A Word from The Country Music Cruise Executive Producer, Mike Jason
Hey cruise family,
I’ve been counting down the days until we’re together again at sea (only 104 if you were wondering)! We’re finalizing some exciting programming and artist additions, and we have a few exciting things to share with you in this newsletter!
We try each year to find ways large and small to add to The Country Music Cruise experience, and this year we are adding a very special guest -- Chef Kevin Belton. Kevin is a highly acclaimed chef from New Orleans, but also an author, educator, and TV personality. Chef will be working with Holland America Line to curate some of your favorite country dishes, doing cooking exhibitions, and providing his unmatched warmth and enthusiasm for music, food and people. We are all in for a treat.
And I obviously love all the new artist additions, but I have to say, I’m especially looking forward to seeing Wynn Varble again. He is central casting for a real country songwriter--incredibly talented, a great storyteller, and laugh out loud funny at times.
Later this month, as part of StarVista’s continuing commitment to the Hall of Fame, I’ll be in Nashville for the Country Music Hall of Fame inductions, always an incredible night celebrating great artists of various eras and special inductees in the non-performer category. Tony Brown the trail blazing record producer and music executive is the non-performer inductee, June Carter Cash in the Veterans Era Artist category, and Kenny Chesney in the Modern Era Artist category.
As a long-time country music fan, it’s great to see June Carter inducted given the Carter and Cash family and her incredible contributions to the genre. And of course, Tony Brown is credited with producing 100 #1 country hits from who’s who of stars including his signing and producing this year’s Country Music Cruise headliner (and last year’s Hall inductee) Patty Loveless during her incredible string of hits. My first memory is of Kenny Chesney recording for RCA Records during my time with them in the mid-90’s. He was signed by former boss Joe Galante, a Hall inductee himself, and here we are 30 million “records” sold, 27 top 40 country hits, and too many awards to list.
I’m proud to share that we will again be raising money on the Country Music Cruise 2026 for the Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to these inductees. See you cruisers in January!
- Mike Jason, Executive Producer