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A full-circle music moment happened for Dr. Derek Deakins, a Charleston County School District (CCSD) strings instructor. Belle Hall is one of three elementary schools where Deakins works. For the past few years, he has had the pleasure of teaching Sloan and Miller Booth at Belle Hall. They never mentioned that their grandfather is country music legend Steve Gatlin (of the Gatlin Brothers).

At the final strings concert in April, their mom, Aubrie, came up to thank Deakins for teaching her daughters. She mentioned that they used to live in Nashville and that their grandfather was in the country music business. As they talked, Deakins discovered that his bluegrass band, Daniel Grindstaff and the Uptown Troubadours, had recently recorded one of Steve Gatlin's songs, Denver, a 1980s hit.

The Booth family sent his recording to their grandfather, and he loved it. 

Fast-forward to July 15, when the Gatlin Brothers helped arrange for Daniel Grindstaff and the Uptown Troubadours band to make their debut on country music's biggest stage: the Grand Ole Opry!
 

“What an unforgettable night,” said Deakins. “We had the incredible honor of performing on the stage that made country music famous. Then, to top it all off, the Gatlin Brothers surprised us by joining us on stage to sing one of their biggest hits.”