Old Dominion now travels with multiple buses and trucks, but it wasn’t always that way. The five-man group was traveling in a van when they started performing, which is what they were in when they were fortunate enough to open a few shows for country music superstar, Trace Adkins.

“One show in particular, it was in Myrtle Beach at the House of Blues.” lead singer Matthew Ramsey recalled to ABC News Radio. “He had his buses out there and trucks. And we were backing our little rundown van and the U-Haul trailer, trying to squeeze it in between his buses. We were just running on fumes.”

“After the show, his tour manager called me over and said, ‘Hey, is that y’all’s van?'” he continued. “And I was like, ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘Y’all are travelin’ in that?'”

“We thought we were in trouble or something,” added band member Trevor Rosen.

Not only were they not in trouble, Trace actually wanted to help the then-rising act.

“[The manager] shook my hand and he slipped me $500 and said, ‘Trace saw that and wanted you guys to have this, because he’s been there.'” Matthew recalled. “And we were making 500 bucks for that show. We were only getting paid 500 bucks. So to double our money meant the world to us, and he has no idea how much relief that money gave us. And we’ve since told him, and it’s been a great friendship.”

Old Dominion planned on spending much of the first part of 2020 on the road. They were on their headlining We Are Old Dominon Tour, and also planned to be with Kenny Chesney and Florida Georgia Line on Kenny’s Chillaxification Tour. Both tours have been postponed due to COVID-19.Find tour updates at Old Dominion’s website.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sony Music Nashville