Jason Henley of Chilton County was recently named one of three finalists in the Overdrive-Red Eye Radio Trucker Talent Search, an annual contest that highlights talented truck drivers across America who love to sing.
Henley, a truck driver for Indigo Fluids, lives in Jemison. The biography information he submitted to the competition said he has been trucking for 15 years.
For his entry, Henley performed an original song about life as a trucker entitled “Nebraska Drop N Hook.”
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“The rules were either a cover or original with no studio processing or supporting band,” Henley told WBRC. “I actually pulled over and recorded it the morning the submission was due, on April 22nd, at the I-20/59 rest area.”
On August 23, Henley will compete live for the contest’s grand prize at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas against the other two finalists, Taylor Barker and Ken Freeman.
“My favorite part about singing is bringing people together. Singing is a therapy and a connection to the spiritual realm for me,” Henley wrote in his submission.
Music is also a family affair for Henley.
“My wife, her mother-in-law and I — as well as a host of longtime friends — are a part of the musical community in central Alabama,” he outlined. “We open our home up to host musical events as well as practice for my band. We have about 20 acres and are currently working on building a stage in the field and creating a boutique private music venue. We’d eventually like to make it into a regular festival a couple times a year, as well as doing other work such as weddings and photography.”
The first-place winner will receive a full professional recording session in Nashville.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn