The house that plays country music together, stays together.
Or at least that’s how things are looking for Seaford resident Cheyenne Rivera’s household.
Her husband, Erlin Rivera, is a new country music fan and the couple will scream at the top of their lungs at Milton country star Jimmie Allen’s second Bettie James Fest in his backyard of Hudson Fields on Saturday.
Not only that, the Jimmie Allen fan said she and her husband will be joined by her Smyrna parents, Kelley and Mike Sanchez. That’s major for Rivera because her mom “finally convinced my dad that country music is great,” she wrote in a message on Facebook.
Last August the quartet had a date night at Chase Rice’s concert at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach. But Allen’s homegrown Bettie James Fest is going to be a much bigger country experience for the family this weekend.
Her family will be seated in the exclusive Party Pit section, where tickets are a little extra. Pit tickets also are sold out.
“I have been a huge Jimmie Allen fan since the start, so I’m excited to experience this fest in the Party Pit with my husband and parents,” Rivera said. “The Party Pit is going to be AMAZING!”
Jaimie Maas of Dover is looking forward to making her Bettie James debut this weekend. But this isn’t her first rodeo seeing the Grammy-nominated artist in concert.
In May, Maas was at Dover International Speedway to see the Amish Outlaws perform and was pleasantly surprised to discover Jimmie Allen also had a gig there.
The Dover fan said the platinum-selling singer put on “a dynamite show” and he also brought the jokes.
“I love hearing about how he had to stop dating any African American females that were local to Milton, in the event that he was related to them,” Maas explained. “The story is hysterical.”
Riding down ‘Tulip Drive’
In June, Jimmie Allen dropped his latest album, “Tulip Drive,” in honor of his late grandmother who lived on the Lewes street. The new project includes the single “Down Home,” a tribute to his father, who passed in 2019.Lori Hastings, of Delmar, Maryland, said she loves the new album and has a special connection to “Down Home.”
“My father also passed away in 2019, just before [Allen’s] father passed away, so I can relate,” Hastings said. “It’s more personal for [Allen], but [the lyrics] meant something to me also, that no matter where they’re at, they’re still looking down on us.”
Newark fan Kelly Busovsky’s favorite jam off the album is “You Won’t Be Alone,” a tune inspired by Allen’s son Aadyn, who is also featured on the track.
“’You Won’t Be Alone’” really hits home — as a mom to a little boy. I plan to use this song in his birthday slideshow this year,” Busovsky said. “I love Jimmie’s commitment to his family and love that he always is representing our state.”
The song might make Busovsky extra emotional if Allen performs it at Bettie James, because she’ll be at the festival with her little man by her side.
“This year we are excited to attend with our 4-year-old and it will be his first ‘grown up’ concert. We are also excited to be attending with extended family.”
Jimmie Allen won over her kids
The Bettie James lineup includes We The Kings, Lainey Wilson, Neon Union, Chayce Beckham, JJ Rupp and Kounty.
The name Bettie James is a tribute to Allen’s late father, James Allen, and late grandmother, Bettie Snead.
Allen’s music has brought many of his fans joy, including Rivera. Thanks to the Milton star’s new album, her household has new songs they can sing along to.
“He sings music that just makes you feel good, music you can throw on in the car and just vibe with,” Rivera said. “Even my kids sing his songs.”
Bettie James Fest (Hudson Fields, 29763 Eagle Crest Road, Milton) will be held from 4 to 11:45 p.m., Saturday. Tickets are $65. For tickets or more information, visit hudsonfieldsconcerts.com.
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