Songwriter Lola Jean Dillon Celebration Set For Celina

Clay County will celebrate local songwriter Lola Jean Dillon Saturday night with a concert featuring many hit records that she wrote.

Courthouse Curator Thomas Watson said Dillon grew up in Moss, and owned a barber shop before moving to Nashville to pursue her passion for songwriting. He said while answering phones for Loretta Lynn, Dillon wrote the song “When the Tingle Becomes the Chill.” Lynn recorded the song and it hit number two on the charts. Watson said many do not realize how many of their country favorites can be credited to Dillon’s writing.

“We’re just trying to introduce some of the music that folks haven’t heard on, you know, top hit radio and let people know about her,” Watson said. “You know, a lot of people in the county here don’t realize that she actually is a citizen here and how famous she is.”

Watson said the show will include performances from some of Dillon’s relatives and close friends. He said musicians will play some of her most memorable songs, as well as songs that many have not heard. He said tickets are available for the 7:00 show at the county’s newly renovated theatre.

“One of the main headliners of this show is that Cherokee Upton and Alex McClaren will be doing a complete set of her songs that they have worked up,” Watson said. “Single and duets that they’ve worked up and that’s going to complete the show.”

He said with so many people moving into Clay County, many new residents are not aware of the impact Dillon has had on country music and her hometown. Watson said when he asks people if they know of Dillon and they do not, he lists songs she wrote, many of which turn out to be people’s favorites that they did not realize began with Dillon’s pen.

“One of the more famous songs that she did, a lot of people have heard a comedy version of ‘You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly,’ by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn,” Watson said. “But it was actually recorded a few years ago by Vince Gill and Lady Gaga, so she kind of spans the gambit of all different kinds of music.”

He said “Spring Fever,” “Somebody Somewhere,” and “I’ve Lived My Life” are some of Dillon’s other most well-known works.