Daniel Grindstaff Meets Rod Stewart in Nashville, Celebrates Success of “Forever Young” Featuring Paul Brewster & Dolly Parton
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
Nashville, Tennessee—the city where genre lines often blur and musical dreams coalesce—recently played host to a poignant, full-circle moment when banjo extraordinaire Daniel Grindstaff met rock legend Sir Rod Stewart. This meeting was the culmination of a breakout year for Grindstaff, fueled by the unexpected, chart-topping success of his bluegrass reimagining of Stewart’s classic anthem, “Forever Young,” featuring powerhouse vocals from Paul Brewster and the legendary Dolly Parton.
The Banjo Master’s Bluegrass Pedigree
Daniel Grindstaff is not merely a rising star; he is a seasoned veteran who has earned his reputation among the elite of today’s banjo players. A native of East Tennessee, Grindstaff’s career began professionally at the astonishingly young age of 18 when he took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry with bluegrass legends Jim and Jesse McReynolds. This foundational experience continued as he later played with the iconic Osborne Brothers—famous for “Rocky Top”—and spent five years touring and recording with Grammy Award winner Marty Raybon.
Grindstaff’s professional journey is a testament to dedication, having appeared hundreds of times at the Opry and on national television. His playing style is rooted in tradition, yet his musical sensibility is expansive, proving that bluegrass musicianship can elevate and re-contextualize material from any corner of the music world. All this experience culminated in his highly anticipated debut solo project, the aptly titled 2024 album, Heroes and Friends.
Reimagining a Classic: The Birth of a Bluegrass Anthem
The choice to cover Rod Stewart’s 1988 hit, “Forever Young,” was deeply personal for Grindstaff. Inspired by his own sons, Owen and Finn, the timeless lyrics speaking of a parent’s love and hope for a child’s future resonated strongly. Grindstaff envisioned the rock-pop track transformed into a heartfelt, acoustic bluegrass hymn, allowing the lyricism to shine through the warmth of acoustic strings.
The recording was truly an East Tennessee creation, bringing together a dream team of collaborators. Grindstaff’s initial request to Paul Brewster—the celebrated tenor singer, formerly of Ricky Skaggs’ band—to sing the track was a perfect fit, translating the song’s emotional core into the bluegrass dialect. However, the collaboration reached legendary status when Dolly Parton was approached and quickly assented to lend her iconic voice. Her presence, often in a unique supporting role, added a celestial layer of harmony and star power that made the track instantly unforgettable. Grindstaff himself, who served as producer and arranger, called the experience “an absolute dream come true.”
Chart Triumph and Industry Recognition
The resulting single, released from the Heroes and Friends album, quickly became a phenomenon, demonstrating the universal appeal of a great song when paired with masterful execution.
The bluegrass version of “Forever Young” achieved massive success across multiple platforms:
- It soared to No. 1 on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay Chart.
- It topped the prestigious Bluegrass Unlimited National Airplay Survey, Grindstaff’s first chart-topper on the monthly ranking.
- The track was spotlighted by WSM’s Bill Cody as his Pick of the Week.
- It garnered widespread industry recognition, earning multiple IBMA nominations.
- It reached a massive new audience through streaming, accumulating over 400,000 streams on Spotify and earning features on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction.
The single’s success proved not only the vitality of the bluegrass genre but also the sheer power of a well-executed musical crossover, reaching fans who might never otherwise listen to a banjo-driven track.
The Full-Circle Meeting with Sir Rod Stewart
The story came full circle recently when Sir Rod Stewart performed at the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville. Riding the momentum of the single’s success, which Stewart himself had acknowledged and congratulated publicly, Grindstaff and his wife were able to connect with the legendary singer backstage after the show.
For Grindstaff, the experience was surreal. “I had the chance to meet the voice who made ‘Forever Young’ iconic—and whose music has shaped generations: the legendary Sir Rod Stewart,” Grindstaff shared. “It was surreal to connect over a song that’s meant so much to myself and so many others.”
He noted the graciousness of the rock icon, adding, “Sir Rod was as much a gentleman as he is an artist and entertainer. It’s amazing to see where a song can take you—and how deeply bluegrass music weaves into every genre. It was a great night that I’ll always remember!”
The Nashville meeting between the bluegrass banjoist and the rock icon serves as a powerful symbol of music’s ability to transcend boundaries. Daniel Grindstaff’s “Forever Young” is more than just a successful cover; it is a collaborative masterpiece that honors the original, validates the bluegrass art form, and confirms that musical inspiration, like youth, can truly be everlasting.