Mason Ramsey, the viral Walmart yodeling kid, lives in Athens

Mason Ramsey, the viral yodeling sensation who first gained worldwide attention in 2018 with his performance of Hank Williams' “Lovesick Blues” in a Walmart, is coming to Athens for a live show at the Georgia Theater on September 21.

Ramsey hails from Golconda, Illinois, a small town of about 700 people, and his journey from viral video star to dedicated country singer-songwriter has been nothing short of remarkable.

The 17-year-old says that his grandfather introduced him to singing his favorite songs since he was three years old.

“My grandfather was the one who got me into music. He always played and sang Hank Williams songs everywhere we went,” Ramsey said. “He's honestly my biggest inspiration. And the reason why this whole thing is going the way it is.”

His rise to fame began in 2018 and 2019 when his Walmart performance went viral, but those early years were just the beginning. During his COVID hiatus, he spent quality time with his family and honed his songwriting skills.