'It was awesome': Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins talks Cincy chili, ALS, Reds concert

When John Driskell "Hop" Hopkins was diagnosed with ALS, he had a choice: Either take the diagnosis quietly and privately, or go public and make something of it.

Hopkins, a guitarist, instrumentalist and vocalist in the Zac Brown Band, chose the latter.

In May 2022, he started Hop On A Cure, a foundation focused on raising awareness and supporting research to prevent, reverse and cure ALS. In the first year, Hopkins said Hop On A Cure was able to raise $1 million. On Friday, it will host its biggest fundraiser to date: the Zac Brown Band post-game concert after the Reds play the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.

The timing for the concert couldn't be any better. Friday also marks Lou Gehrig Day, celebrated annually by the MLB in honor of Lou Gehrig, the Yankees first baseman who died from ALS in 1941. Because of his notoriety, ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease.

Great American Ball Park is expecting Friday's crowd to be the largest, possibly ever, in its history. Around 44,000 fans are expected to attend the 5:10 p.m. game and the post-show full-length concert, which will last another 90 minutes. A GABP-record 44,063 fans attended this year's Opening Day game.

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Hopkins will sing the national anthem at the game, and the Reds will donate a portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold to the Hop On A Cure Foundation.

And luckily for Hopkins and the rest of the Zac Brown Band, Friday is also a break in their regular summer touring schedule, allowing them to make time to head to Cincinnati for the special concert.

After talking with Hopkins about the concert, we tested his Queen City knowledge with our Cincinnati Trivia segment on TikTok. While Hopkins wasn't aware of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow or zoo star Fiona the hippo, he was well aware of one of our quintessential dishes.

Luckily for us (and for the sake of his reputation in the city), Cincinnati-style chili was an easy answer to our question for Hopkins.

"I had it last time; it was awesome," he said. "I love sweet chili, I love Texas chili, I make my own chili. I'm a big meat and bean fan."

Check out our conversation with Hopkins below. The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

John Driskell "Hop" Hopkins discusses ALS, Hop On A Cure, the Zac Brown Band and more

How has life changed for you since you received your ALS diagnosis?

John: I was diagnosed Dec. 22, 2021. When the doctor says you have three to five years to live, a lot of things go through your mind. I honestly had to go read up on ALS. I did not know what was happening. It took a couple of months to sort of settle in and figure out how to just deal with that information. A couple of months in, the decision became: Do we keep this to ourselves and quietly David Bowie off into the sunset, or do we stand up and make a loud noise? I’ve always been one to stand up and make a loud noise.

We figured we had a responsibility and a platform with which to bring awareness and funding to a disease that is not incurable, but is underfunded. Hop On A Cure started in May of 2022, and in our first year we've raised over $1 million. We projected a quarter of that, and we've been very pleasantly surprised. With this momentum we hope to double that in the next year, and keep doubling it until we top out or until we find a cure.

How excited are you to have the largest fundraiser to date for Hop On A Cure?

It's incredible. Forty-four thousand people here, the Zac Brown Band has been incredibly supportive of me, and has had my back every step of the way. It’s a great show, it’s going to be a great game. If you don’t have a ticket yet, then you’re missing out, because the show afterward is going to be every bit as cool as the baseball game. I feel like we really filled in the extra seats and raised the bar a bit with the entertainment value and I’m super proud of that, and super proud to be in a band that cares so much.

What was the reaction when you initially told your bandmates and then eventually your fans about your diagnosis?

My hands have slowed down, my speech is slowing down and my walking has been affected. I called Zac (Brown) first before I addressed the entire band. He said, 'Are you making this all up because you're a sh---y banjo player?'

They’ve been supportive, but they haven’t treated me like a leper. We still are business are usual every day above ground, every day is a good day. We still have a very positive attitude toward life, toward music and toward each other. And I need that. I get that at home, I get that at work and I get it from the fans. I don’t know what will keep me going if anything, but I feel like that positive attitude is going to be essential to getting out of bed every day that I can.

You're currently on tour. How has everyday tour life changed for you?

It's a very light year. Last year was busier, of course I had the diagnosis last year and was able to get through it fine. I'm excited about this year, I'm excited about the possibility of next year. Life on the road is about the same. We have our own little bunks and living space we call home. When we're on the road, my family goes by different names.

What does it mean to you to have the relationship with the MLB and the Reds?

MLB has really stepped up to the plate, if you will. Supporting one of their own, Lou Gehrig, the legend. This disease has gone by his name for so many years and I think because no one else knew what to call it. I can't say enough good things about MLB and how they've really come to support the ALS community. So, kudos to all involved.

The Reds have had shorter concerts after games before, but this is a full length show.

Yeah. Ninety minutes of Zac Brown Band mayhem. It's going to be fun. Normally, if we did a show like this in a ballpark we would set up in right field and it would be the day before. We would have the entire field covered in plastic panels, the infield blocked off and you would have seats. But being able to see a game and then roll the stage out is super cool.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins opens up about ALS, tour life