Owensboro-based vocalist and songwriter Jeremy Calloway is gearing up for a major hometown moment this week, combining a Christmas benefit concert in Utica with the release of what he calls the strongest project of his career. His “Joyful Noise Christmas Edition” performance is set for Saturday at Hilton Farms in Utica, backed by a Grammy-winning band and benefiting the Friends of Sinners Women’s Program.
Calloway said the opportunity to support FOS felt natural, rooted in years of personal connections with Owensboro’s worship community.
“When I was leading worship at Christ Community, they would always have the Friends of Sinners folks join us on Saturday nights,” he said. “I was always just taken with their enthusiasm, the program, what their outreach was doing, the difference it was making in our community. When Dana Pearl from Hilton Farms reached out and offered me the chance to do the benefit for them, of course I was thrilled.”
The event will feature opening act The Rosine Sound followed by a 60-75 minute show from Calloway and a band assembled by acclaimed Nashville musician and producer Mark Fain.
“The music is going to be off the charts,” Calloway said. “It’s first-class across the board. Award-winning musicians. It’s going to be fantastic.”
The benefit also marks the exclusive release of physical CDs for Calloway’s new project, Christmas Memories Unlocked, which is out now on all digital platforms. The six-song EP leans into a classic holiday aesthetic he describes as “a Dean Martin–Bing Crosby type vibe,” complete with a remake of Elvis Presley’s If Every Day Was Like Christmas.
Calloway has a personal connection to that track. Years ago, he provided background vocals for Christmas Duets, the 2008 Elvis Presley project that paired the late icon’s recordings with artists like Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, and Wynonna.
Because of that history, he brought in members of Southern Sound — an old quartet he once sang with — to recreate a vintage Imperials-style background vocal. He also invited Larry Strickland, longtime member of Elvis’ touring group and husband of the late Naomi Judd, to sing the bass line.
“Having a guy that did over a thousand live shows with Elvis singing on my record is pretty cool,” Calloway said.
The EP was recorded at Hilltop Recording Studio in Nashville and produced by Fain. Calloway said the album reflects both nostalgia and faith.
“Christmas has always been my favorite time of year,” he said. “There’s a certain magic in the air. Maybe it’s because this season invites us to hold the memories of loved ones a little closer. Whatever Christmas means to you, I hope these songs stir something familiar — a smile, maybe a tear — and remind you of what makes this season truly special.”
The Dec. 6 event runs from 4-7 p.m. at Hilton Farms, 3695 Belltown Road, Utica. Tickets are available at jeremycalloway.com, with a large portion of proceeds benefiting the Friends of Sinners Women’s Program. Along with music from the new EP, Calloway plans to perform several selections from his earlier “Feeling Good” album, a throwback to the American Songbook.
He said his goal is simple: fill the venue, celebrate Christmas early, and support an organization he believes is changing lives.
“It’s early enough in the evening that people won’t be out late,” he said. “Whatever we can do to build that place up would be fantastic.”
Calloway is also preparing a year-long music campaign called “Dancing in the Kitchen,” releasing a series of classic-styled singles he describes as “Kenny Rogers meets Tony Bennett … Don Williams meets Frank Sinatra.” His team, led by Be Noticed Media, is actively seeking selective bookings for 2026.
But for now, his focus is on celebrating the season and giving back where his musical journey began.
“Being from here, Owensboro has always been part of everything I’ve done,” he said. “This is a chance to bring something special home and help a great program continue its outreach to the women of Owensboro and the surrounding area.”
