Introduction
When the studio lights came up, Twitty grabbed the mic and launched into “Play, Ruby, Play,” a song he co-wrote in 1982 that reached the Top 25 on the country charts. His rich, velvety vocals filled the room, proving that even in the glow of a late-night set, his voice carried the same warmth that made hits like “Hello Darlin’” timeless. After the song, Letterman bantered with Twitty about his early days as Harold Jenkins and how he picked the stage name Conway Twitty—pulling “Conway” from a map of Arkansas and “Twitty” from a town in Texas.
Twitty’s chat wasn’t just promotional fluff. He fondly recalled afternoons playing baseball in his hometown, using that anecdote to explain the grit behind his songs. He even teased that Twitty City—his own Nashville amusement park and museum—was inspired by that same small-town pride, inviting fans to walk through replicas of his recording booth and tour the memorabilia he’d amassed over decades .
Decades later, this late-night spot remains a vivid reminder of Twitty’s versatile talent: the effortless shift from heartfelt balladeer to engaging storyteller. For many viewers, it represented a rare glimpse at the man behind the hits—a genuine, down-to-earth performer who could make you laugh with a baseball tale and then hold you rapt with a soaring chorus