John C. Reilly discusses his acting, American songbook vocal work in “Mister Romantic,” plus hosting 2025’s Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 10.
Award-winning actor, writer and performer John C. Reilly comes to Nashville as the host of the 24th Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 10.
The honor comes as he tours a stage show for an album of American standards he recorded, portraying the character of “Mister Romantic.”
That character is a vaudevillian actor who has a glass-half-full view of life, singing a collection of songs written by composers such as Louis Armstrong and Irving Berlin, and performed by Nat King Cole, Harry Nilsson and Frank Sinatra, among others.
“When you realize that people will fall in love in the same way, forever, those songs become eternal and universal,” Reilly said.
What are the ties that unite John C. Reilly’s diverse career as a stage performer?
Reilly presented John Prine with the award for Album of the Year at 2019’s Americana Honors & Awards.
Additionally, he’s also renowned for his Academy Award-nominated appearance in the musical film “Chicago,” pairing with Will Ferrell in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and “Step Brothers,” as well as playing the title character in the comedic rockabilly biopic satire “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.”
“I’m able to use a character to comment on our shared reality in the present moment while also ignoring or acknowledging the irony in parts of it,” Reilly said. “Because of that, I’m able to touch people by emotionally meeting them halfway by making their lives better for a couple of hours.”
What excites John C. Reilly about Nashville?
Reilly’s a reasonably frequent visitor to Music City.
“The Ryman Auditorium is a temple of music,” he said.
Reilly believes that the nearly 140-year-old building’s importance to music’s roots gives it the power to hold immeasurable significance within its walls.
Why is it important to John C. Reilly that music ‘heals his heart?’
“Music is a precious experience that, when you sing it or watch it performed, comes alive,” he said.
Reilly also notes that music is essential to him for a profound reason.
“Singing heals my heart,” he said.
“I believe in making a constructive contribution to people’s lives. Every human being, even if you don’t know them, is deserving of love. As the saying goes, it’s better to light one tiny candle than to curse the darkness.”
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