Latest news with #Gallatin
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Business Owner, Eric Blankenship, Sees His Nashville Music Dream Come Full-Circle
Co-owner Eric Blankenship stands on the lot of All Access Coach Leasing in Gallatin, TN. His company ... More designs and leases buses for the entertainment industry. Eric Blankenship and his partner, Jim Borelli, own and operate All Access Coach Leasing, a tour bus company in Gallatin, Tennessee, about 30 miles north of Nashville. They design and lease buses for the entertainment industry. 'We have 52 buses currently and we're building five more this year,' says Blankenship. 'Our music clients include George Strait, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Koe Wetzel, HARDY, Cole Swindell, Laura Alaina, and many others. We also have nine WWE wrestlers.' Their buses are built on the property in a state-of-the-art shop in the back. All Access buys the bus shells equipped with only the driver's seat, then adds everything else. The cost to build a custom-made bus varies depending on specifications. All Access Coach Leasing, based in Gallatin, Tennessee, builds and leases buses for the entertainent ... More industry. 'We have a design room, and the client comes in, picks out what they want, we lay out the floor plan, and then we go to town,' Blankenship explains. 'A band bus costs about $1-point-2 million, while a star bus can be anywhere from 1-point-5 to $2-point-5 million depending on what the client wants in it, for example - how many slide outs and things like that.' Star buses are those designed for a major artist. They have more requirements than a band bus with things like a bedroom in the back and extras like bigger refrigerators, washers and dryers, etc. And those buses used more for living quarters often have more of those slide-outs he mentions. Slide outs, which have become more popular in recent years, allow drivers to widen the bus by extending the sides (hence the term slide out) which allows for more space on the inside. Slide outs can only be used when the bus is parked. Tour buses have come a long way since the early days, going beyond simply offering a mode of transportation and a place to sleep between shows. Interior of an All Access Coach Leasing custom- made tour bus Interior of an All Access Coach Leasing custom-made tour bus 'We have steam showers on buses and the fastest internet you can get,' Blankenship says. 'Our electronics are way above what people used to have. The entertainment world has gotten so tech savvy they're not going to watch a crappy signal on TV. We don't use satellites anymore; everything now is done with a streaming service.' When Blankenship moved to Nashville decades ago, he never imagined he'd one day build a multi-million-dollar tour bus company. He originally left his native Texas to become a country singer. 'I grew up watching the shows we all watched. Hee Haw, Pop Goes the Country, and those other type shows. My brother plays piano, my sister sings, I sing – I just love music.' By the time he was 12, he had recorded his first album. 'We'd do gigs all over the place, we'd open up at department stores, play the mall, and all kinds of things. As I got older, I ended up with a band and started playing music for a living. Then, in 1992, I moved to Nashville to follow the dream.' Within six months after arriving, he got a job selling t-shirts for Ricky Skaggs. He didn't know at the time it would slowly start moving him in a different direction. 'That's when I went on the road for the first time with a major act on a bus,' he recalls. 'And I got my license, so I could help drive because I loved buses and couldn't wait to get one on my own.' He later did the same thing with Tim McGraw, Lori White, and others, selling merchandise and driving, all while still trying to sing whenever he got the chance. Lori White often allowed him to perform a few songs before her shows on nights she didn't have an opening act. Eventually, Blankenship came off the road and returned to Nashville ending to focus on his music, but he ended up taking a job with Music City Coach. He began helping the owner lease buses not realizing it would pave the way for what would come next. About four years later, he and Borelli started All Access. 'We started with $5000 in cash and a $10,000 credit card and the next day we were broke. We didn't have any equipment when we started, but we had some guys with eight to ten buses they gave us to run and we got a percentage of what they made, plus we could charge for maintenance. We bought our first bus in 2003 and went from there.' They would build All Access into what it is today. And while Blankenship is extremely grateful for the company's success, he's never lost his drive or desire to sing. He cut an album in 2016 called Rollin' With the Flow (featuring some of his music friends like Jimmy Fortune and Leona Williams), and now performs, with a full band, every Tuesday night at a club in nearby Hendersonville called The Local. Singer/songwriter and business owner, Eric Blankenship He often runs into artists and musicians there he's met through his bus business, and in January shared a personal goal with Ben Isaacs of The Isaacs. 'I told him if I could do one thing, I'd love to play the Grand Ole Opry one just time while my dad could still see me perform,' Blankenship says. 'My dad's 84 and he and my mom funneled so much money trying to get me a record deal from the time I was a kid.' Isaacs apparently remembered what he'd told him. A few months later he came back to Blankenship with an invitation. 'He said what are you doing on April 29th? How would you like to debut with us on the Grand Ole Opry.' Blankenship, who was blown away, said 'absolutely.' So, that night at the end of April, Blankenship stepped onto the most iconic stage in country music and performed the country clasic 'Statue of a Fool.' He had the Isaacs singing back-up and his proud father sitting right in the front row. Eric Blankenship makes his debut on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN - April 29th, 2025 'It was the most incredible thing I've ever done,' Blankenship says. 'It really, really was. I wasn't nervous but I was so anxious, it was like being on a cloud. I was out there on the stage singing but it was almost like I was watching myself, you know? The band was great and the Isaacs were amazing.' He hit all the high notes without a hitch and was so well-received, he got a standing ovation. Eric Blankenship performs with The Isaacs onstage at the Grand Ole Opry. 'I walked off the stage and T. Graham Brown grabbed my arm and said, 'Dude, you nailed it. Look back out at that crowd, do you see that? That doesn't happen very often.' Blankenship still can't quite believe it. 'You just don't walk up there and get on the Opry. It was quite the night.' Dreams never do really die. Sometimes they just take a litte longer to come to pass. Since then, other doors have opened for Blankenship, as well. At 60 years old, he got his first ASCAP royalty check for a song he's written, he recently opened up for Gene Watson in Blankenship's hometown, and in October he's scheduled to open for the Oak Ridge Boys. 'When I left Texas for Nashville, I was determined to be successful in the music business never dreaming it would be on the business side of things. But now, buses pay my bills, so I can play music without having to worry about making a living doing it. It's given me the freedom to just go out and play.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
1 arrested after causing ‘disruption' at ‘No Kings' protest in Gallatin, police say
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — At least one person was taken into custody during the 'No Kings' protest that took place in Gallatin on Saturday. The Gallatin Police Department said the event was 'carried out peacefully,' with no significant incidents reported involving participants. 'No Kings' protests held across Middle Tennessee However, police said a 27-year-old man was arrested for disorderly conduct, failure to produce identification and seatbelt violation. Officials added he was not 'actively involved' in the protest, but was driving by the area and caused a disruption that caused police intervention. News 2 was at the scene as the 27-year-old was placed into custody and taken away in handcuffs. 'We are grateful for the support from the Sumner County Sheriff's Office, Sumner EMA, Sumner County EMS, Sumner County ECC, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, Hendersonville Police Department, Portland Police Department, Goodlettsville Police Department, White House Police Department, and IGY6 Ministries, all of who assisted in ensuring the safety and security of today's event,' stated Gallatin police. ⏩ Meanwhile, the 'No Kings' protest in Nashville also led to one arrest. According to authorities, a 19-year-old counter-protester from Murfreesboro got into heated arguments and spit at protesters before pulling out a gun and pointing it toward the ground. Booking records show the 19-year-old was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct is being held at Metro Jail on a $1,500 bond. No additional details about the separate arrests were immediately released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Speaking with officials about fire safety following Gallatin home explosion
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Gallatin home exploded Thursday morning, sending shrapnel flying through the neighborhood and leaving one person injured. Though the cause of the blast — which neighbors likened to an 'earthquake' — is still under investigation, some witnesses worry that it was caused by a gas leak. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by the Gallatin Fire Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. ORIGINAL STORY | 'Felt like an earthquake': 1 injured after explosion destroys Gallatin home Matthew Lupo, fire chief for Nolensville Fire & Rescue, said the department isn't working the case, but said that companies add a sulfur smell to natural gas and propane for safety reasons. Otherwise they're odorless. If you do smell a rotten egg smell, he has some tips. 'First, evacuate the house. Don't flip any switches on the way out,' Lupo said. 'Just get out. If you know where the shut-offs are for your propane tanks or where your gas is fed in through the meter, you can shut those off. [A fire] could be triggered by anything from light switches to electronics — anything that can create static electricity or a little spark. Don't be afraid to call 911. ⏩ 'We would rather get there and have it be something simple and resolve the issue real quickly than it turn out to be a big event because and we're not called out in time,' Lupo said. Lupo added that carbon monoxide alarms don't pick up on natural gas or propane leaks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Country superstar Lorrie Morgan announces the death of her sixth husband after 14 years of marriage
Country singer Lorrie Morgan is 'devastated' following the loss of her sixth husband Randy White on Sunday after 14 years of marriage. The retired entrepreneur - who owned a landscaping business - had just celebrated his 72nd birthday on May 15 before passing away following a year-long battle with mouth cancer. 'Randy has been my partner, my champion, and my rock for 17 years,' the 65-year-old War Paint podcaster - who boasts 654K social media followers - wrote Sunday. 'Our big, wonderful family and I are devastated at the loss of this truly kind and incredible man. I was blessed by his love. Ran-Ran, I will love and miss you forever.' Randy reportedly studied at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, TN and he graduated from Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, TN. Country singer Lorrie Morgan is 'devastated' following the loss of her sixth husband Randy White on Sunday after 14 years of marriage (pictured in 2022)
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measuring the economic impact of county ambulance services
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) — Though most Tennessee cities depend on county ambulances, one new law could take a closer look at the economic impact that it creates. 'Since 2001, all counties have been required to provide ambulance services,' Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) said in March. When the law was first introduced in the state legislature, it required any municipality that does not provide ambulance services to reimburse the county for a portion of the cost of the service. However, it was amended to have the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations' first look into the economic impact. MARCH : Mt. Juliet EMS has responded to over 6,900 calls since launching 2 years ago 'So, the ambulances that were here in Mt. Juliet would oftentimes be responding to calls, and we would have to wait for other ambulances to come from the county into the city,' Mt. Juliet's EMS chief Eric Newman, told News 2. Newman was tasked with building an EMS service inside the fire department several years ago. He said Mt. Juliet is one of ten fire departments in the state that provides EMS transport. 'For as long as I know, Sumner County like most counties in the state, has provided ambulance services,' Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown said. In Gallatin, meanwhile, the city relies on Sumner County to run their ambulance transport. 'The thing that we have done in Gallatin — and some other cities have done this as well — is we have really elevated the role of our fire department in getting them trained as EMTs and some as paramedics,' Brown said. Brown said firefighters can provide life-saving measures before an ambulance arrives. However, the state is looking into the potential economic strain county ambulance transport has on them. 'I actually serve on TACIR, so it will be interesting to see that study and what the economic impact is because it's going to be a very large impact,' Brown said. 'And when most governments are doing the most that they can with the least burden on taxpayers as they possibly can, it would change things.' ⏩ Brown said if the law stayed in its original language, it would have negatively impacted taxpayers in Gallatin. which could still happen after TACIR completes the review. 'I imagine a scenario where we have to negotiate this give and take — we are all better off just remaining good partners with one another,' Brown said. Once TACIR completes its study, the findings and recommendations will then be reported with any proposed legislation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
