Kris Jones

Influenced by figures such as George Jones, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, and Alan Jackson, the reserved and industrious Texan Kris Jones led an ordinary life as a contractor and family man until his spontaneous, heartfelt take on George Jones' "Tennessee Whiskey" spread rapidly across the internet. His then-15-year-old daughter captured the performance on video in 2016 during a moment parked outside Home Depot, and within ten days the clip amassed 25 million combined views on Facebook and YouTube, instantly elevating the 38-year-old Fort Worth native to widespread attention that country outlets labeled the "Tennessee Whisky Dad." Jones had begun singing in church at age 10 and long aspired to a professional music path, yet repeated personal and career setbacks disrupted those ambitions; although he continued entering karaoke events and talent contests, rejections from American Idol and The Voice left full-time pursuit of success feeling unattainable. Following the viral moment, late 2017 brought appearances on various radio and television outlets, among them The Ellen Show, and the following year he issued his first EP, Peace.