2025 marked my 12th trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for an NQC-produced event. I’ve been there for 11 fall Conventions (2014-2019; 2021-2025) and 1 Spring Break (2021). Prior to 2014, I attended the fall Convention 15 times in Louisville, Kentucky (1997-2010; 2013). This year, I attended Monday-Wednesday which has been my routine, give or take the occasional Sunday night in the past.
SUNDAY:
We attended our home church in Ellenboro, NC on Sunday morning. I got in a quick nap while two others in our group attended a funeral in the afternoon. We rolled out around 4:00 PM. Upon arriving in Sevierville, we enjoyed a good supper at a restaurant called Aubrey’s.
MONDAY:
Two members of our group were dealing with some health issues on this trip that affected their mobility, so we didn’t take in as many events or engage in shopping as much as in years past. We began our Monday with a late-morning breakfast at iHop and spent a lazy afternoon at the condo before going to eat a late-afternoon meal at Puckett’s. I had the Mojo Burger which is pork BBQ on top of a hamburger. Good stuff!
We made it over to the LeConte Center around 5:30.
On the way in, I checked out several booths including Southern Gospel Forward’s spot. A few minutes later near the Southern Gospel Music Association’s booth, I was interviewed by Josh Singletary. Click HERE if you want to check that out. I didn’t fully pay attention to his first question because I wanted to mention SGHistory.com, which led into an ad for the site and my books!
Each night on the main stage featured a theme. Monday brought back a tradition from the past, nothing but male Quartets. I was in and out of the main hall a few times, and then we left a bit early, so I probably heard about 50% of the music on Monday. A few observations:
1. It was great to see Cameron Edens back on stage with Anthem Edition. Edens is undergoing treatments for cancer discovered earlier this year, so please keep him in your prayers.
2. Speaking of prayer requests, remember Eric Bennett as he recovers from a leg injury. He will be out several weeks, so Wyatt Austin filled in singing the bass part for Triumphant Quartet on Monday night.
3. In 2022 and 2023, the Kingdom Heirs had a big shakeup with multiple singers replaced. They understandably struggled at first to gel. This year, I observed and also heard other folks commenting about how great they’re sounding now. Hats off to all the current Kingdom Heirs members for sticking with it!
4. The Mark Trammell Quartet continues to be an annual highlight; just pure class.
TUESDAY
Our late-morning breakfast happened at Frizzle Chicken where animatronic birds entertain you as you eat scrambled eggs!
Duane Allen
We originally planned to attend the Hymn Sing and SGMA Hall Of Fame showcases on Tuesday afternoon, but that would have allowed only a brief break before time to go back for the evening concerts. We decided to check out the new Truth Traveler attraction instead. After seeing the line stretching the length of the building, we abandoned that idea and decided to try again on Wednesday.
We ordered couple of pizzas from Big Daddy’s Pizzaria for another late-afternoon meal before heading over to the LeConte Center. There I met the legendary Duane Allen who was greeting fans at the SGMA booth.
The theme for Tuesday night was advertised as Radio Hits of 2024, but many groups didn’t confine themselves to songs released in 2024…kind of hard to do if you only release 3 songs to radio in a 12-month period. Most just sang their biggest hits (as they’d do again later in the week on Hits night).
1. The Whisnants always have a solid set, plus they get to do “New Day Dawning” for a closer anytime they want…and they wanted on Tuesday.
2. Tuesday was my first time hearing the LeFevre Quartet with Daniel Ashmore singing bass. They haven’t missed a step.
3. The Hayes Family is quickly becoming one of my favorite family groups. “Carry The Glorious Gospel” is worth the price of admission…also a great way to end a set and leave the crowd wanting more.
4. The best hour of the week was Greater Vision’s set followed by a set featuring Gold City, The Hoppers, and Joseph Habedank and then a solo set by Habedank. He brought his wife Lindsay up for a special song as well.
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday morning was a re-enactment of Tuesday. We went back to Frizzle Chicken for breakfast. Hey, the prices are reasonable and chickens are singing to you, too.
Then, we actually did get into the Truth Traveler attraction. It’s a VR-experience where you “travel” through time to see depictions of key biblical events. Afterwards, there’s an optional planetarium attraction. I recommend checking it out the next time you’re in the area.
Back at the condo, I updated SGHistory.com’s Singing News Fan Awards page as the results were posted online. (I believe SGHistory is the only place you can view the results from the entire 55-year history of the Fan Awards online.)
Our late-afternoon meal was at JT Hannah’s. Good food, and if you’re into looking at old farm tools hanging on the wall, it’s got that going for it as well.
At the LeConte Center, we got inside before the rain set in. We have some huge Booth Brothers fans in the group I travel with. They were scheduled to go on last, so we planned to (and did) stay to the very end of the evening. The theme for Wednesday was “No Tracks/No Stacks.” Groups that don’t typically have a full band were accompanied by a talented house band led by Trey Ivey.
1. I have become quite a fan of the Chuck Wagon Gang over the past 3-4 years. They brought along former member Jeremy Stevens and another musician. We got to hear several of their newest songs which was refreshing, considering they typically do a more predictable set.
2. Karen Peck & New River with the house band was fantastic.
3. The Mark Trammell Quartet blended their own musicians (Mark & Trevor Conkle) with the house band for a good effect…until Kevin Williams launched a song in the wrong key and they had to restart. Hey, at least it proved it was really live!
4. Gold City presented several songs from the group’s past that the members of the current lineup had not sung before. These included “Ezekiel Saw The Wheel” complete with the entertaining “flippity flop” line.
5. The Booth Brothers did not disappoint. The evening ran a little late which was actually a good thing: a heavy thunderstorm would have drenched everyone trying to leave had they finished by the scheduled time.
OBSERVATIONS
1. Lighting and video production at NQC are top-notch. Audio production, however, is never going to sound great in every spot of that room. It’s basically a concrete warehouse. My only real gripe is when a singer’s mic is muted, and you miss the first few words when they start to sing a solo. That happened often at this event, sadly.
2. Traffic getting into and out of the LeConte Center remains a struggle. One of Pigeon Forge’s most popular attractions, The Island, shares the primary parking lot. Shuttles and trolleys help, but I still hope the town of Pigeon Forge sees fit to attach a multi-level parking garage to the LeConte Center at some point. I’d certainly be willing to pay a reasonable parking fee for that option.
3. I hope the themed nights continue in future years. Quartet night on Monday and No Tracks/No Stacks on Wednesday were especially nice, and I have no doubt that Hits night was also well received. A Young Artist night would be a great option to consider for 2026, perhaps to replace the vague “Variety” night that was offered in 2025.
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