Charles Esten
Known best for his role as Deacon Claybourne on the hit television show Nashville, Charles Esten was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and grew up in Alexandria, VA. After starting his acting career in Los Angeles, he was pleased to make his theatrical debut in London, portraying Buddy Holly in the hit West End musical Buddy. It was in that role, he was honored to perform for H.R.M Queen Elizabeth in the Royal Variety Performance.
Since then, aside from Nashville, he has performed on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, as well as appearing in many other films and television shows including The Postman, NYPD Blue, ER, Big Love, and the American version of The Office. Coming up will be a recurring role on TNT’s Tell Me Your Secrets, and Netflix’s new series Outer Banks.
It was Nashville that reopened Esten’s musical career, and over the course of the last six years he has performed hundreds of live concerts, including three sold out “Nashville In Concert” shows at the Royal Albert Hall. He has performed in the O2 Arena at the C2C Festival, at the CMC Festival in Australia, STAGECOACH in Indio, CA, CMA Fest in Nashville, as well as the Bluebird Café, The Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry where, on July 2018, he made his 100th appearance. In January of this year he completed his first solo twelve-city tour through a sold out UK and Netherlands, and standing room only shows in Germany. He returns to the UK in October 2019.
Esten made musical history when he earned a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for his #EverySingleFriday campaign which yielded 54 original songs that he wrote, recorded, and released, once a week, for 54 consecutive weeks. The songs are all available on iTunes, and on Spotify, where his music has already been streamed worldwide nearly 8 million times.
Married for 27 years, Charles and his wife Patty have three children – Taylor, Chase and Addie – and make their home in Nashville, Tennessee. Addie is a survivor of childhood leukemia, and her journey has inspired her parents’ passionate involvement in fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Esten serves as the National Honorary Spokesperson for the Light the Night Walk. Over the last 6 years, their Light the Night Walk team – Team Addie – has raised over one million dollars in the fight against blood cancer. In addition to hosting the TJ Martell Foundation Nashville Honors Gala for the past 6 years, Esten has lent his time to many of his friends’ great local charitable events including An Evening with Scott Hamilton and Friends for the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, Kim Paisley’s Dance Party to End Alzheimer's, and Kevin Carter, Jay DeMarcus’ Waiting for Wishes Celebrity Dinner and Kelly Clarkson’s Miracle on Broadway. On October 10, Charles was awarded the “Music Heals” Golden Ukulele by Musicians On Call.
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Charles Esten (EH-stehn)
· Deacon Claybourne on hit series NASHVILLE. (ABC 4 Seasons/CMT 2 Seasons)
· 100+ Grand Ole Opry performances. (100th/July 20, 2018)
· Guinness World Record certificate awarded July 25, 2018 for releasing a song a week for 54 weeks under Every Single Friday campaign (7.15.16 – 7.21.17).
· Recurring role on TNT’s new series, TELL ME YOUR SECRETS, as well as Netflix’s upcoming OUTER BANKS
· Surpassed 2018 fundraising goal of $150k for Team Addie benefitting Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 2018’s donations took 6-year Team Addie funds to $1M +.
· Performed “Light The Night” (co-written by walker Gene Rapisardi) during Nov. 2 Light The Late Night concert, in Nashville. All proceeds from single benefit LLS.
· UK/Europe: Sold out UK tour, 2018. Returning October in 2019.
About Charles Esten:
Since his theatrical debut in London playing Buddy Holly, Pennsylvania-born singer/songwriter and actor Charles Esten - best known for his role as Deacon Claybourne in the global hit show Nashville - has gone on to perform on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, as well as in multiple film & TV appearances including ER, NYPD Blue and The Office (U.S.). Over the last few years he has performed hundreds of live concerts, including multiple performances at the O2 Arena, sold-out Nashville In Concert tours - captured in the concert film of the same name - including three shows at Royal Albert Hall, where he is due to return in October 2019 for his own full band headline date following a sold-out solo acoustic tour in January.
In his adopted hometown of Nashville, he has performed at CMA Fest, the Bluebird Café, The Ryman Auditorium, and frequently at the Grand Ole Opry where, in July 2018, he celebrated his 100th appearance. Along with his live performances, acting work and commitment to good causes - Charles serves as the National Honorary Spokesperson for the Light The Night Walk in aid of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - he continues to write and record his own music with over 8 million streams to date, earning a Guinness World Record for releasing 54 original songs (available on iTunes, and on Spotify) once a week, for 54 consecutive weeks. Additionally, he will soon be appearing in two new television roles, on TNT’s Tell Me Your Secrets, and Netflix’s forthcoming series Outer Banks.