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Dressed for success

When you're 11 years old and have called southern Illinois home your entire life, an after-school drive to Marion for some new clothes might be a big deal.

Young country singer and yodeler Mason Ramsey might need the duds, given his past week: He was a guest on "The Ellen Show" in Los Angeles; gave a mini-concert before a large crowd of hometown folks and fans at the Harrisburg Walmart; made a live performance on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville; and shared the stage with the likes of Beyoncé and Justin Bieber at the wildly popular Coachella music festival in California.

Ramsey, of Golconda, was in Marion late Wednesday afternoon, where he was being gifted several pairs of Wrangler jeans and Durango boots that McKinney's Western Store presented him on behalf of the two manufacturers.

Owner Rick McKinney explained, "We got calls from Wrangler and Durango asking me to provide him with new clothes to perform in. So, we contacted his family and we're thrilled to be able to do this."

If you missed Ramsey's recent televised or online performances, you can actually catch him performing live soon in Akin, east of Benton.

On Saturday afternoon, May 5, he'll perform at Williford's Blacktop Stop, a roadside cafe that owner Cody Williford says draws diners from throughout southern Illinois, adding, "I'm thrilled to have Mason come and sing at our place."

It won't be Mason's last performance either, according to his grandfather, Ernest.

"They liked him so much at the Grand Ole Opry that they want him to come back again soon," he said.

Marion western wear store owner Rick McKinney lays out four pairs of Wrangler jeans and some Durango boots for mason Ramsey to try on. Ceasar Maragni photo