Tennessee Whiskey the Musical

Tennessee Whiskey the Musical is a show about the rise of a songwriting icon, Dean Dillon, his personal struggles with alcoholism and drugs that almost ended his life, and his ultimate redemption and success. This is an emotional story told in a way that only country music can capture.

“Tears. Pure and simple [...] I just started crying. To think that a song I had written would be good enough for somebody to play on the radio was an amazing thought."

Dean Dillon says of hearing Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius’ “Lying In Love With You” on the radio. This song reached No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart and was just the beginning of Dillon's songwriting career.

A Sampling of Our Team's Award-Winning Projects

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Tennessee Whiskey— The Story

The show begins at a lavish awards ceremony with famous country music stars seen in an on-screen salute to Dean Dillon. When Dean himself is called to stage to accept the award, he becomes extremely emotional and begins to reminisce about his journey up to this special moment.

As he begins to remember his past, we are taken back in time to the late 1970’s when he was a young man, and follow his move to Nashville to escape an abusive household, his career ups and downs that cause a severe addiction to alcohol and drugs, his struggles with personal and professional relationships with his wife and famous individuals such as George Strait, his near suicide, and ultimately his successful attempt to restore his life that leads us back to the moment at the awards ceremony where we began.

Listen to Our Preliminary Demos from the Musical

These demos, arranged by Broadway Veteran Matt Hinkley and featuring Broadway Singers, show how these famous country songs are being utilized in the musical. Take a listen, and read a bit more bout the storyline along the way.

Creator Statement 

The show is much more than a typical jukebox musical — it’s a story of a lost soul finding
himself and surviving against all odds, with music that truly captures the soul of one America’s great songwriting artists. How lucky I am to be a part of sharing it.

And now we are, ready to present it to the world. I have no doubt that people will come to Tennessee Whiskey the Musical simply to enjoy the music they know and love. They will leave being moved by an incredible story that will last in their minds far beyond the music.

I hope you’ll join us in telling this story.

Our Team

From left to right: 

Dean Dillon (Songwriter/Producer)
Dewey Moss (Lead Producer/Book Writer)
Lisa Dozier King (Executive Producer/General Manager - LDK Productions)
Brooksie Wells (Producer)
Wildcatters Network (Producer)

Jonah Platt has been tapped to don the cowboy hat and the signature mustache of Country Songwriter Hall-of-Famer Dean Dillon in Tennessee Whiskey The Musical: The Story of Dean Dillon.

Platt is an actor, writer and musician that has appeared in the Tony Award-winning Wicked, as well as the Los Angeles revival of Bare and the Hollywood Bowl’s production of Hair. On television, Platt has appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Parenthood, The Office, and Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert.

He has also worked on the writing staff of Family Guy and Parks and Recreation. He is currently a co-writer/music supervisor/executive producer of ZOMBO, an in-development undead musical TV adventure.

Why this Story?

The journey is told with humor, emotion, and a great spirit of survival against the backdrop of famous songs that are part of the fabric of an entire generation of country music fans. It is a universal story that is sure to deeply affect not only country music lovers, but anyone who enjoys a story of the human spirit and redemption against all odds.

How We Make Money

Listen to Dean Dillon Sing "Umbrella Song" at the Kick-Off Event for Tennessee Whiskey the Musical in NYC