Daddy’s Alabama Music Hall of Fame Induction | Ken Lambert | Fort Payne, AL

They say “never meet your heroes,” but that’s kind of hard when you’ve known your hero your entire life. My dad, Ken Lambert, was recently inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and it’s still so surreal to me. But also, it’s not. My daddy has felt famous to me my entire life.

As the first entertainer at the Flora-Bama, my dad would take me there as a kid, and I remember feeling like royalty because everyone always knew who he was. Captain Andy would shuck oysters for me at that back bar – on the house – and then those sweet giant teddy bear biker guys would teach me how to play pool. One time, I remember a guy was trying to get that black 8 ball in one of the pockets, but (being about the same height as the table) I remember seeing it coming towards my face, so I stuck my hand out and stopped the ball before it went in. And they just looked at me. I mean, what were they gonna say? I was Ken Lambert’s daughter. And that meant something.

When we got the call that he was being inducted into the Music Hall of Fame, we were all in tears. Honestly, my first thought was, “Finally.” Finally, someone recognizes how goshdang good this man is. How much he sacrificed. How close he got to “making it,” but instead chose family. Chose love. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to everyone who came together to make this such a special event for my favorite man on the whole entire planet. I mean, look at his smile in these photos. Truly priceless.

Special thanks to Russ and Kelly McDonald, Mitch Lattof, Jr., Mitchell Lattof III, Rick Burch, Boyd DeCoito, Greg Hughes, Tofey Leon, Karl “Scooter” Rambo, Greg Underwood, Dr. Lynn Yonge, and Charley Young for making this ceremony possible. Also to Buddy and Billie Cannon and Harold Shedd, some of his favorite friends and first supporters in Nashville. Thank you for making the trip and seeing this full circle moment! And to all who travelled so far to see this happen – thank you. My dad completely lit up seeing you all. I can never express what that truly means.

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony really gave us something joyous to look forward to, which is more meaningful than you may know. This year hasn’t been all rainbows and unicorns, unfortunately. About six months ago, we found out that my daddy is in end-stage renal failure. Devastation is an understatement.

I have dreaded the knowledge that I would one day lose my father for as long as I can remember. At first, the prognosis was not good – we were told between two weeks and two months. I remember going up to see him the weekend after we found out, and seeing him walking. And smiling. And saying things like, “Hey! I AIN’T DYING TODAY!” He still had some things to do. Here we are six months later, and he continues to be the strongest man I know.

I was (and am!) so excited for people to hear my dad’s story. He has done so much – some things I didn’t even know about until they started putting together his biography for the Hall of Fame induction (like holy crap he spent 3 months WALKING from northern to southern Spain playing gigs…are you kidding?!) Plus, he’s written songs that were cut by some pretty cool people (like Alabama and some guy named Willie Nelson).

After my dad’s diagnosis, I also decided it was finally time for me to do something I’ve been wanting to do for years – put together his Anthology. All of his songs will be in one place in a book that people who love him and his music can enjoy forever and ever. It is quite an undertaking (he’s written HUNDREDS of songs), but Say Love: The Ken Lambert Anthology is set to be released in July 2026, with presale starting in March 2026. (For more information, and to be the first to know about the presale, be sure to follow the Ken Lambert Music page on Facebook and the Say Love profile on Instagram.)

I’ve always known my dad was good at what he did. I knew that when he sang, people listened. Sometimes they even cried. But I don’t think I realized how good he truly was until I started putting all of his songs together in this anthology. They are poetry. They are lessons. They are love stories. They are life stories.

A lot of people know my dad as the first musician to ever play at the Flora-Bama, or the guy who opened up the Frank Brown Songwriter’s Festival, or maybe as an Old Friend…A legend in his own damn time #IYKYK

But to me, he is the guy playing guitar in the back bedroom every night. He’s the guy who builds the best fires and makes the best waffles and looks at me with absolute delight every time he sees me. He always got me ice cream when my throat hurt (and even when it didn’t). And, of course, threatened to kill any man who hurt me, as any good father would. I truly lucked out as far as daddies go.

I am so grateful to live here in Fort Payne now, right up the road from my dad and my angel of a momma. I’m excited to spend more time with them and hear more stories, while I can. I am so grateful that we have been given this time. It is so special.

I couldn’t help thinking this might be my last Christmas with my dad, at least on this side of heaven. I’m not ready for that thought. And hopefully it isn’t true. But also, having that thought makes me want to hang on to every single moment that I get. So here’s to hanging on to those we love and making memories while we can. More stories, songs, photos, and memories coming soon…

xo,

Jessi

---

P.S. Sign up here to get the latest!

If you’re looking for a fun, laid-back documentary style photographer, then look no further! Jessi is an Alabama Couple, Family, and Wedding Photographer based in Fort Payne, AL. She also serves the Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Gulf Coast areas and specializes in engagement, wedding, maternity, newborn and family photography. Jessi also enjoys commercial and creative portraiture if you need the perfect headshot for your next job, or want to capture an important milestone in your life. Available for travel worldwide. Find out more at www.casaraphoto.com and inquire at https://casaraphoto.com/contact. 

(c) Jessi Casara Photography