Ronda Rich

Syndicated Columnist

When Gunnar Nelson opened the door of his beautiful home, even before I had reached the top step of the porch, and greeted me cheerfully with a big hug, I felt I was being embraced by family. I was there to interview Gunnar and his twin, Matthew, about them and their famous family. It was our first meeting but they quickly became family.

Similarly, when the popular Isaacs family, composed of Mama Miss Lily, brother, Ben, and sisters Becky and Sonya, had been introduced to us by a mutual friend, Cindy, Tink and I felt same. New members of our family.

“You have to read our new book,” Matthew said suddenly, after arriving, jumping up to grab a pre-copy. It was months before “What Happened To Your Hair?” was scheduled to come out from Simon and Schuster.

I shook my head. “I’ll read it when it publishes.”

The guys then explained that each had written his own chapter about the day that Ricky Nelson, their adored father, had perished in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1985. As with our friendship with the Isaacs, the relationship progressed quickly. Their mother, Kris, was once married to Tink’s brother and their uncle, television star Mark Harmon, grew up in television with the Tinker family.

Feeling that our Isaacs family should meet our Nelson family (the twins are grandsons of iconic Ozzie and Harriett Nelson), I went to work arranging it.

“Overstepping,” is what Tink calls it. But, ignoring him, I pressed on.

One night, in a Nashville suburb, the two superbly talented families came together and produced a night of such startling magic that I frequently held my breath. Guitars were pulled out and blood harmonies – a sound created only by people who share the same DNA – twinkled like crystal through Becky’s living room.

Each Isaacs or a couple or the entire family sang, switching off with the platinum awarded twins – known as Nelson – who sang their hits then stunned us with their quicker, versions of their dad’s (they call him Pop the way Ricky called Ozzie) biggest hits such as “Garden Party,” “Traveling Man,” “Hello Mary Lou” and others.

Adding to the stars’ light was Jimmy Yeary, Sonya’s husband, who is one of Nashville’s most successful songwriters. He won every award possible for a song called “I Drive Your Truck,” a heart-tugging ode to a brother killed in battle.

During a slight pause, I asked quietly, “Jimmy, will you please sing ‘I Call Mama’?”

Tim McGraw, a strong admirer of Jimmy’s, had taken that song to number one. For those of us who had a good Mama, it rings powerfully true. After learning that a friend died an untimely death, the singer grabs a Coke, a beef jerky, then goes to sit down by the river and reflect. After a bit, he dials a number and hears the smile when his Mama realizes it’s her baby.

Jimmy is soulful. He feels deeply so he writes and sings deeply. As the room, again, held its breath, he sang and a few times, his mournful eyes met mine and I wiped away a tear or two.

As we drove away that night, both Tink and I were speechless. The music had authenticity in harmony haunted us into complete silence. Much later, Tink whispered, “That was magic.”

I nodded. “What a privilege.” It turns out that the nudge that pushed me to bring those families together was also in perfect harmony. They became friends quickly and will write or work together. Or both.

The next night, Tink, Gunnar and I watched from the wings of the Grand Ole Opry stage while Matthew stayed home to be a dutiful father like he was taught by his Pop. The Isaacs ended the Opry show with three songs, finishing a cappella with Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration.”

Everyone backstage froze in disbelief at the astounding, powerful harmony. It was angelic.

It, too, was magical but not any better than the previous night when the Nelsons had also performed.

We had all become family. In harmony.

Gunnar and Matthew Nelson’s “What Happened To Your Hair?” is available from independent booksellers and online stores.