MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Returning to all her familiar haunts, country musician Kathy Mattea expects Mountain State residents to enjoy the full “Country Music” docuseries, once it is released.
For now, she’s enjoying her trip to Morgantown for a select premier of certain portions of the series.
“You don’t know what they’re going to use,” she said Tuesday on MetroNews “Talkline” with Hoppy Kercheval. “I just said to them in the beginning, if I wind up completely on the cutting room floor, I’m fine. Whatever serves the documentary.
“And, much to my surprise, I am the first face you see.”
Mattea, a South Charleston native, and Charlie McCoy, an Oak Hill native, will both hit the stage at WVU’s Creative Arts Center in Morgantown ahead of the select premier of “Country Music” — featuring the role of West Virginians in Ken Burns’s new documentary miniseries.
“It was just really interesting to get a front row seat in how they put this together from the very, very beginning,” Mattea said.
Burns, a celebrated documentarian who appeared on “Talkline” last week to promote the new series, said they can’t tell every story — but they are attempting to showcase a complete tapestry that represents the music.
And, unsurprisingly, not everything made the cut, but Mattea believes fans of the genre will be pleased.
“I have to say that I understand that challenge, but if I was going to entrust it to anyone to be done with as much care as possible, it would be Ken Burns,” she said.
McCoy, the celebrated musician who has “played with everyone,” is featured significantly in the film, Mattea said.
“And he’s never changed,” Mattea said. “He’s just the same guy. We’re going to get to hear him play tonight and tell some stories, which is really a treat.”
Viewers will recognize more than a few names McCoy has played with — household names like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley.
“I did a thing with him for West Virginia Day a couple of years ago, and I looked up on the stage and he’s playing trumpet with his left hand and bass with his right hand,” Mattea said. “I mean, he’s just a phenom. He’s an amazing man.”
The showcase begins at 7 p.m. in Morgantown and the screening at 7:30 p.m.