This week we welcome Jarrett Dougherty, The Cast of Down Home Country, and special co-host, Chisai Childs!

 

The Down Home Country Show is the best show in Branson to hear traditional Country Music.  With an incredible cast of singers and pickers, you literally step back in time to the golden years of Country Music.

 

The show stars "Entertainer of the Year", Jamie Haage, and "Fiddle Player of the Year", Melody Hart. "Comedian of the Year", Jarrett Dougherty, and all of his crazy characters, will keep you in tears.

Featuring the best of Classic Country, Western Swing and Gospel music, this show brings to life the music you will never forget.  Enjoy all the songs that made you fall in love with Country Music.

 

  Jarrett Dougherty brings his amazing talent to Down Home this year.  Born in Ava, Missouri, Jarrett said he grew up the only boy in a family with four girls in a "crazy family," which goes a long way to explaining how he acts when he's on stage. "There was a lot of love and a lot of laughter in our home," he said. "I was the class clown in school, and I used to tell everyone I spent so much time in the principal's office I thought I was the assistant principal." 

 

Jarrett said he always liked making people laugh and "cutting up," and he loved to visit Branson as a child. Even though he loved the music in the shows, Jarrett said he really looked forward to seeing the comedians come out.  In 1995, Jarrett, who had been doing comedy in the region, as well as playing the drums, joined the Barbara Fairchild Show as a comedian and drummer.  "She was actually the first person that got me to put a dress on," he laughed.  Dress or no dress, Jarrett is one of the funniest guys in show business!

 

Jarrett and his wife Kara have been happily married three years, and he has a son, Dillon, who is 13. When he isn't on stage performing, Jarrett said he likes to "rodeo," as well as make people happy.

  

For more information on Down Home Country, call 417-335-2484, or visit www.GrandCountry.com.    Showtime is 10am Monday through Friday!

Another exciting element of this week's show will be our special guest co-host, Branson innovator and legend, Chisai Childs!

 

Chisai started the 9th music show in Branson in 1981....  The (original) Starlite Theatre! 

  

Her road to Branson started with her birth in Tokyo which explains her first name.  She started entertaining at age six.  After being crowned "Miss Talented Teen" in 1965, she toured seven countries entertaining service men at USO Shows. 

  

She owned her own dance studio for years, teaching all types of dancing from ballet to acrobatics.  Her longtime love for Country Music led to owning and operating the Grapevine Opry in Texas for many years.  In 1981, she moved the Grapevine Opry from Texas to Branson and began performing in Branson's original Starlite Theatre on West Hwy. 76. 

  

Chisai will go down in history for many Branson firsts.  She was Branson's first female emcee!  She was really the first person to bring "production" elements to the Branson theatre scene.  From revolving stages for set changes, multiple costume changes, dance numbers, to tributes to Broadway and national celebrities, she brought a new flair to the delight of audiences. 

  

Many of Branson's favorite entertainers got their start in Branson at the invitation of Chisai......  Shoji, Doug Gabriel, our own Mike Jackson, Buddy Green, Lori Locke, Cliff Wagner, John & Paul Cody, Shauna Smith-Hord, and Bill and Randy Brooks, just to name a few.  She started a backstage tour which included her dressing room complete with crystal candelabra hanging from the ceiling, lighted mirrors reflecting racks of costumes with glittering rhinestones and beads.

  

She had her own television show, "Chisai and the Ozarks," which aired on Springfield channel 33 at 6pm each Saturday night.  She also had the first LIVE radio show from Branson, "BoxCar's Bandstand," which starred the late Boxcar Willie.  Chisai was also the first producer to schedule Christmas and New Years Eve shows in town.

  

Branson owes a lot of thanks to Chisai for her contributions in making our little town a success.  We are thankful for our longstanding friendship and we're excited she accepted our invite to be a co-host on this week's Branson Country USA!