Why the Hell Not: The Origin Story  

I’ve always been the instigator, the one leading the charge, and I guess it was only natural. Growing up in an Amish community in central Pennsylvania, where music—except for acapella hymns—was forbidden, I was drawn to anything that challenged the norm. By the time I was six, I was working on my parents’ farm at dawn. After eighth grade, I went full-time. But even as I worked, I would sneak off to sing, hiding in the barn with the diesel generator running so my dad wouldn’t hear me.

My dad and I clashed constantly. He was a rule follower. Me? A rule breaker. He taught me to never question authority. But that didn’t sit right with me—I questioned everything. His words could be harsh, and I wanted to be like him: a hardworking family man. But his put-downs only fueled my need to rebel.

I started breaking the rules early on. I hid a CD player until my parents found it and made me smash it. I rigged up speakers and built things from the ground up—anything to create something. My dreams were always bigger than the walls of our eight-mile world.

I listened to music in secret, hid electronics, and constantly challenged the limitations of my upbringing. Rumspringa—the Amish rite of passage—opened up a whole new world when I turned 16. I partied, jammed to music, and lived in the moment. The first time I heard recorded music, something inside me ignited. I felt excitement, joy, freedom—everything I’d been missing.

When my parents left the Amish community, I knew I was going too. We didn’t tell anyone, and one day we were just…gone. Leaving that world behind felt like stepping into a foreign land where I didn’t speak the language or understand the customs. It was scary and exciting all at once.

I struggled with depression after leaving. I felt ashamed, alone, and unsure of my place in this new world. But music? It saved me. It became my outlet and helped me find my voice. I fell in love with live performances, starting with my first concert—Michael W. Smith—and I knew, right then, music was my future.

Music isn’t just something I do. It’s in my soul. It’s a way to connect with people and to share a part of myself. Country music, especially, resonates with my story and my roots. The hard work, the blue-collar life, the storytelling—it’s all part of who I am. Country music is about shared experiences, and I believe that we’re all in this together.

My philosophy is simple: Why the Hell Not! Whether it was leaving the Amish, pursuing music, or dreaming bigger than I’d ever imagined, I always ask myself that question. It’s the guiding force behind everything I do.

I’m here to share that rebellious spirit with the world. To show that voice inside me, inside all of us, that says, “Why the Hell Not!”