Charles Esten covers Lee Brice’s “Boy,” live at the Grand Ole Opry.
CMT’s Nashville is set to premiere its final eight episodes on June 7, but we’re giving you a taste of what’s to come musically with a performance from Charles Esten, who plays the handsome country singer Deacon Claybourne on the show.
But first, a little background on the multitalented Pittsburgh-born entertainer who sings and acts and even does comedy (you might have seen his regular appearances on the improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway between 1999 and 2005).
Before making a name for himself in entertainment, Esten’s very first aspiration in life already indicated he wanted to make people smile and feel good: He told his dad he wanted to grow up to become a clown.
Esten played football in high school for the same team and under the same coach whose true story was portrayed in Remember the Titans. He studied economics at William and Mary, where he sang and played rhythm guitar in a band called N’est Pas, and where he met his future wife, with whom he has three children. Their daughter Addie survived childhood leukemia, and Esten is now national chairman for the annual Light the Night Walks, a fundraiser that benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
In his professional life, he’s further developed his acting and singing chops and charismatic stage presence during his turn as Deacon Claybourne. That role comes to an end with the sixth and final season of the show, which returns on June 7 and wraps on July 26.
But while Nashville might be finishing its run, Esten’s career certainly isn’t. And we’re certainly looking forward to whatever comes next.
Recently, Esten made a pit stop at the Grand Ole Opry, a regular location for him and for the show. Watch his fun cover of Lee Brice’s hit song “Boy” below.
For more information on Charles Esten and his upcoming tour dates, visit his website.
Read our cover story on Esten from the October 2015 issue.