By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — What started out as “A Country Christmas with Susie McEntire” concert 11 years ago has developed into a community holiday tradition with McEntire and several friends and guests.

For the Dec. 14 concert at Lakeview Middle School in Warsaw, award-winning country music legend Janie Fricke, who hails originally from South Whitley, is joining McEntire and returnees Linda Davis and Keenie on stage, along with their husbands.

“Warsaw is another second home to me. We would go up there every weekend to go swimming. We took our dance lessons there when we were doing tap and ballet. We were just down the road in South Whitley,” Fricke, who has lived in Texas for over the last four decades, said in a telephone interview.

Growing up in South Whitley, she didn’t have any plans to make a career out of singing and songwriting. “That never occurred to me,” Fricke said. “Our family consisted of my sister and I and our two cousins, and we all had a direct calling from our families that we would go to Indiana University and we would pick a major and we would do that and that would be our lives. So that’s what we did.”

Fricke got her degree in elementary education, but she had been singing since she was a little girl in church nearly every weekend. She also enjoyed singing whatever songs were popular at the time, whether that was Brenda Lee or Patsy Cline.

After she graduated from IU, she realized she would probably never use the degree because she had been pursuing singing all throughout college. She even dropped out of college twice to sing and pursue studio work.

“I could get jobs in studios and worked with vocal groups, and learned how to sing commercials and jingles. And that’s really how I entered into the Nashville scene, which is where all the country music is and the vocal groups,” Fricke said.

When she was signed to Columbia Records, she did about two albums a year. She was on the label for 12 years, recording over 20 albums during that time. She’s got a new album out now titled “Janie Fricke — It Ain’t Easy,” which is a greatest hits collection of 40 of her songs.

During her long career, Fricke has won numerous awards. She said she’s donated several of them to museums and such.

“Country Music Hall of Fame has my CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, and I’ve got two of those — for ‘82 and ‘83 — and I think one of them is still here in my home somewhere. I’ve donated some of them. There’s a museum in Columbia City, too, that I donated one to,” Fricke said.

Fricke’s participation in the Dec. 14 concert will make it even better, according to McEntire.

“I believe it’s going to be an even better concert this year because of a local lady who people will enjoy seeing again — Janie Fricke. And I believe it’s just grown and being a partnership with these folks and everybody on stage … people behind the stage, it’s just become something we look forward to every year,” McEntire said.

She said she’s not known Fricke, but has been a total fan “for years and years and years. I was so ecstatic when Mike (Loher) said he was going to contact her. She is an excellent singer. She is country all the way.”

When Fricke called McEntire, McEntire said Fricke was down to earth, ready to work with everyone and had her ducks in a row.

This year is Keenie’s third for the Country Christmas concert. She said there’s so many things that she enjoys about it, and is excited to meet Fricke this year.

“In fact, everybody’s been asking what my schedule is like coming up and I’ve been telling them I’ve got three shows the weekend before I come there, and everybody asks me which one is my favorite, and I always say Indiana. Indiana is always my favorite,” Keenie said. “First off, just the people that I get to do it with. I’m real excited to meet Janie this year, I’ve never met her, but every single person that is on that stage with us every year just really, truly becomes family.”

In 2023, the concert was done a little different as kind of like a writers round style, she said. “It wasn’t just one person coming out performing. We all got to come out on stage and hear each other’s stories and join in on harmony if it was a song we knew. And, honestly, that’s what makes Nashville so unique is just the songwriters that make up all the songs and getting to be a part of those. A lot of times people have no idea that maybe that person wrote that song or was even a part of production or had anything to do with it. So it’s really cool to have it done in that type of manner and sit down and all just joining in together. So I’m excited to do that again,” Keenie explained.

Second to McEntire as far as number of years taking part in the concert is Davis.

“She is a trooper and this is such a passion for her, and I’m just so proud to be on board. It’s become something that (my husband) Lang and I both look forward to every year, and the turnout just gets better and better,” Davis said. “You ought to be proud of your community, how they show up for Toys for Tots.”
She said they come all the way to Warsaw first because it’s a good cause.

“But, because my friend Susie is hosting it and has been a part of this for so long, when she called the first year — before even knowing Mike — it was going to be a yes if we weren’t already booked anyway. But, then, meeting Mike and getting to know his heart and how hard he works for this every year, and how he wants it to be the best that it can be, all of those things just add up to ‘Can we make it happen this year?’ And we save a spot on our calendar for what we think will be the weekend, and it’s just worked out now for five to six years in a row,” David said.

This year with Fricke being a part of the show, Davis said, “Oh my goodness! If I could pick her songs, I’m one of her biggest fans, and I’m just excited to hear the songs that she decides to sing because I love them all. Susie — oh my goodness, there’s not an angel’s voice like hers, so anything she picks (will be good). Keenie is just a powerful vocalist, so everything she sings is perfect. And some of the songs that I like to sing – of course, I had a song with Reba (“Does He Love You?”) that it would be hard to show up and not do it.”

McEntire said she’s appreciative of the city of Warsaw and their support for the Christmas and country concert. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the concert starting at 7 p.m. It is free, but attendees are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy to be donated to Toys for Tots.

Nonperishable food items will also be collected for World Compassion Network, Warsaw. These items will be distributed to help with hurricane relief efforts.

Along with the 11th annual concert, the Warsaw Ladies Pamper Me is returning for a second year with McEntire and Keenie. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lakeview Commons. Cost for Pamper Me is $40 per person preregistration (which ends Dec. 12) or $45 at the door. For groups of 10 or more, cost is $35 per person. Register at countrychristmaswarsaw.com. For Pamper Me vendor information, contact Tracey at (574) 268-7847.

Vendors will include local boutiques, crafts, candles, soaps, scentsy, baked goods, massages and a photo booth.

“We’re going to be in a different, more intimate room this year, and it’s going to be something that I believe the ladies will really enjoy. We’re going to have lots of vendors and different speakers. New and improved, and I believe it’s going to be something that they will truly enjoy,” McEntire said.

For more information people may contact Mike Loher at (574) 376-0193.