior to going on stage he was in his dressing room alone with his racing thoughts. Then he got the signal that it was time to go on. The million-a-minute thoughts ceased and it was simply showtime.

“At that moment there’s some kind of switch up there in that head of mine,” Miller explained walking onto the stage. “It flipped and I remember thinking, ‘Welp, here we go.’ I walked out there and worked it like a preacher at a revival.”

Miller sang his original, “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me,” and “Freeborn Man.” along with the Rage, Vincent’s band.

It was a flawless performance, from the music to the onstage banter.

Miller isn’t known for his unwillingness or inability to speak, and definitely not for his shyness, but recalling the moment left the normally verbose teenager virtually speechless: 

“I could sit here all day and try to explain what it was like, but there just aren’t words for it. I would call it a defining moment in my life up to this point. The only thing I remember the entire time I was up there was thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m playing at the Ryman Auditorium.’ “

That may have been the moment that Miller’s star has shined brightest thus far, but he is determined to keep the luminosity shimmering and brighten it as much as possible.

Miller is diligently working on a 10-song record to be released this year -- perhaps extremely soon. It is being produced and co-written by Jerry Salley. Salley is immensely respected in his field, has won numerous awards, and has had artists such as Loretta Lynn, Toby Keith, Patty Loveless and countless others perform his creations.

While he couldn’t divulge too much, Miller was extremely excited for the public to hear what he’s been working on with this album.

“There’s going to be everything from really upbeat kind of country to slow, ballad type of songs,” he explained. “You should also expect a gospel song and a patriotic song of sorts.”

It seems there will be something on the record everyone can enjoy. Almost all the tracks are Miller originals, with most of those being co-written with Salley and a few others outsourced from talented songwriters.

“I’m Over You, So Get Over Me,” which received a great response after being released as a single earlier this year, will also be on the album, Miller assured the Central Record.

Miller has also been fine-tuning his traveling performance band, which tentatively is named Alex Miller and the Kentucky Kowboys.

The young man has embraced the craziness that comes with fame, but unlike many small-town, humble individuals, Miller has thrived. Though he didn’t make it through to the live-voting rounds of American Idol, he is grateful he was given a stage on which to make his life dreams come true.

“American Idol has opened up so many doors -- doors and windows -- I would say.” Miller said. “If I hadn't done Idol, Rhonda [Vincent] may not have seen me, who knows. If I had kept going [into the live rounds], who knows how that would’ve looked, but now I work for it and that’s what I do every day. That’s what I’ve wanted ever since I was a kid. I wanted to do music and I’m lucky enough that that’s what I get to do.”

Alex’s parents once took him to the Ryman Auditorium when he was younger. They went to see Miller’s favorite artist at the time, Josh Turner, in 2007. Turner sang “Long Black Train,” and because of Miller’s affinity with locomotives, the country star was a natural fit for icon status in his young mind.

Little did they know that 3-year-old Miller would one day be an opening act for that very artist at the Texas Roadhouse Mainstage in Louisville on Thursday Aug. 19. for the Kentucky State Fair.

In fact, many big performances are coming down the road for the local crooner, including opening for Hank Williams, Jr. on Aug. 15 at the Wisconsin State Fair. He will also open for Lee Brice at the Washington State Fair in September, and will once again team up with Rhonda Vincent in December for a Christmas in Branson two-day event.

All of Miller’s information, upcoming performances and booking requests can be found on alexmillercountry.com. Fans of the artist can now purchase merchandise at alexmillermerch.com.