Nashville Star Experiences the Joy of Authentically Maine Shoe Shop

Country star Dillon Carmichael is on fire with his current "Drinkin' Problems" on the national charts.  He was on tour with mega-star Luke Combs this year, and not taking any of this for granted.

The star played an acoustic show at the Portsmouth Music Hall Lounge on Congress Street in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with 97.5 WOKQ.  Dillon was gracious to do a meet-and-greet for all the folks who came out to the show.

One by one, fans lined up to meet Dillon.  He was kind and grateful to everyone. There was one person he distinctly remembers.  Here's the story, as Dillon told it to me.

Paul Healey is the Managing Partner of Quoddy, Inc., a well-known Maine shoe company. He happened to be in the audience that night, introduced himself to the singer/songwriter, and the pair chatted about music.  At one point, Dillon pointed down to Paul's shoes and said, "Man, I like those shoes".  Paul answered, "I made them, I'm a shoemaker."

Dillon perked up at this point, because the next thing Paul said was, "I'll send you some."  The singer said how he loved that type of shoe, and how his father, Matthew, always wore Quoddy shoes when Dillon was growing up.

So, Paul said, "I'll send a pair for your dad, too."

Sure enough, six weeks later, the shoes arrived, and fit perfectly.  Dillon says that when he's not wearing his cowboy boots on stage, he is wearing his dark brown suede Quoddy's.

He adds, "They have great products and great service", so next time he's in Maine, I think he'll have to visit the factory.  And that's how the songwriter and the shoemaker are making everyone around them happy.