The Paris, IL, native was visiting Nashville for the first time early in his sophomore year at Chicago's Elmhurst College. He was at the Station Inn, an historic bluegrass/country venue where many of the greats of both worlds have played. His cousin Terry, a veteran of Dolly Parton's band and now a member of the Grascals, was playing with a band called the Sidemen, and a mesmerized Brett was in the crowd.
"There was something so real and truthful about the songs they were playing," he says. “What happened next came as a shock.”
"He asked me to come up on stage and told me to pick a song to play with the band," says Brett. I said, 'Amarillo By Morning,' and when I heard that fiddle intro, chills shot up my spine. I sang it for the crowd there and it was a magical experience. That was the point where I thought, 'This is it. This is something I've got to do.'"
By the start of the next school year, he had transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and begun the round of writers' nights and writing appointments that led him eventually to a record deal.
The talent that let him turn that dream into reality—the depth of his writing and the sheer power of his smoky and expressive baritone—are both apparent in his first single. "Raymond" is the poignant tale of a nursing home employee mistaken by a patient with Alzheimer's for her deceased son, who was killed at war. It is a song whose inspiring reaffirmation of their mutual humanity is affecting listeners deeply. The single rings true for Eldredge as his Grandmother currently struggles through the disease.
"There are a lot of things I'll play live where people will say, 'I like that,' or 'That's a really cool song,'" Brett says, "but when I do this one, I get the chance to tell people how special a thing it's been in my life, and it always touches someone. A lot of people know someone with Alzheimer's and people react in a really emotional way to it."
Brett has earned a reputation as much for the strength of his writing as for his world-class voice. He and co-writer Pat McLaughlin landed a song called "I Think I've Had Enough" on Gary Allan's latest album, Get Off On The Pain, and one of his frequent collaborators is Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry stalwart Bill Anderson.
"He's one of my favorite people to write with," says Brett. "I love the fact that he believes in country music so much, because it's something I really believe in. My dream, as I find my place in country music, is one day to be an Opry member."
Brett heard all kinds of music growing up, and became a particular fan of the classic pop singers he heard in his grandfather's car.
"I heard a lot of Frank Sinatra, who is still a favorite of mine, and Ray Charles and Bobby Darin," he says. "When my mother convinced me to sing 'Mack The Knife' at a talent show, I got hooked on singing in public."
That was in Paris, a town of 9,000 with "cornfields and factories and lake right in the middle." Brett, his older brother and his parents—a traveling grain salesman and a nurse—lived on the lake and, says Brett, "We were on the water every day, from the time I was so little they could pull me on water skis in a paddle boat until I left for college at 18." Sports were a big part of his life, and he played basketball, baseball and football in high school.
He also sang everywhere he could, often the Big Band music of Sinatra, earning spending money and learning to work a stage. His appreciation for country music became a passion when he turned 16 and he and a friend rode around listening to a Brooks & Dunn greatest hits album.
"There was something about it that just struck me," he says. "I couldn't get enough of it. Ronnie Dunn is one of my favorite singers of all time—I love the soul in his voice—and one of the main reasons I got into this in the first place."
Brett spent two years in Chicago, where his older brother lived, performing with a school jazz band and with a Big Band around the region.
"One of the coolest gigs," he says, "was at the Field Museum, I was singing in front of a 12-piece band under this huge Tyrannosaurus Rex statue near some mammoths. It was quite the experience."
Then came that fateful visit to Nashville and his transfer to MTSU. He studied classic country stylists like Ray Price and George Jones, and later Vince Gill, absorbing everything he could.
"I was driving back and forth Nashville every day from Murfreesboro, which is thirty miles away," he says. "I had a guitar Terry had given me, which was originally a gift from Dolly, and I'd pretty much lock myself in my room and make myself learn songs. I would play writers' nights all around Nashville. There might be two people, there might be 40 or 50. I'd go play my songs and see what people liked and what they didn't. I'd screw up royally in front of them, but I learned."
He earned a degree, which, he says, "made Mom and Dad happy, and then I moved on to what I really wanted to do.
A staff writer for hit producer/publisher Byron Gallimore heard him at a writers' night and introduced him to Byron, who signed him.
"I wrote for about two years, developing my craft and writing with everyone I could. In the beginning, Byron just let me kind of find myself, because that takes a while. As you write more you starting homing in on what you sound good on. Eventually, Byron said, 'You've got something here' and we went in and started cutting songs. We did a showcase, and Carole Ann Mobley from Warner Music Nashville said, 'We've gotta sign this kid'. Mobley and Craig Kallman then signed Brett to Atlantic Records, making him the first official signing for the new imprint.
As he worked with his band tightening his show, he was offered a particularly gratifying gig.
"I opened for Blake Shelton at The Ryman and it was the coolest experience. I flew back from this house gig and all of a sudden I'm thrown into playing the Mother Church of Country Music, something I always dreamed of doing. I was operating on almost no sleep, but stepping out on that stage where everybody who's anybody in country music has been meant the world to me."
He remains active in sports, playing basketball and volleyball and playing on an intramural softball team in Nashville, and rooting for the Cubs and Bears. Meanwhile, he is dedicated to improving his craft.
"As a songwriter," he says, "my aim is to portray a little bit of me and my life along with the stories of other people and turn them into something that can really touch somebody's heart and soul. We sit down on Music Row every day and write songs and every once in a while a song like ‘Raymond’ comes from such a real place. I hope it's that real to other people and that I can make them feel the way I felt when I wrote it and when I sing it."
Judging from audience reaction, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
Winter Wonderland
Brett Eldredge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you listening
In the lane
Snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
We're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song
As we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say, "Are you married? "
We'll say, "No man
But you can do the job when you're in town "
Later on
We'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
Oh let's go walking
You know
In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman
Until the other kiddies knock him down
When it snows
Ain't it thrilling
Oh your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way
Walking in a winter wonderland
Look at you walking, come on
We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way
Walking in a winter wonderland, oh let's go walking
The lyrics of Brett Eldredge's "Winter Wonderland" describe the joy and wonder of the winter season. It paints a picture of a peaceful snowy landscape, where sleigh bells ring and the snow glistens in the lane. The singer is happy and content, taking a walk in this winter wonderland.
The song also introduces the element of romance, with the arrival of a new bird who sings a love song as they walk along. In the meadow, they build a snowman and pretend that he is Parson Brown, a fictional character often associated with weddings. They playfully reply to the snowman's question about marriage, indicating that they are not married yet, but he can officiate the ceremony when he's in town.
As the song progresses, it encourages dreaming by the fire and facing the plans they've made without fear. The mention of walking in a winter wonderland repeats, emphasizing the theme of joyful exploration and experiencing the magic of the season.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleigh bells ring
The sounds of jingling bells fill the air
Are you listening
Are you paying attention and taking in the magic of the moment?
In the lane
On the path or road
Snow is glistening
The snow is sparkling and shining
A beautiful sight
A wonderful scene to behold
We're happy tonight
We are filled with joy and contentment this evening
Walking in a winter wonderland
Taking a leisurely stroll through a magical winter landscape
Gone away is the bluebird
The bluebird, a symbol of happiness, has flown away
Here to stay is a new bird
A new bird has arrived, symbolizing love and happiness
He sings a love song
The new bird sings a song of love and romance
As we go along
As we continue our journey together
Walking in a winter wonderland
Continuing to explore the enchanting winter setting
In the meadow we can build a snowman
We have the opportunity to create a snowman in the open field
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
Imagining the snowman as someone important, like a clergyman
He'll say, 'Are you married?'
The imagined snowman will ask if we are married
We'll say, 'No man'
We will respond that we are not married
But you can do the job when you're in town
Implying that the snowman, despite not being married, can still officiate weddings
Later on
At a later time
We'll conspire
We will plan secretly and enthusiastically
As we dream by the fire
As we imagine and envision while sitting by the warm fire
To face unafraid
To confront without fear
The plans that we've made
The strategies and ideas we have developed
Walking in a winter wonderland
Continuing to explore the enchanting winter setting
Oh let's go walking
Let's embark on a walk together
You know
You are aware
And pretend that he's a circus clown
Imagining the snowman as a clown from the circus
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman
We will enjoy ourselves immensely with the snowman
Until the other kiddies knock him down
Until other children playfully ruin the snowman
When it snows
During a snowfall
Ain't it thrilling
Isn't it exciting and exhilarating?
Oh your nose gets a chilling
The cold weather causes your nose to feel icy
We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way
We will engage in carefree and joyful activities just like Eskimos
Walking in a winter wonderland
Continuing to explore the enchanting winter setting
Look at you walking, come on
Observing your movement as you walk, encouraging participation
We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way
We will engage in carefree and joyful activities just like Eskimos
Walking in a winter wonderland
Continuing to explore the enchanting winter setting
Oh let's go walking
Let's embark on a walk together
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard B. Smith, Felix Bernard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
melia varela recioy
Fantástico 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶❤️🎵
Sandra Garcia
Lovely voice Brett 🥰🥰
Darlen De
I still love your voice Brett❤
Elaine Sekulski
Love your voice soothing and so calming amliyaf
Peace Train
I was just thinking of fairytales. :*