Garth and the Opry. What to know about Mitch Rossell and his Canton South country concert

Country music artist Mitch Rossell was set to perform last fall at Canton South High School.

Rossell had conducted a sound check. Everything he needed was backstage, courtesy of Canton Local Schools staff.

Rossell, however, wasn't quite ready to step on stage because the outfit the singer-songwriter had packed for the plane ride hadn't arrived at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport when he landed earlier in the day.

More: Country music loving school official wins Mitch Rossell concert at Canton South High

The Nashville artist was performing at the school because Canton Local Superintendent Brett Yeagley had won a contest that he entered when Rossell opened for megastar Garth Brooks at a stadium show.

But the clock ticked as Rossell waited in a hoodie and sweatpants. Showtime was in 15 minutes.

Thanks to Yeagley, however, the situation was under control. Bob and Jan Adams, friends who live in the Cleveland area, had stopped at the airport on the way to the concert, picking up Rossell's bag and delivering it to him just in time.

"Everybody backstage and those who were part of the school who I met were just so nice and so gracious," said Rossell, who thanked the Adamses during the show while adding Bob's favorite song to the setlist.

And the rest of the concert went so well that he's returning to the Performing Arts Center at the high school for a 7 p.m. show on May 13.

Tickets, $20 plus a processing fee, can be purchased at https://www.cantonlocal.org/. A limited number of tickets for Canton Local students are available for $5 plus a processing fee. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the show at 600 Faircrest St. SE in Canton Township.

A total of $5 will be donated from each ticket for the upkeep of the Performing Arts Center, as well as for future upgrades.

"Brett took it to another level ... helping us get the show set up, but also just his family taking us in the way they have," Rossell said. "And there were a bunch of people who came over to his house to listen to the private concert. They were just really cool, and a really cool group of people."

Yeagley said Canton Local staff and community members are excited to watch Rossell perform again.

"I think Mitch made a lot of connections with people," he said. "I think he makes connections on stage, but in those individual meet and greets, it's just who Mitch is − he's so genuine."

More: Canton South performer Mitch Rossell on Garth Brooks: 'He's a different level of human'

Momentum has continued in Rossell's career since his Stark County appearance.

December saw his debut performance at the hallowed Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where he was introduced by Brooks.

Even though Rossell wrote "Ask Me How I Know" for Brooks, a No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay Chart hit, the younger artist said he never expected the icon to drive through traffic congestion in Nashville during the Christmas season so he could introduce him on his big night.

"That's a commitment, driving down in that area ... so every time I thought it was possible (for Brooks to attend the show), I thought it was just too much, and that's such a headache, and I thought he shouldn't."

Asked why Brooks didn't get a ride to the Grand Ole Opry to make it easier, Rossell was adamant: "That's not his style. He wouldn't take a limo or do any of that; he drove. We've ridden to his house and we went to freaking Subway and got sandwiches. He's totally normal. There's not an ounce of pretentiousness in his body."

Chatting about returning to Canton South High School, as well as recounting his Grand Ole Opry euphoria, is when Rossell became the most animated during a phone interview. But there were plenty of other highlights. Here they are.

Fine people live in Canton Township and Ohio

Calling all the Canton Local fans and staff a "great group of people," Rossell said the high school is "a place you want to get back to as soon as you can."

Rossell also spoke highly of Ohio. "The people are the heart and soul of any state," he said. "And you're going to be hard pressed to find a better group of folks than those folks in Ohio."

Expect new songs at the May 13 concert

"It is going to be different. Last time, we did a trio. I believe we're bringing a full band this time, (although he still plans an acoustic set). This will be more of a full-on show, and we're going to play some new stuff that we didn't play last time, and we'll play some of the songs we played last time."

Garth shows up at the Grand Ole Opry

"That's the holy grail, right? It's a huge, huge, moment if you get to play the Grand Ole Opry."

"I was shocked, I really was," Rossell said of being introduced by Brooks. "You know, I'm not a very good actor when it comes to something like that. Did the thought cross my mind it was possible? Sure, it did, (but) I just didn't think that was going to happen (because of Brooks' busy schedule). It didn't really surprise me with him because he's just like that − he goes above and beyond."

The blessing of Garth Brooks

Asked if he's ever in awe of his friendship with Brooks, Rossell said: "That happens all the time. It's happened since day one. I very often sit in the shower and I think, 'Why me?' I definitely don't feel like I deserve it; it's just a huge blessing, and that's how you have to think about it."

As his career progresses, Rossell hopes he can play a similar role for younger musical artists.

"Maybe I can help somebody and just be a small light in their life to kind of get them through some hard times or influence them in a positive way and help them get through life, and that's what it's all about."

Rossell's new song, 'Son,' is dedicated to his late father

Rossell was 10 years old when a drunken driver killed his father.

"It was definitely a difficult song to finally come around to," the independent artist said of releasing "Son" in memory of his father last year. "I think that's why it took so long for me to write; it was kind of a no-brainer to do it ... (because) my dad is the reason I play music. He would have freaked to see me do the things I get to do, and especially play the Grand Ole Opry.

"I'll never debut again, and if there's one song I choose to play, it's the most personal song I've ever written.

"My dad is gone, unfortunately, but my songs are here, and I'm a dad now, and that's the most important thing to me, more than music, more than anything ... so there's no better presentation of me than that song."

'Career and life changing' projects on the horizon

"I don't really write for other artists. The Garth thing happened very organically, and that's something that was definitely unexpected. I don't really pitch songs to anybody else.

"... I'm definitely a song writer in the sense I want to speak my voice," Rossell said, adding that he has "tons of music in the can."

"There's two big things that are kind of happening right now," said Rossell, noting he couldn't announce them yet. "One of them is already a done deal, and it's happening, and I think it's going to be a really great opportunity and a great way to get some good exposure, (and the) other one is almost a done deal.

"And both of them, I think, are going to be pretty career and life changing, and I'm just trying to get those lined out, and then it's off to the races."

Rossell once considered quitting country music

"Especially in a business like this, you're not building a 401(k), and there's no backup plan. You could do this for 15 years and have nothing to show for it, and ... it's a little bit scary, and to have success, I think you have to give it everything you got and do it for the right reason.

"It's been a grind and a struggle. I'll be honest ... it can be a very brutal business, and there are still days like that. I feel like I'm getting close to breaking through, but it's hard to sell tickets, it's hard to make a living, all those things, and you just have to keep showing up and trusting what you're doing is going to work, and that's not fur sure."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and at ebalint@gannett.com. On Twitter @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Garth Brooks braved traffic for Mitch Rossell's Grand Ole Opry debut