Jonathan Wier: How The Shooting In Kansas City Impacted Me As A Chiefs Fan And Father
I broke a promise to my seven-year-old son, and I thank God I did.
A million people from my former home, Kansas City. They were just trying to celebrate their team. They gathered together with one goal. To praise the team that they have been cheering on through a (relatively) rough regular season and miraculous post-season. They brought their voices, they brought their jerseys and coolers, they brought their kids.
I almost did too. Seeing parents with kids the same age as my 7-year-old on their shoulders cheering for Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce filled me with so much regret. I was thinking Finn – my seven-year-old – should be there. Finn, who wore a Mahomes t-shirt to school after The Chiefs won the Super Bowl and got heckled by a classmate because “Mahomes isn’t as good as Tom Brady”. Finn, who insisted on wearing ANOTHER Chiefs shirt the next day. Finn, who still holds my hand to cross the street. Finn, who I promised last year “if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl next year, we’re going to the parade.”
“WE’RE GOING TO KANSAS CITY RIGHT DAD!?”
When the Chiefs won the Super Bowl on Sunday night, Finn said, “WE’RE GOING TO KANSAS CITY RIGHT DAD!?” I looked alarmed. I had no idea that he would remember that. I told him “No sorry buddy, when I told you that I didn’t know I would be working the next day. So we can’t go.” He was disappointed, but because he’s his mother’s son, he took it in stride.
I now thank God that I broke my promise.
Nine children.
Nine were shot at the parade in a senseless act of violence. They went to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City with bullet wounds that medical staff were able to treat successfully and remarkably all the children will make a full recovery, physically. Mentally, the shock and horror of the day will never leave them. Nor will it leave the other thousands of kids who were having a great time interrupted by the sound of gunshots and the feeling of a parent swooping them into their arms and running to safety.
Not Fast Enough
I’m not despondent at the idea of Finn being one of the children who was shot. My brain won’t allow me to think that dark of a thought and still function in everyday life, so I refuse to go down that path. What I can’t handle at this moment is even the thought of Finn being one of the kids at the rally. Playing, singing, seeing his heroes drunk and silly on stage, then seconds later running for his life. Fast enough hopefully to save his life, but not fast enough to save his innocence.
That’s the battle that we as parents fight. And it’s a futile battle. Eventually a moment comes when children learn that the world isn’t safe, it isn’t fair, it isn’t even sane. The challenge for every parent is delaying that moment for as long as possible. So when Finn came home and wanted to watch the parade, I told him it wasn’t on YouTube. When he asked to see pictures, I showed him those, checking first to make sure that there was no mention of the shooting in the captions. I feel a pang of guilt for lying to my son, but that guilt is the debt I’ll gladly accrue to shield him from the horrors of the day.
When I put him to bed, I hugged him a little tighter than usual. He asked me why I was hugging him so tight. I told him, “Because you’re the best kid in the world!”
I didn’t tell him the truth. I was hugging a little tighter because there were parents in Kansas City who had to say goodnight to their kids while they laid in hospital beds. Their lives preserved, but their innocence lost forever.
Top 50 Songs Of 2023
50. THAT'S WHAT TEQUILA DOES - JASON ALDEAN
The first song to make the Top 50 of 2023 is Jason Aldean’s That’s What Tequila Does.
Aldean always puts on an incredible show! Fenway was rockin” in 2019
48. CREEK WILL RISE - CONNER SMITH
Conner Smith is giving us that country and rock combo that we all love with his hit song Creek Will Rise. He has been touring like crazy building up a huge following around the US and we can’t wait for him to come back to New England!
47. RELIGIOUSLY - BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
Hard to believe a few years ago Bailey had never sung a note, never mind record and entire song. There were many new artists looking to make a splash in 2023 and Bailey for sure made a big one!
43. I CAN FEEL IT - KANE BROWN
So can we!! Kane Brown is one of the many superstars to have multiple hits this year. I Can Feel It is his most recent release and is making it’s way up the charts, sure to be another #1 for for KB!
42. WHITE HORSE - CHRIS STAPLETON
when you think of soulful sounds in country music this guys comes right to mind. His powerful voice and incredible storytelling is one of the many reason he has won award after award. Taking the 42 slot on the countdown is Chris Stapleton with White Horse.
And who can forget the time we got Chris to trade in his cowboy hat for a Red Sox cap at our show!! Amazing!
41. FEARLESS - JACKSON DEAN
Another newcomer is making his mark, with a gritty vocal and powerful lyrics Jackson Dean is coming in at #41 on the Top 50 Songs Of 2023! We know the new year is going to be a good one for him!
40. BUT I GOT A BEER IN MY HAND - LUKE BRYAN
Luke Bryan is no stranger to our Top 50 countdown, and this year is giving us get another hit on the list with “But I Got A Beer In My Hand”.
39. ALL I NEED IS YOU - CHRIS JANSON
All we need is this song!! Coming in at #39 is Chris Janson with All I Need is You.
36. IT MATTERS TO HER - SCOTTY MCCREERY
Taking the number 36 spot on the countdown is Scotty McCreery with his hit song It Matters To Her.
October 9th
35. YOU, ME, AND WHISKEY - JUSTIN MOORE & PRIISCILLA BLOCK
We love a good duet and boy did Justin Moore and Priscilla Block deliver! Coming in at #35 is You, Me, and Whiskey.
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group)
33. HEART LIKE A TRUCK - LAINEY WILSON
Lainey Wilson was on a roll in 2023 with hit song after hit song and taking home award after award including the most covenanted award in country music, Entertainer of the Year! Coming in at #33 Heart Like A Truck.
We will never forget the day Lainey came to the station to play for the staff, long before her first number 1 and award! We loved her then and we love her now!
Lainey Wilson in Studio 102.5
32. DIFFERENT ROUND HERE - RILEY GREEN FT. LUKE COMBS
Coming in at #31 is Riley Green with Different Round Here.
Remember when Riley played the Country 102.5 Country Music Festival?! We sure do!
Country 102.5 Country Music Festival
31. WHAT HE DIDN'T DO - CARLY PEARCE
A lot happened in 2023 for Carly Pearce, and this single was just one of those things. Going all the way to #1 on the country music charts, Carly once again makes her way onto the Top 50 Countdown.
One of our favorite memories with Carly was when she did this very special acoustic songs and stories event with us at Loretta’s Last Call.
30. STANDING ROOM ONLY - TIM MCGRAW
Making his way into the #30 slot is none other than Tim McGraw. He has given us many hits over the years and this time making the countdown is Standing Room Only.
29. WATERMELON MOONSHINE - LAINEY WILSON
She’s back!! Lainey Wilson makes her third appearance on the Top 50 Countdown with his smash single Watermelon Moonshine!
27. LOVE YOU ANYWAYS - LUKE COMBS
Making yet another appearance on the Top 50 of 2023 is none other than Luke Combs! Song after song from Luke has been a hit and Love You Anyways is no exception.
26. SAVE ME THE TROUBLE - DAN + SHAY
Wouldn’t be a countdown without these two on the list! Coming in at #26 is the perfect duo Dan + Shay with hit song Save Me The Trouble! Their harmonies have been wowing us for year and this song is no different!
Now, let’s flashback to the first time we meet Dan + Shay when the came by to perform in Studio 102.5! Their harmonies were perfect then too!
24. BURY ME IN GEORGIA - KANE BROWN
Making is second appearance on the countdown is KB himself with the anthem Bury Me In Georgia! You can’t help but sing this one at the top of your lungs while driving in the car!
23. DRINKABY - COLE SWINDELL
Cole Swindell is coming in at #23 with his hit single Drinkaby. Cole had appeared consistently on the Top 50 Countdown the past several years and we love having him back with this one!
22. THINKIN' BOUT ME - MORGAN WALLEN
Back again, of course, is Morgan Wallen. He gave us so much incredible music in 2023, we can only imagine what he has in store for all of us in 2024! Can’t wait to find out.
For fun, let’s take a look back when a brand new artist come by the Country 102.5 studio to play for staff. Who would have known that a few years later we would be here! Just WOW!
21. IF YOU GO DOWN (I'M GOING DOWN TOO) - KELSEA BALLERINI
The anthem for all girls out there, because we girls stick together, right!! Coming in at #21 is Kelsea Ballerini with If You Go Down I’m Going Down Too!!
Remember when Kelsea was our surprise guest at Country 102.5’s Acoustic Live?! What a night!
20. THANK GOD - KANE BROWN AND KAITLYN BROWN
Making his 3rd appearance on the countdown is the one and only Kane Brown but this time he is bringing a special guest with him, his beautiful wife Kaitlyn. Coming in at #20 on the Top 50 of 2023 is Thank God! This beautiful duet was the first time Kaitlyn joined Kane on a single and boy did the crowd go absolutely wild when the performed this together at Fenway Park!
19. THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW - MORGAN WALLEN
He’s BACK!!! We are sure this is not a shocker but Morgan Wallen has yet another song on the Top 50 of 2023! Morgan gave us so many unbelievable songs in 2023, that you had to know he would be on the list a couple of times…wink wink!!
From the House of Blues to Fenway Park….it has been quite a journey for Morgan!
18. MEMORY LANE - OLD DOMINION
When talking about a country music countdown, you have to have a song from one of the hottest bands in the format! Taking the #18 slot is Old Dominion with Memory Lane.
Let’s take a trip down Memory Lane to when Old Dominion played the Country 102.5 Street Party!! Lansdowne Street was never the same!
17. GOD GAVE ME A GIRL - RUSSELL DICKERSON
Russell Dickerson sure does now how to give us a love song! We all know their ain’t no party like an RD party but he also knows how to slow it down and give us a ballad that makes you smile!
16. EVERYTHING I LOVE - MORGAN WALLEN
Morgan Wallen ended 2023 with a #1 song, Everything I Love and we love everything about this song. Taking the #16 slot on the countdown, with his 3rd appearance so far, Morgan Wallen ladies and gentleman!
2019 Paradise Rock Club
15. ROCK AND A HARD PLACE - BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
With his second appearance on the countdown, Bailey Zimmerman is back with Rock And A Hard Place. Talk about an insane year for a brand new artist, multiple number 1’s and touring with one of the biggest country stars, Morgan Wallen and playing stadiums all around the US including our beloved Fenway Park!
13. YOU - DAN + SHAY
Making their second appearance on the countdown is fan favorite Dan + Shay. Their #1 single YOU lands at #13 on our Top 50 of 2023~
12. NEXT THING YOU KNOW - JORDAN DAVIS
Jordan Davis is coming in at #12 with his hit song Next Thing You Know. A song that is hugely relatable about how quickly life can go and our worlds change!
11. WORLD ON FIRE - NATE SMITH
We love having newcomers coming in high on the countdown and Nate Smith locked in the #11 position with his second release to country radio, World On Fire! Nate is definitely doing just that, setting the world on fire with his music and we think nothing but great things are ahead for this superstar in the making!
Nate Smith
