“Because of the brave, it’s the land of the free” from Ryan Weaver’s “That’s What America Means to Me.”
I am so excited to have a Country Music Artist & former Army Black Hawk Pilot on the blog! I want to introduce you to Mr. Ryan Weaver!
Ryan Weaver is a high-energy, all-American, rockin’ country music artist who proudly served as a Black Hawk Helicopter Aviator, Chief Warrant Officer 3, in the United States Army! He loves AMERICA JUST LIKE ME! In 2017, Ryan was announced as the Patriotic Voice of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) for their Celebrate America Campaign at the 2017 PBR World Finals at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2018 and 2019, Ryan toured across the U.S. and internationally to Australia with the PBR.
In 2019 Ryan did a little over a dozen concerts and speaking engagements from the US to Australia. In 2018 he sang at Madison Square Garden in NYC, AT&T Stadium in Arlington TX, Bridgestone Arena Nashville TN, He also sang at the Wallace Wade Stadium for the DUKE/ARMY football game at halftime, and he did the PBR World Finals at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
In 2019 he released 2 singles called Arrival in March and Time Like This in July. Ryan became a brand partner for Lane Boots in the spring of 2019. Ryan also became an official brand partner for Liberty Home Concealment “Heroes” line in August of 2019. In 2018 Ryan released EP Celebrate America along with a very patriotic music video for the single “Never Forgotten” to honor America’s fallen Military, Law Enforcement and First Responders. He appeared twice on The Huckabee Show on TBN May 19, 2018 and August 18, 2018. Ryan became an official endorsing artist and brand partner for Nine Line Apparel, and has since moved to Lima Charlie Clothing Company.
Ryan had some pretty Notable Performances:
PBR World Finals T-Mobile Arena // November 4, 2017 Las Vegas NV
Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam Bridgestone Arena // 2015 and 2016 Nashville, Tennessee
- 2016 Volunteer Jam included performances by Kid Rock, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Travis Tritt, 3 Doors Down, Kellie Pickler, and Chris Young
Colorado Freedom Fest // Castle Rock, Colorado // 2015 and 2016
- 2016 Freedom Fest included performances by Jack Russell’s Great White, Warrant, and Dokken
Grand Ole Opry // Nashville, Tennessee // September 11, 2015
The Ryman Auditorium // Nashville, Tennessee // 2014 // Included performances by Charlie Daniels, Phil Vassar, Andy Griggs, Ty Herndon and Jamie O’Neal
CMA Music Festival // Nashville, Tennessee // Samsung Galaxy Stage // 2014
Ryan Opened for some country artists I grew up listening to:
Charlie Daniels: 2014, 2015 and 2016
Craig Morgan: 2008
Blake Shelton: 2008
Montgomery Gentry: 2007
Trace Adkins: 2007
George Jones: 2006
MLB (Kansas City Royals)AFL (Tampa Thunder) PIFLMultiple NCAA sports, including West Point Football, Vanderbilt Soccer and Baseball he sang the National Anthem at all of these events.
I really need to talk about Ryan Weaver and who he is as a person! Ryan is not like any other country artist in country music today. He grew up with a family of eleven in a small town in Floral City, Florida, he joined the Army right after high school. After several years of working as a Military Intelligence Analyst, he followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Steve and Aaron, by attending Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school. He graduated top of his class in flight school, becoming a Black Hawk Aviator. In April 2003, he deployed to Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Shortly after, one of his brothers, Aaron, was deployed just west of him in Fallujah.
On January 8, 2004 Ryan’s life will never be the same and his world turned upside down. His brother Aaron was killed in action when the Medivac helicopter he was a passenger in was shot down by enemy fire. Ryan certainly understood mortality and the risks of combat… After all, Aaron had survived the bloody 1993 battle in Mogadishu, Somalia – the same battle that became the basis for the movie, Black Hawk Down. When Aaron died, however, something changed for Ryan. He returned from combat, taking a new position training the next generation of Army aviators and officers at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Ryan has not piloted a Black Hawk since that fateful day.
On December 17, 2013 Ryan’s brother-in-law, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy Billings, was killed in action in Afghanistan when the Black Hawk helicopter he was piloting was shot down by an enemy ground-detonated explosive device. This second heartbreaking loss made the Weaver family a two-time Gold Star family. Both of his brothers’ ultimate sacrifices continue to fuel Ryan’s fire to accomplish his dreams in music.
In late 2016, Ryan released the music video for his single “Burn,” featuring Kris “Tanto” Paranto and John “Tig” Tiegen from the movie 13 Hours: Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. “Burn” aired nationwide on The Country Network and Heartland, and internationally at over 5,000 retailers, restaurants, and entertainment venues throughout the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017. Ryan’s first music video “Crank It” played nationally on ZUUS Country TV and TNN/Heartland Network and spent 8 weeks on their Top 10 Video Countdown – a network record.In 2017, Ryan was named the Patriotic Voice of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) for their Celebrate AmericaCampaign. The World Finals is the biggest global stage in professional bull riding – a booming sport now seen in more than 400 million homes worldwide. The Celebrate America Campaign is a season-long initiative that honors America’s heroes, inspires youth, and brings communities together.
Ryan made his debut in the primetime performance slot, which was previously held by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler in 2016. At that time, the PBR officially launched Ryan as a PBR artist and debuted his new EP entitled Celebrate America. Ryan worked closely with hit songwriter Wynn Varble on the Celebrate America EP, co-writing three of the four songs. He has toured the U.S. and internationally to Australia with the PBR in 2018 and 2019, performing his songs and singing the “National Anthem” at US events. He has several performances scheduled in Australia this year.
Ryan performed on the first single from the West Point Military Academy’s Benny Havens Band’s debut album Songs That Save Our Lives. The song was short-listed for GRAMMY Award consideration in the American Roots category. The album also featured Charlie Daniels.
(Did you want to say this twice?) Ryan released two singles in 2019 titled “ARRIVAL” and “Time Like This.” He is also conducting multiple motivational speaking engagements while promoting his partnerships with Lima Charlie Clothing Company, Lane Boots, Soledier Socks, Liberty Home Concealment and Forj’d America.
I don’t take a second of my freedom for granted because of Ryan’s family and plenty of other retired, active-duty fight for our freedom and freedom doesn’t come free. I have tons of family, friends who have served and I WILL ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! They give up so much so we can sleep at night and not have to worry! I am so excited and honored to have Mr. Ryan Weaver on here.
Before COVID I was volunteering at our veterans’ home once a month, I am an auxiliary member at the American Legion! My grandfather served World War 2 I have friends in Army, Marines, Cost Guard, all branches. My cousin is just finishing up basic training. I am so proud of them all. I never want YOU to take your freedom for granted because someone is sacrificing there life on the line, so you get to enjoy it. Remember nothing is free in this world everything comes with a price even YOUR FREEDOM!
I want to thank Ryan Weaver for being on this week’s blog! Please be on the lookout on my social media about us doing an Instagram live sometime this week!!!
Gracefullygrace 