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Kurt Webster
by Jesse Williams
COVID may be a time of slowdown for many, but John Cook, owner of the historic Donoghue Hotel and Entertainment Center, is using this time to brainstorm and consult with entertainment industry executives to further expand tourism in the Red Boiling Springs area Industry. Since the Donoghue Hotel was recently listed as one of Tennessee Magazine’s Vacation Destinations for its historic heritage, celebrities who have performed or rested at the hotel include President Woodrow Wilson, Ed Asner, Dinah Shore, Lori Morgan, Doug Stone, T. Graham Brown, Irlene Mandrell, and his resident physician Ronnie McDowell.
“I am very excited about the future of Donoho. I met with music industry consultant Kirt Webster about the COVID lockdown and began to develop a strategy to help bring tourists to the area. Now Kirt Consultations are being made for our recreation centers and we will have family-friendly programming for everyone in the community,” John Cook said. “We’ve all heard about Ghost Hu.”
Webster’s vision of a local destination is already taking shape. The Donoho Hotel and Entertainment Center will host the “Always Loretta” Christmas show on December 1 and 2, tickets are on sale, with VIP tables ranging from $25 to $250, including the famous family-style country dinner for four “I am so excited to be working with John to create a fun experience for fans who come to Donoghue. The inaugural show is a tribute to Loretta Lynn, one of the most revered female country artists of all time. She originally The bandmates of “Coal Miner” will perform with Emily Portman, who Loretta helped hand-pick to play her while she was alive. It’s for the whole family, and its country music is The best, and it’s going to be a collection of Christmas and hits,” Webster said.
Ronnie McDowell is a staple at the entertainment center and can be seen most weekends. An ’80s hit songwriter with songs like “Older Woman,” “Wandering Eyes,” and his 5 million-selling “The King Is Gone,” he draws fans from across the U.S. every weekend, whether it’s Watch in person or online via their Facebook Live. “Ronnie has really brought more attention to the Red Boiling Springs area. We’ve seen people coming, especially during COVID, who probably never would have made Donoho a place to visit, so we are very grateful to Ronnie and his band chose us as their home during that time, and persisted for that matter,” Cook added.
An award-winning consultant, Webster learned about the Donoghue Hotel and Entertainment Center while on the Hee Haw tour “Hee Haw Remembered.” “Diana Goodman, who was part of Hee Haw Honey, invited me to have dinner with her at the hotel. I did, I didn’t know Ronnie McDowell was performing that night. I represented Ronnie has been in a lot of projects, so I decided to stick around for the show and visit some old friends,” added Webster. “I had a lot of fun and it was a place to escape because other places were closed due to COVID and there were no shows. All of a sudden, I found myself driving an hour and twenty minutes back and forth to see a show and enjoy a show. Great meal. I fell in love with the area, the people and the hospitality.”
After moving to Nashville at age 20, Webster broke into the music business, selling merchandise for Clay Walker, which was hotter than ever in the mid-’90s. A year later, having a career in the public eye and off the road was the shot in the arm he needed and coveted. From there, he built a public relations business that exceeded all of his expectations. “I started a PR firm with clients including Janie Fricke, Freddy Fender and Carl Perkins and grew it to over 70 clients including Pat Benatar, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams, Jr., Don McLean, Lee Greenwood, Megadeth, 3 Doors Down and more,” Webster said. “I’ve been lucky to have the trust of so many managers and artists to help them take their music and brands to the next level.”
In 2009, Kirt Webster was named one of Nashville’s most successful businessmen under 40 by the Nashville Business Journal. Around the same time, he served on the boards of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD).
During his career, Curt Webster has represented many of the world’s leading entertainers and elite musicians, including Dolly Parton, Cindy Lauper, Randy Travis and Judds, among others . He is also the recipient of several industry awards such as the 2021 TELLY Award as a Georgia Rainy Night Consultant and the 2022 TELLY Award as producer of the Tyson Fury/Dillian Wright Heavyweight Championship Opening Ceremony. McLean has won the category in six races. He also served as executive producer of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountains Rise TV show, which won an Emmy Award.
in a recent interview macon county registerKirt answers questions about what motivates him, his goals for the future, and important lessons he’s learned in his career.
Q: What are you doing in the company now?
A: Since the COVID pandemic, the music and entertainment industry has become very focused on Zoom and technology, so my daily routine consists mostly of checking emails and making phone calls. Many face-to-face, day-to-day activities have moved to Zoom, but the same basic work is still being done. In addition to these activities, I work on branding deals for corporate clients and artists, and act as a marketing and touring consultant for several artists.
Q: What is the inspiration behind your business?
A: Working as a marketing and communications executive for over 25 years, I’ve seen every good manager and every bad manager do their jobs. When I say good managers vs bad managers, I mean some are proactive and some are reactive. Some are forward-thinking, others are barriers. Everyone has a different style of how they work, and I was able to sit down and observe all of them and see which ones worked. When I decided to start working in project management and consulting, I used the knowledge I gained from working with other firms and then asked myself what was the best style and method of getting things done. At the end of the day, clients only care about what you accomplish. Clients care about winning, so I strive for it every day.
Q: What defines the way you do business?
A: I think what sets me apart from a lot of people is that I’m bold, direct, and forthright. I get excited about good things, and I don’t sugarcoat bad news. I’m not going to try to make things go away that no one wants to hear. In the past, I was told that I was like sushi—meaning you either loved me or hated me. No one has to guess what I’m thinking anymore, which I believe is why I’m still on the other end of the line with a potential client.
Q: Tell us about a long-term goal in your career.
A: Honestly, I have achieved all my career goals. I’ve represented Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Country Music Hall of Famers, big theater stars, actors starting recording careers — I’ve done everything I set my mind to. Now, I’m in a position where I can help people grow their careers because I want to. In fact, this is what really allows me to be honest. I really don’t need anything from anyone anymore. I hear the words “you’re hired” just as well as “you’re fired.” I’m happy with both because I’m happy with the way I work.
Q: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your career?
A: Always be honest. I’ve always been honest, whether people like it or not. My reasoning is that there is no point in being dishonest, deceitful or evasive because the truth will always come out. Although people may doubt the truth at times, eventually they realize what is real and what is not.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who aspires to succeed in your field?
A: I never give advice, I give information. Everyone has an opinion, but having reliable, reliable information allows people to make their own judgments. So in answering this question, the information I would give to someone trying to break into the entertainment industry would be based specifically on what they want to accomplish and what I think they need to know. Define yourself and what you want, then go after it!
Q: How do you maintain a solid work-life balance?
A: For the first 25 years of my career, my whole life was work. Now, I go fishing, I go boating, and I visit people. I can still get work done, but I’m taking time for myself now and living life to the fullest because I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Over the past few years, I’ve started adding personal appointments to my calendar and it’s worked out really well.
Q: Who is your role model and why?
A: Early in my career, it was Merle Kilgore. He gave me my first very important position in the music industry representing Hank Williams, Jr. Merle and gave me a lot of advice on how the business works; what to pay attention to and who to pay attention to. I learned a lot from him and worked with him until his passing. For me, he was an incredible mentor.
Q: What’s the one piece of advice you’ll never forget?
A: Merle Kilgore once told me that “if a deal starts out squirrelly, it’s likely to get squirrelly.” Great start, then I’ll keep going.
Q: What does success look like in your eyes?
A: The most important thing for me is to remember that we are here to put a smile on people’s faces. I’m not curing cancer; I’m not a doctor or a lawyer. Those jobs are tough. It shouldn’t be hard for me to put a smile on someone else’s face. If we’re entertaining people and letting them leave their worries at home, then we’ve done our job. This is what success means to me.
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