Jean Gordon
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 10:26 am
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Forest City native, Roy Costner, son of Mary Sandra Costner of Forest City, is bringing a new Christmas Show to the Don Gibson Theater in Shelby on Saturday, Nov. 29. Costner serves as the board chair of the nonprofit South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame and is bringing the Coast to Coast Christmas band to Shelby.
"When I was growing up in Forest City and riding my bike from Cool Springs to wait on my mom at her job at the Mooneyham Public Library, or singing in the choir at First Presbyterian Church (and the Youth Choir at First Baptist), or trying to survive Mrs. (Nancy) Stallcup's class at East High School, I never imagined that my life's journey would lead me to become the Chairman of the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame," Costner said.
"We have been touring throughout the state and are now branching out to the Southeast," Costner said." As the year 2025 closes out, we are doing four Christmas Shows including the show at the Don Gibson theater in Shelby."
"I have been bragging that we will most likely sell out that show simply because of everyone I knew growing up in Rutherford County and all of my family who live there and in Cleveland County. At least, I really hope we do and that people haven't forgotten about me," Costner quipped.
A staff of 15 people is required to produce the show.
Costner also created and wrote the show for the Casey Kasem Top 40 Countdown Experience and the concept was tested a year ago and it proved to be a tremendous success. The show features the voice of Casey Kasem (recreated by Hall of Fame member Howard Hudson from the former Love and Hudson Morning show on WMYI) and a live band playing the top hits from the 60's, 70's and 80's.
The South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame was founded in 1989 by the State of SC Entertainment and Music Commissioner Dr. David Godbold and SC Secretary of State Jim Miles. The nonprofit developed for the purpose of honoring South Carolina natives or those with South Connections that have achieved national success. Originally housed in different venues across the state, the SC Entertainment and Music HOF found a permanent home in Georgetown, SC. In September of 2013 a fire that engulfed seven buildings, burned most of the contents and memorabilia belonging to the organization. After that, the nonprofit became stale for a while.
In 2018, Justin Ray Williams was recruited to be the next Executive Director to rebuild the organization and in 2020, two new artists, Zack Turner, and Greg Rowles, were inducted at the House of Blues Myrtle Beach during the South Carolina Country Music Awards. In November of 2022, Dr. Godbold asked Costner to lead the organization. Since then, there have been two major induction shows with thousands of people in attendance.
As a 501-c3 organization, the organization has relied on donations and support from the state of South Carolina to continue to fund these costly induction shows. Entering 2025, funding was "put on hold" so other revenue stream opportunities were created. Later, it was decided to create new shows and events featuring Hall of Fame members to help raise funding. One of those is the Casey Kasem Top 40 Countdown Experience.
For more information, visit Roy.Costner@Charter.com or for tickets contact the Don Gibson Theater at 704-487-8114.