Country music artist Daryl Worley says a 2002 Sergeant Major of the Army “Freedom and Hope” tour changed his life. During the tour, Worely accompanied the Sergeant Major on daily “short hops” to visit and perform for troops serving in the field at forward operating base and command posts.
He calls it “One of the most surreal experiences of my life.” Worley would continue to participate in those tours for over a decade, sometimes twice per year.
That first visit inspired him to compose “Have We Forgotten”, a song about the 9/11 attacks. It would spend seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard Country Singles charts. It was also nominated as both the Song of the Year and Single of the Year from the Country Music Association.
Worley has become one of the most military supportive country music artists in the industry.
We discuss his next project, the “Awful Beautiful Life Luxury Tiny Home Resort” outside of Fort Rucker near Enterprise, Alabama. The project is the brainstorm of his friend Ronnie Gilley. Fort Rucker is home to the U.S. Army Aviation Center for Excellence and graduates a flight class every two weeks. However, there are very few short-term facilities nearby to accommodate soldiers or visiting families.
The first phase will include 75 units and Worley calls it a “two-for-one” benefit for the military. It will address the need for short-term lodging while also delivering an affordable home ownership option for military personnel. The resort’s four hundred square foot homes come complete with all amenities and will be available for purchase or short-term rental.
Worley comes from a long line of military members and he considered joining, but “At the time there wasn’t really much going on.” Instead, he took some time off before applying to Medical School. During that break he pitched some of his songs and his country career was born. Worley has made six albums that have produced 18 singles on the Billboard Hot County songs charts.
Worley is also the founder of the Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center at the Hardin Medical Center in Savannah, Tennessee.