Sometimes life takes you in the strangest directions. We live in the moment, and then that sudden minuscule change of plans keeps its momentum, and you find yourself sitting by the stage at a distillery listening to great music and meeting the friendliest people.

Tennessee has always been on the bucket list. How can the Smoky Mountains not be? All of the hiking trails, waterfalls, and hospitality. I never really understood how you don't consider nature when going to see that gorgeous state.

The beauty is all around.

We spent hours just looking at the mountains from rocking chairs, and if you live in Tennessee, you have a rocking chair—at least that's what I was told. We saw them at almost every stop we went to and used them at almost every one.

In Gatlinburg, we rode horses, walked the SkyBridge, attended a parade, and hung out with great friends. We also met some crazy new ones.

We didn't even know Gatlinburg had the first Fourth of July parade of the year—at midnight—until we were standing on the SkyBridge waiting for the crowd to clear and overheard someone talking about it.


A quick Google search told us we were eating a late dinner in town.

That late dinner took us to a restaurant that just happened to have the DJ who was hosting the parade on the balcony. A quick meeting and a simple question somehow got us out onto the balcony in front of the main crowd, and I got to see a little of what it means to host a larger parade.

Unfortunately, our dead phones didn't allow for photos. It was, however, something I will always remember.

During that time, we met our new friend Fish Fisher.

One little conversation led to another, and Fish mentioned that he would be at Sugarlands Distilling Company the next day. So, of course, we decided to go listen to some live music.

That decision led to my introduction to EmiSunshine, and those are my favorite ways to find new—to me—artists.

None of it had been planned.

We hadn't planned on the midnight parade. We hadn't planned on eating dinner there. We definitely hadn't planned on ending up on the balcony with the DJ hosting the parade. We hadn't planned on meeting Fish, and we hadn't planned on following that meeting to a distillery the next day.

But one little change of plans kept its momentum.

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Listening to EmiSunshine's Americana-style music made the entire trip for me. The passion she had while singing, the love her fan club showed her, and her stage presence astounded me for someone her age.

She's a teenager whose parents have allowed her to follow her dreams since she was nine years old. Nurturing aspirations, believing that all things are possible. She has been given an amazing opportunity to succeed in her chosen path. The talent is astounding to me as well.

It's funny to think that if we hadn't overheard one conversation while waiting for the crowd to clear on the SkyBridge, we might not have experienced any of it.

You never know where a little Southern hospitality will lead you.

Don't be afraid of people, or you may miss out on an unexpected adventure.

Check out www.emisunshine.com

And www.fishfisher.net