Two Owensboro musicians — fiddler Parker Malone and bluegrass instructor Randy Lanham — said they’re still soaking in the surreal experience of performing inside the White House, where they shared acoustic Christmas tunes earlier this week as part of the annual holiday tour.
The duo played a two-hour set during the December 7 White House Christmas Open House. They were the only musical act scheduled during the Sunday morning tour window, meaning their performance greeted every guest walking through the historic estate’s largest reception room.
“It was just so stinking cool,” Lanham said. “We played between two massive Christmas trees, and they had a digital display that said, ‘Welcome to the White House’ with our names. It felt surreal.”
Malone called the decorations incredible and said what struck him most was the sheer amount of history contained within the walls of the White House.
“There’s just so much packed into everything,” he said. “All the Christmas trees were real, and it was just such a cool experience. I feel really, really grateful, especially getting to do it at my age.”
Malone, who is homeschooled and plays regularly with Lanham in nursing homes and at the Lanham Brothers Jamboree, said he never imagined something like this would come from learning the fiddle.
“I started playing just for fun. I never thought something like this would happen,” he said. “It kind of caught me off guard.”
The duo was invited to perform after Lanham submitted an application earlier this year, highlighting their experience as musicians and their passion for serving others through music. The performance was unpaid, and each covered their own travel expenses.
Upon arrival, both families spent time sightseeing and touring D.C. landmarks, including the National Holocaust Museum and Arlington National Cemetery, which Lanham described as a holy space.
“Until you walk through there and see the rows and rows of headstones, you can’t understand the weight of it,” he said.
Security was tight, as expected. At one point, Lanham said the Secret Service raised concerns over the batteries in his guitar. Once cleared, the group was led into the White House and allowed to warm up in what staff called the First Lady’s room, where portraits of past first ladies lined the walls.
“That in itself was crazy. I mean, we were just in there tuning our instruments and looking around at this history,” Lanham said. “It was hard to wrap our heads around it all.”
Both musicians were joined by family members. Malone’s mother, grandfather, and younger brother John Carson made the trip.
“My granddad said it was the most fun he’s had in most of his life,” Malone said. “My brother loved flying and all the museums. They were all just in awe once we got into the White House.”
The crowd, made up of White House staff and their families, rotated in small groups throughout the building during the tour. One group stayed to watch nearly half of the performance.
Lanham said the Secret Service even requested songs, including a performance of O Holy Night that Malone played on the spot.
“She was mouthing along as she watched the room,” Lanham said. “It was just a moment we won’t forget.”
Their set list blended traditional carols like Silent Night with upbeat favorites like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Blue Christmas. Lanham said he enjoyed balancing faith-based songs with fun, sing-along tunes.
He said the most meaningful part was sharing the experience with others — both in D.C. and back home.
“I just wanted Owensboro to feel like a part of it,” Lanham said. “We hope we represented the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World well.”
Malone said the opportunity was unforgettable, but it hasn’t changed his long-term goals. He still hopes to become a luthier — someone who builds and repairs string instruments — and said touring life isn’t something he’s interested in.
Malone continues to perform with his band the Blue Bridge Boys and remains active in local music and teaching. He encouraged anyone wanting to hear more of the music from their trip to come to the next Lanham Brothers Jamboree show.
