Old Dominion lead singer Matthew Ramsey and guitarist Brad Tursi perform for sailors and their families on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
A Nashville, Tennessee-based country band held a concert and shot a music video on board the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford Tuesday night.
The band, called Old Dominion in honor of the members’ ties to Virginia, formed in 2007 and has reached great heights since. Its members have written songs for some of country music’s biggest stars including Keith Urban, Blake Shelton and Kenny Chesney, and just this month they were named Group of the Year by the Academy of Country Music for the sixth time.
The families and friends of sailors were invited onto the ship to enjoy the show. The concert and music video are part of their promotion of their new single, “Coming Home.”
Sailors danced with their friends and loved ones while the band played a handful of their most popular songs before shifting to filming the music video.
“It’s one of the few opportunities we have to bring the families of the crew members aboard and show their pride in your own ship,” said USS Gerald R. Ford commanding officer Rick Burgess. “And getting to see what your spouse or partner does on a day to day and have it in this venue is really meaningful to sailors.”
Commanding officer Rick Burgess leads the country music band Old Dominion onto the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford for a concert and to film a music video at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Country music band Old Dominion performs for sailors and their families on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Old Dominion lead singer Matthew Ramsey performs for sailors and their families on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Audience members listen to country music band Old Dominion on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Country music band Old Dominion performs for sailors and their families on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Petty officer first class James Horner III dances with his son James while his wife Kyleigh dances with son Sawyer as country music band Old Dominion performs on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Old Dominion lead singer Matthew Ramsey and guitarist Brad Tursi perform for sailors and their families on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Country music band Old Dominion and commanding officer Rick Burgess arrive on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford via aircraft elevator at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
A video camera passes in front of the brow of the ship as country music band Old Dominion performs and films a music video on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Petty officer first class Bradley Burrets holds his daughter Ella and son Wade as country music band Old Dominion performs on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
1 of 10
Commanding officer Rick Burgess leads the country music band Old Dominion onto the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford for a concert and to film a music video at Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Leading up to the performance on the flight deck, Old Dominion met members of the crew for a tour of the aircraft carrier and shared a meal with sailors on board.
“On a ship that has the same crew size as some small cities of course there are going to be a small portion of folks who are really into the band and know the band,” Burgess said. “And then there’s a lot of sailors who are interested in the event part of it and learn about the band so in that sense it’s really neat because everyone kind of gets inspired.”
The Ford is the Navy’s newest and most advanced warship, and recently returned from a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.
