Jackson, Mich. — On the comeback trail from a bout with cancer about five years ago, Grammy-nominated country artist Jo Dee Messina will grace the stage at the Michigan Theatre of Jackson Friday, December 9. Messina’s greatest hits include Heads Carolina, Tails California; Bye Bye; Bring on the Rain; Lesson in Leavin’ and more.

“She’s a mainstay, she’s one of the legends,” says Steve Tucker, executive director of the Michigan Theatre. “We really kind of caught her coming back at it strong, we’re very fortunate to have her.”

Tickets are available online or by calling 517-783-0962, but in a recent interview with WKHM, Tucker teased that he has heard a rumor from the Messina camp that “something special” may be coming down the pipeline the first week of November, so stay tuned to the Michigan Theatre Facebook page. “It’s not a fact, but it’s as close a fact as I can muster today,” says Tucker.

Tucker is a retired educator and is also a musician himself, having performed gigs all around for a while before landing at the Michigan Theatre about 10 years ago. “It’s such a big part of the collective consciousness of this town; it gave me a new sort of respect for history,” he ruminates on the theatre. “I’ve been charged with bringing it back to life, that’s my goal… and it looks like we’re going to be able to start our restoration in just a few months.”

Listen to the full interview here: