Country and gospel singer Susie McEntire performed for an audience during a free “Country Christmas” concert Saturday at Lakeview Middle School.
This was the sixth year for the concert that benefits Toys for Tots.
McEntire said she got acquainted with past fair board president Mike Loher and he asked her to perform at the Kosciusko County Fair.
“And then he said we’d like to do this for Toys for Tots and do you do much Christmas songs,” said McEntire. She replied she had a Christmas album and would love to come back during Christmastime.
“He kept asking us to come back,” said McEntire.
Her husband, Mark Eaton, who is a theologian and public speaker, said the couple come back because of Loher, who gets all the sponsors together.
“And he calls us and tells us, ‘let’s make it happen again,’” said Eaton.
The 1-1/2 hour concert benefited the local Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. Audience members were asked to bring a new, unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots, which collected 11 boxes of toys for the organization Saturday. Over the previous five years, Toys for Tots has collected $30,000 worth of toys.
“I don’t know how many toys we’ve given away, but to me, it’s the giving of the gift and not exactly the gift that makes all the difference,” McEntire said during the concert. “I mean, for someone to think of a child who may have lots of stuff – and stuff doesn’t really matter – it’s the heart of the one who gives that matters the most. And that’s what this Christmas season is all about. It’s about the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who came to Earth as a baby, born on Christmas Day – the greatest gift of all.”
She said Christmas gifts are supposed to be used, but they aren’t always because of fear of losing or breaking the gift.
“This Christmas, the gifts can go away, but what you do for others and the love you give out to your loved ones never goes away,” she said.
During the concert, McEntire sang songs like “Let It Snow,” “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” She also sang a couple of songs with Eaton.
Warsaw Christian School Choir sang “Joy to the World” and Class Act Dance Troupe performed several dances. McEntire sang “Jingle Bell Rock” while Class Act Dance Troupe danced onstage, and Warsaw Christian School Choir sang on the sides of the stage with McEntire.
During the concert, McEntire also shared stories about her sister, country music legend Reba McEntire, and she and her husband also shared other tidbits, such as they celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day Saturday, McEntire visited the inmates in the Jail Chemical Addiction Program at the Kosciusko County Jail.
“I think it went well,” said McEntire. “I told them a little bit about my story, and Mark told his, and then he gave them a little bit of a teaching that he felt would help them. We were well received and we’re hoping and praying it speaks to the guys.”
When asked what she meant by “her story,” McEntire said she was raised in southeastern Oklahoma on a cattle ranch. Her father was a rancher and a roper.
“My momma made sure that us kids got the opportunity to be able to sing,” she said. “We worked really hard on the ranch and we learned responsibility and we learned to sing on stage.”
She was also at Leesburg United Methodist Church at 9 a.m. Sunday for a sermon and more singing.
Sponsors for “A Country Christmas” included Allegra Print & Imaging, Bailey Moore Foundation, Bishop Farms, Everest Excavating, Grossnickle Eye Center, Leesburg United Methodist Church, Lewis Salvage, Oldies 101.1, Oswego Mini Mart, Rabb Kinetico Water Systems, Robinson Construction, The Car Company, Times-Union, Willie 103.5, Ink Free News and Windstar Park.
