Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Sean Dietrich, better known as Sean of the South, is returning to Greenville with a Ritz Theatre performance for the Greenville Area Arts Councils season lineup on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. 

The columnist, novelist and stand-up storyteller, known for his commentary on life in the American South, is also holding a book signing directly after the performance for his new release, “Kinfolk”.

Dietrich made quite the impression upon the community in his last visits, and he explains that Greenville made quite the impression on him as well. Linda Daughtry, a big fan and now a friend of Dietrich, said he has given back to the Greenville community by hosting multiple benefits for Safe Harbor with intimate musical performances, and writing wholesome stories about the local places and people he has met while in town. 

“He got to know Mrs. Ann at the Bakery and wrote a whole story about the cafe,” Daughtry said. “He’s written about my dad who was a sheriff at one time here. He’s written about Country Place Senior Living and went out there and talked, read and sang hymns with the residents and wrote a very sweet story about them. He’s written about fiddlesticks from Priester’s Pecans. He’s very well loved in Greenville, and I feel like it’s going to be a good time for us to give back to him.”

The reception and book signing will be hosted by Daughtry Engineering and First Realty at the First Realty building across the street from the Ritz Theatre following the show. It will be a Christmas-themed, dessert reception with pies and cakes made by local ladies from all over town and at Priesters Pecans, Daughtry explained. 

Another local fan of Dietrich, Kim Beverly, spoke of the first time he came to Greenville. His visit was due to a comment she wrote on one of his Facebook posts. She said the comment expressed her wish that he should visit the Butler County Probate Office where she worked. 

“I had gone to lunch at the bakery, and while I was gone he walked into the probate office,” Beverly said. “They sent him down to Mrs. Ann’s bakery and we all just had a good visit. I couldn’t believe he had actually read my comment and just showed up. I became a big fan after that.”

Daughtry said Dietrich’s new book “Kinfolk” is about a boy who dreamed of playing at the Grand Ole Opry. She explained that Dietrich did not tell anyone that he was writing this book, and within a week’s time of writing it he received an invitation to perform at the Opry. 

“He received three standing ovations within the first 20 minutes of his performance,” Daughtry said. “The Opry’s commentator said he had never seen that happen in the Opry’s history. So it was very emotional. This new book was a prophetic moment.”

Dietrich’s work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Reader’s Digest, Garden and Gun, The Tallahassee Democrat, The Birmingham News, The Selma Times-Journal and The Mobile Press Register. His column appears in newspapers throughout the U.S. and he has authored fifteen books. 

He is the creator of the Sean of the South podcast, and makes appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. Follow Dietrich at Sean of the South on Facebook.