This is the first in an eight-part series examining the 1989 murder of Kevin Hughes, a country music chart director who uncovered too many secrets.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A terrified young man dashed down 16th Avenue South, being pursued by a terrifying figure armed with a blue steel gun, donning a black ski mask, and walking with an unusual side-to-side gait.

A shot struck Kevin Hughes in the back, penetrating his left shoulder blade and bringing him to the ground.

At just 23, Hughes was a young Christian with a mullet and a “Dirty Dancing” keychain. He had moved to Nashville to pursue a career in the music industry, hoping to join the Gospel Music Association. Unfortunately, his downfall was becoming privy to too many of the town’s secrets.

As he lay face down on the pavement, witnesses reported that Hughes never looked up. He shielded the back of his head with his hands, possibly uttering a prayer.

The assailant stood over him, pointing the gun at Hughes’ head and fired two additional shots.

Execution style.

Listen to the podcast

• Episode 1: There Ain’t No Justice In It | Apple | Spotify | iHeart
• Episode 2: Who Shot Sam? | Apple | Spotify | iHeart
• Episode 3: Chasing That Neon Rainbow | Apple | Spotify | iHeart
• Episode 4: Tell It Like It Is | Apple | Spotify | iHeart
• Episode 5: It Ain’t My Fault | Apple | Spotify | iHeart
• Episode 6: If You Don’t Know Me By Now | Apple | Spotify | iHeart
• Episode 7: Life of Sin | Apple | Spotify | iHeart
• Episode 8: Bury Me In Georgia | Apple | Spotify | iHeart

‘They Got Away with Murder on Music Row’

It’s hard to dissociate Kevin Hughes from the dramatic scene of his death.

On that fateful March 9, 1989, Hughes was shot right in front of the Bug Music office, which held rights to timeless tracks like “Fever,” “What a Wonderful World,” “I Walk the Line,” and “Summer in the City.”

Among the bystanders was a hopeful young singer named Faith Hill, who heard the gunfire, rushed to the scene, and witnessed Hughes take his final breath. The shooting interrupted recording sessions of the latest Highwaymen album just a short distance away, where Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson were present.

This life-and-death incident unfolded right in the heart of country music.

A decade later, a song was written about the event.

The song told the story of a mysterious murder where the alleged perpetrator vanished into the darkness, leaving no trace of the weapon. Written by songwriters Larry Cordle and Larry Shell, it eerily resonated with reality.

The song was titled “Murder on Music Row.”

“No one witnessed him fleeing from 16th Avenue.

The weapon or any fingerprints were never discovered.

But someone killed the spirit of country music, slicing out its heart and soul.

They got away with murder on Music Row.”

The circumstances surrounding Hughes’ death and the subsequent homicide probe had significant repercussions. For lead detective Bill Pridemore, it turned into a lengthy, 14-year ordeal that spanned multiple states, leaving many unresolved issues and frustrations concerning the justice system.

One of those frustrated individuals is Sammy Sadler, a musician who was with Hughes during that fateful night.

“I believe the Metro Nashville police owe me an apology,” mentioned Sadler, who became a suspect in the investigation. “I feel they mishandled the situation, putting me and my family through unnecessary turmoil.”

Retired detective Pridemore, however, did not offer any contrition.

“Throughout the entire case, I suspected that he (Sadler) was lying,” Pridemore stated in an interview with The Tennessean, part of the YSL News Network.

The investigation didn’t only center around Sadler.

Pridemore, along with his partner Det. Pat Postiglione and a team of detectives, uncovered a complex situation involving a love triangle, a hidden family, ties to a Mexican drug cartel, a hat dedicated to WWII veterans, and a critical cat hair strand.

They also stumbled upon a shady part of the independent music scene that might have profited from the murder of Kevin Hughes.

This investigation had the potential to shine a light on corruption in Nashville and clean up the industry.

However, that didn’t happen.

The industry continued as usual.

The homicide cast suspicion on several individuals who were not pleased with the scrutiny. Were they the murderers, accomplices, or merely associated with the crime? And why didn’t those who were aware of the actual perpetrator come forward?

Were they shielding themselves or, more generally, the lifestyle within the Nashville music community?

Without a stroke of investigative luck, it’s probable that no one would have been held accountable in this instance.

It’s also possible that some people connected to the murder have managed to evade responsibility all these years.

Just wait to learn about the facts that have never been covered before.

The decline of grit and steel guitars

On March 9, 1989, at 10:25 p.m., gunfire shattered a cold Thursday night, marking the beginning of one of Nashville’s most crucial months in history.

Back then, Nashville was a very different place.

In the 1980s, Nashville had its fair share of grit, worn-out boots, and a weathered cowboy hat. This version of Music City often seemed under the influence of cheap whiskey and embroiled in the drama of love lost. Its underbelly was filled with characters who might take your money or even your life, all while grinning.

During the 1980s, the Nashville music scene was losing its edge and the familiar sound of steel guitars. The country songs of that era shifted their focus away from themes like drinking, cheating, and the struggles of life to celebrating the joys of love. Hit songs became increasingly polished and sweet, much like the track “Wildflowers” sung by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard country chart in 1988.

However, things began to change in March 1989.

Just three days prior to Kevin Hughes’ murder on Music Row, a singer from Oklahoma released a song titled “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old).” This newcomer had briefly worked in a boot store while trying to carve out a niche in performing.

He had recorded “Much Too Young,” telling the story of a weary rodeo cowboy referencing songwriter and rodeo champion Chris LeDoux during his time circling college towns in 1987. Initially, it was just a favorite at the Stillwater bar circuit until Capitol Records took notice.

This song became the leading single from the album titled “Garth Brooks.”

Coincidentally, a murder investigation and a spectacular rise to fame were poised to unfold simultaneously in Nashville.

Brooks’ debut single launched on March 6, 1989, just three days before the murder took place.

Nineteen days later, “Much Too Young” made its entrance at No. 94 on Billboard’s country music chart.

It was as if that song signaled the beginning of a massive transformation that elevated Nashville from being a million-dollar city to a billion-dollar empire.

Today, Garth Brooks is a household name, with his authentic persona serving as a bridge that connects him with fans globally.

However, few know the story you are about to discover.

It revolves around Kevin Hughes, a man whose principles ultimately cost him his life.

What the police were unaware of when they arrived at the scene was that two blood trails marked that night.

One trail started from under Kevin Hughes’ head.

The second trail led investigators down a path they never anticipated.