The Cast

Donna Meade is a former Mercury-Polygram recording artist and a member of Virginia’s Country Music Hall of Fame. A singer, musician and songwriter since age 14, Donna was a cast member of the 1973 revival of the Old Dominion Barn Dance.

In 1981 she moved to Nashville and soon began appearing on local and national TV, while headlining in the World Famous Stockyard’s Bullpen Lounge. In 1989, Donna landed a recording contract with Mercury-Polygram Records and was signed as a songwriter with the prestigious music publisher Sony/Tree. While appearing on The Nashville Now Show starring Ralph Emery, the rising star and New Female Vocalist of the Year nominee met her future husband Jimmy Dean. For over two decades they resided in Richmond, performing & writing songs together & traveling the world promoting Jimmy Dean Foods.

Since Dean’s passing in 2010, Donna is enjoying performing again as well as producing the Old Dominion Barn Dance. She is the writer of the Barn Dance theme, and her childhood sweetheart and husband of 8 years, Jayson Stevens, serves as production manager. Donna is proud to revive and preserve Virginia’s venerable country music show by presenting the best in traditional country and Bluegrass entertainment, and is honored to be serving as hostess!

Lynne Carnes has thrilled audiences with her beautiful and powerful voice since the 1980s. From her beginnings as a background singer with her brother Bobby, she ultimately became the lead vocalist of her family’s band and one of Richmond’s most talented and popular country music vocalists.

Lynne continues to perform in private venues in the Richmond, VA area, and the Old Dominion Barn Dance is proud to present her a member of its regular cast.

A native of Hampton, VA, Lee Blasingame is a multi-talented comedian, singer, voice over artist and master of ceremonies. He has been singing as long as he can remember, beginning with gospel groups touring churches in Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As a comedian he was a member of the 1990’s cast of the Old Dominion Opry in Williamsburg, VA, where he portrayed numerous characters while also being a featured vocalist and emcee.

Lee’s professional credits also include performing at Busch Gardens and Nashville’s Opryland, where he appeared in the production of “Music, Music, Music” with country music legend Brenda Lee. As a voice over artist he has given voice to feature-length animated movies for the Christian Broadcast Network, and has appeared on TV’s The New Detectives and The Forensic Files. The Barn Dance is pleased to present such a talented fellow!

Featured vocalist Danny Menzies is a veteran of several of our area’s country bands, most notably the famed Menzies Family Band. With his mom Janet and sister Bobbie, he began performing at the age of 5, making his first appearance on stage at the legendary New Dominion Barn Dance in the late 1950s.
Danny’s rich traditional country roots were a huge influence on his music, and he enjoys singing the hits of legendary singers like Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins and Buck Owens. Danny always brings a classic song to life on the Barn Dance stage and we’re always proud to show him off!

As the youngest member of our cast, Daniel Menzies has always had a warm place in his heart for traditional country music. Exposed to it from birth by his dad and the area’s popular performing group The Menzies Family, hymns, Bluegrass and country songs have always been his favorites. 

The only child of the Barn Burners’ featured vocalist Danny Menzies, Daniel made his 1st stage appearance to rousing reviews when he opened for country legend Bill Anderson on the Barn Dance in 2016. He told his Dad he is blessed to sing with him and the Barn Burners and carry on the Menzies tradition, and all of us at the Barn Dance believe we have a rising star on our hands.

Introducing our Cloggers! An American Folk Dance ensemble gathered specifically for the Old Dominion Barn Dance, whose cloggers have individually danced nationally and internationally. Independently they have achieved many clogging awards, and their combined talent has a reputation for American clog excellence. Most recently they took 1st place as champions of the 2018 North Carolina State Fair competition.

The team consists of leader and choreographer Shamus Riley, along with Leia Dotson, AnnMarie Knight, Liam Riley, Gary Sweezy, Jamie Lynn Robinson, Harrison Storms and Sarah Wollett-Poole. The Barn Dance is proud to present this exciting group of talented dancers!

(left to right)

RYLAND TINNELL – STEEL GUITAR/MUSIC DIRECTOR
BOB LAWLER – RHYTHM GUITAR
AUDIE STANLEY – BASS GUITAR
DANNY MENZIES – DRUMS 
J. W. BELDEN – KEYBOARDS

The Barn Burners consist of some of Central Virginia’s most talented musicians. Legendary steel guitarist Ryland Tinnell, a member of Virginia’s Country Music Hall of Fame, is the band’s music director, and a long-time veteran of Teenie Chenault’s band the Country Rockers. The word ‘dynamic’ describes our keyboard player, J.W. Belden, also a multi-talented musician who hails from a Grammy Award-winning family. Bass guitar player Audie Stanley is formerly with the Robbin Thompson band and a member of the area’s popular group Honky Tonk Heroes. Playing drums for the band is our former rhythm guitarist, the versatile Danny Menzies. Danny is a veteran on the drums and is one of our featured vocalists. And the newest member of the Barn Burners is super musician Bob Lawler, who plays rhythm and lead guitars, as well as banjo, mandolin, and drums.

Together these guys are hard-working and dedicated to bringing the best music possible to the Barn Dance, and we are proud to have such an amazing group as our staff band. With so many hot musicians the Barn Burners are sure to burn the house down!

Barn Dance Fiddler Diane Hossinger is known for her powerful and energetic fiddle playing.  Originally from Newport News, VA, and classically trained from the age of 9, she began performing country music in 2008 and hasn’t looked back.

Diane began her professional career performing at Busch Gardens and has since performed along the East Coast and in Bermuda.  She has spent the past several years entertaining audiences with her fiddle playing and background vocals in Richmond based band, Harley Boone.  Diane is the newest member of our cast and says she is honored to be a part of the Old Dominion Barn Dance.

Adam would say he has a face for radio – lol! You may not know his face, but his voice likely accompanied you along the Stress-Free Ride Home, afternoons on Richmond’s top ranked Lite 98 for 16 years, as a member of Country Radio station K95 for 4 years and as a guest personality on Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville! 

In addition to his work as one of Richmond’s most popular on-air radio personalities, Adam also served as those station’s Promotions/Events/Marketing Director, hosting, promoting and fundraising for many local community organizations and national organizations including the American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen For The Cure, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and many more. 

Adam was honored with the Richmond Broadcasters Hall of Fame 2003 Broadcaster of the Year Award and Clear Channel Communications 2008 National Performance Excellence Award. Hard to believe, but Adam was a member of the RichmondInternational Folk Dance Club & Youth Dancers and 1st Flute in the Thomas H. Henderson Middle School Band in the 70’s! Celebrating music and artistic traditions is Adam’s true passion!!! 

He is currently a Marketing Specialist for the Comcast Corporation and Marketing/PR guy for The Beacon Theatre, and the Barn Dance is proud to have him on board as its 2019 host and emcee. Welcome Adam!