05-05-2025
Donegal singer's Nashville pilgrimage to air on TG4
An hour-long documentary capturing how Diane Cannon from Mín Lárach in the Donegal Gaeltacht, a singer with a lifelong love of country music, made a musical pilgrimage to Nashville, can be seen on TG4 this week.
Cannon was joined on her trip to the cultural capital of country music by her father, John, and daughter, Kelly, who is also a singer.
Speaking to Agriland ahead of the documentary, which airs on TG4 on Thursday, May 8 at 9:30p.m.,Cannon explained that her family has always been immersed in farming.
She said: 'I come from strong farming stock on my father's side, rooted in Meenacreeve at the foot of Errigal mountain, one of the most beautiful places on earth.
'Farming has run through the generations, from my granny's hens and ducks to my grandad's cattle and sheep'
The Donegal singer outlined which members of her family have taken up the farming mantel over the years.
'My father and his brother Tommy were well-known locally as successful sheep farmers, and Tommy's daughter, Brid and son, Daniel now hold the reins in safe and capable hands, while my uncle Hughie looked after the cattle.
'My uncle Michael took a different but equally skilled path, training sheepdogs to international standard, with his dogs and himself recently competing at the World Sheepdog Trials in Scotland.
'Though music took me in a different direction, that deep rural heritage has always been part of who I am and I'm proud to be bringing a bit of Donegal spirit to Nashville in both my new single 'Don't Touch Me' and the upcoming TG4 programme,' Cannon said.
Diane Cannon. Source: TG4.
Along her Nashville journey, Cannon meets Grammy-nominated Woman's Heart singer, Maura O'Connell, in the institution that is the Station Inn.
Cannon also records an Irish language version of 'Don't Let Me Cross Over' in John Mock's studio, where John has produced, among others, James Taylor, the Dixie Chicks, and Randy Travis.
In addition, Cannon meets fellow Donegal woman Bernadette Tinney, better known as 'Irish Bernadette', who has made a life for herself in the music city.
The Donegal woman packs in a visit to the iconic Ryman Theatre – the site of the original Grand Ole Opry – meets the legendary Steve Earle, and talks about the perfect songwriting recipe with Irish-Australian singer/songwriter Isabella Kearney.
Irish singers who have made Nashville their home give Cannon the lowdown on life in the country music capital, while the Country Music Association festival offers the Donegal woman the ideal opportunity to see established stars like Dolly Parton and meet emerging artists like Blanco Brown, Allie Colleen, Tayler Holder, and Kelsey Hart.
