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Virginia roots. Nashville dreams. And a bass-baritone voice made for country music.

At just 26, Grayson Walsh is building his place in Nashville with a sound that blends traditional country storytelling, neon-bar energy and a little cinematic heartbreak. Raised in Glen Allen, Virginia, Grayson went from singing in choir to performing with JMU’s Exit 245, studying opera, writing his own music and eventually packing up for Music City to chase the career he knew he wanted.

Grayson joins Johni and Jess to talk about finding his sound, why heartbreak has been pretty good for his songwriting career, and the reality of trying to stand out in a city overflowing with talent. He takes us behind songs including “Fall In Fall Out,” “I-81” and “New Pontoon,” shares how an unexpected connection landed him an opportunity to perform at a VIP pre-show event for Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour, and gives us a preview of what he's working toward next.

He also gets very real about what it actually takes to make it in Nashville: showing up, staying determined and refusing to change your musical identity just to please someone else. And, because this is The Hook, we also uncover the important stuff — including his Diet Dr. Pepper obsession, inability to throw a football, and a level of Marvel fandom that includes Captain America pajamas.

And when you hear what Grayson considers the ultimate sign that he's finally “made it,” you might understand exactly why we're excited to see where this story goes next.

Find & Follow Grayson Walsh

Instagram & TikTok: @GraysonWalshOfficial

Listen to Grayson Walsh on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music.

Grayson says to start with “New Pontoon” — then, after you “run through a wall,” follow it up with “Fall In Fall Out.”

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Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess. This is where music, art, and passion come together. We sit down with musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries to discover the moment they got hooked, the stories that shaped them, and the journeys that followed. Our mission is to give independent artists a voice.

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The Hook with Johni & Jess — Where passion begins with a moment.

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What happens when film, music and storytelling become more than entertainment — and start bringing people together?

This week on The Hook, Johni and Jess sit down with Heather Waters, Founder and Producer of the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF), as the festival celebrates its 15th anniversary September 22–27.

Heather takes us inside the incredible story of RIFF — from launching the festival just one week after moving to Richmond to building it into an international event featuring 180+ films from 30 countries and 60 events. She also introduces Lightmakers, her newest venture using music, film and dialogue to build bridges across cultures and borders.

We get into the story behind this year’s theme, “Story Is Our Blueprint,” the films and experiences you won’t want to miss, and the special Lightmakers pre-launch featuring panels, a VIP mixer and live music from Rodney the Soul Singer, Kyle Davis, The Joey Davis Band, plus appearances from Elana Lisa.

Heather also opens up about her own unexpected path — from performing and touring to filmmaking, international relations and peacebuilding — and how the pieces that once seemed completely unrelated ultimately led her exactly where she was supposed to be.

🎬 Richmond International Film Festival
September 22–27, 2026

🎟️ View the festival schedule & purchase tickets/passes:
riff.aventive.org

🎥 Learn more about RIFF:
RVAfilmfestival.com

From red carpets and international films to live music and conversations that cross borders, this is a look at the woman behind one of Richmond’s biggest arts events — and what she’s building next.

Heather Waters, you’re on The Hook.

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Thank you for listening to The Hook with Johni & Jess.
This is where we talk to musicians, artists, creators, and visionaries about the moment they got hooked—and the journey that followed.

Learn more about our guests, watch episode highlights, and explore more stories at:
https://www.johniandjess.com

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The Hook with Johni & Jess — where passion begins with a moment.