Your friends at AY About You wish you the best for 2020. If this edition is any indication of a prosperous new year for Arkansans, it’s going to be great. We are featuring the up and coming stars of country music in this issue. Arkansans are making their mark on Nashville, and we couldn’t be more excited. Arkansans are also making their mark on reality television but the good kind of reality TV. Jenny and Dave Marrs had a bang-up 2019 on HGTV, and our fingers are crossed that they get a renewal for a second season of “Fixer to Fabulous.” Read about them in the profile on page 26.
Also in this issue, we sat down with Danyelle Musselman, the wife of Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman, as she told the incredible story of her journey to Fayetteville. I think I speak for the entire state when I say that we are so thankful to have them in Arkansas.
We also take an in-depth look at the car scene in Arkansas. As most of you know, besides my family, cars are one of the biggest passions in my life. I have been a “car gal” since I was 5 years old, and my dad rolled up in a brand new Corvette! I couldn’t get over how different it looked, the lines, the smell of the leather, the sound of the engine revving up… I was hooked! Ever since then, cars have been a BIG part of my life. So having the opportunity to go to some of Arkansas’ most prestigious dealers this month, and other great automotive vendors, has really given me the opportunity to get back to my roots.
Lisa Fischer, our editor-at-large, found the most interesting stories to profile for our feature on DNA testing where all of them took DNA tests and were educated on family origins from the results. All three of them are stories of adoption, but one person didn’t know she was even adopted until she went to drop off the spit test at age 40-something. In a couple of months, we are going to talk more about adoption and foster care. Two issues close to my heart.
I think my favorite piece in the entire issue is about Lucille, the famed guitar of B. B. King and its origin to Arkansas. Joe David Rice is our travel editor and his “Arkansas Backstories” are always great reads.
We have a busy 2020 in the works. Just wait until you see what we are unveiling for the Best of 2020 for AY Magazine. It will be epic! (That’s what my kids say, so I thought I would steal that.)
Until next month, keep reading our magazine. Drop me a line if you have a feature idea for us or if something is happening that we don’t want to miss.
hbaker@aymag.com
