John C. Reilly is set to host the 2025 Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 10 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. But that’s just part of a busy week in Music City for the Oscar-, Grammy- and Tony-nominated performer. Reilly will kick off Americana Week with a performance in his Mister Romantic persona at the Franklin Theatre on Sept. 9.
On Sept. 11, Reilly will take the stage at AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, where he’ll be interviewed by Grammy-winning rock icon Jack White in a keynote conversation about artistry, performance, and the intersection of film and music. The event will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown.
Reilly and White have had a long friendship. In 2011, Reilly recorded songs produced by White and released as singles by White’s Third Man Records. Less than three months ago, he appeared as the titular character in White’s music video for “Archbishop Harold Homes.”
Also on Sept. 11, independent record store Grimey’s will host a special in-store event where Reilly will sign copies of What’s Not To Love?, his debut album under his Mister Romantic persona.
The album, which was released on June 13 on Reilly’s own Eternal Magic Recordings, combines songs from the Great American Songbook, such as “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Moonlight Serenade” and “What’ll I Do,” with newer songs by such writers as Tom Waits and Randy Newman. It’s eligible for Grammy consideration for best traditional pop vocal album.
Reilly, 60, is probably best known for his Oscar-nominated supporting turn in the 2002 film Chicago. In 2000, he received a Tony nomination for best actor in a play for True West. In 2009, he received a Grammy nod for best song written for a motion picture, television or other visual media for co-writing “Walk Hard” for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
Here’s a complete list of Reilly’s upcoming Mister Romantic performances:
Sept. 9 – Franklin, TN @ The Franklin Theatre
Oct. 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Palace Theatre
Oct. 12 – San Francisco @ Presidio Theater
Oct. 13 – Livermore, CA @ Livermore Valley Arts
Nov. 18-19 – London, UK @ Soho Theatre Walthamstow (sold out)
Dec. 4-6 – Chicago, IL @ The Downstairs Theatre at Steppenwolf
Here’s a video for his version of Irving Berlin’s 1923 classic “What’ll I Do.”
