brother found their father's drums in the attic. He and his brother were always hamming it up from a young age and have never been afraid of a stage.

"We've got something in us, a talent that came naturally to us, and are truly gifted in us from the good Lord," Meekins reported.

Because their father left them when they were nine, people were generous to the boys and gave them guitars as a means of support.  He explained, "After that, it just evolved into bands in middle and high school, and garage bands and things of that nature. Then that developed into writing, and then that developed into performing and things of that nature, honing your performance skills and all that."

After years of touring and playing honky-tonks, fairs, and festivals, while everything from rock to Motown and pop, it was always country music that Meekins connected with the most.

They were good enough that they started attracting investors who put up money for them to come to Nashville and record. That connection inspired him and his wife, Tonya, to move to Nashville, where they and their daughter, Carlie, have lived for 24 years now.

For a while, Meekins filled in as a frontman in a band in an interim position, which turned into a two-year gig. He recalled, "I was tired and at that point in my life, I did not want to be a full-time touring musician."

To support himself early on, Meekins became a painting contractor at the age of 19 while in Chesapeake and continues the work locally, now owning a successful remodeling business in Middle Tennessee. "I learned how to run a business through the 'School of Hard Knocks,'" he jested.

However, in 2020, he almost died from COVID-19. Meekins then made a promise to God and himself to pursue music again with an added focus. He is back singing live. And not only that, his financial success has also allowed him to "pay it forward" by gifting guitars to those in need, just as someone did for him when he was a child.

Since that time, Meekins has released several singles that showcase his artistry. Released in 2023, the upbeat "Let it Go" reminds us that there will always be chores to do, and sometimes you need to let it go and spend time with your person and/or family.

Meekins' songwriting prowess shows in the song, "A Color for Lonely." It is based on situations he has encountered in his painting/remodeling business. It may be a widow or divorcee who needs to paint the house to sell or move on with their life. Sometimes, when walls are repainted and homes are updated, it is not a joyous occasion.

Meekins, who calls himself a "bold Christian," wrote the song "So I Lied" with his pal Greg Pope. He stated, "We all do it without even thinking." Like when his daughter was going away to college, she asked, "Are you going to be alright?" and he lied, saying he was going to be okay, when he was really torn up inside. You say what you need to calm the fear in the other person.

Told him 3rd person, I was sure that "Pirate" was written about Meekin's dad. The words even say Captain Morgan was a friend/ He was Buffett's biggest fan/ That's the legend of my dad. But he explained, "I wrote that song through the eyes of my daughter. The pirate is me. The idea came from one of our favorite places, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which was close to my hometown of Chesapeake. We stayed at a place called Pirate's Cove. We were out there on a pontoon boat with my wife and daughter, and the sun was going down, and I thought, "I do party like a pirate, but I'm going to love you like Jesus."

At the end of the song, the pirate dies, and when his wife heard it for the first time, she started bawling. She stated, "I didn't realize you died in this song. This is terrible."

Meekins sheepishly confessed, "That's what you do if you're a songwriter. If you got her crying, you did your job."

Meekins' most popular and most meaningful song is called "Pebble," a song about the ripple effect. The song emphasizes the impact one can have in the world through simple acts of kindness. It is very much in step with the way Meekins lives his life. He has an optimistic view of the world and enjoys giving back.

In fact, Meekins has given away over 65 guitars in the past couple of years, usually at music festivals, racetracks, and rodeos, where he performs the National Anthem. Most recently, he's given a guitar to the Virginia Beach Chapter of Guitars 4 Vets.

Known for fusing contemporary and traditional country music with his signature wrap-around voice and optimistic tone, Meekins has won fans of all ages. He's never been so excited to share his stories and music.

Now in his mid-50s, Meekins realizes it is improbable that he will be signed to a major record label. For the most part, he is a weekend warrior singing locally. But he knows God has given him a gift of writing and singing, and when we listen to his original music, we are blessed alongside him.

"I've done a lot of living since I started making music," Meekins said. "These days, what drives me is touching people's hearts with honest words or inspiring someone to do what they were born to do —whenever they get the chance to do it."

Look for a new EP to be released next spring and follow Meekins on his social media to see if he is playing in a town near you.  

Follow Carl Wayne Meekins on his website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.