Columbia Family Rebuilding After Fire Leaves Them With Almost Nothing

Issue #629

December 17, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌧️ Columbia’s Thurssday Weather - Rain w/ high of 61, low of 31

📰 Columbia Family Rebuilding After Fire Leaves Them With Almost Nothing

🎶 Puckett’s Brings the Hitmakers to Columbia on Thursday

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Columbia Family Rebuilding After Fire Leaves Them With Almost Nothing

A Columbia family is facing an uncertain road ahead after a house fire destroyed their home just two weeks before Christmas, leaving them with almost nothing.

Kristen Wiley, her three children, and her partner, LaShawn Hogan, lost their Holland Court townhouse early Sunday morning when a fire broke out in the attic and quickly spread throughout the home. By the time the fire was extinguished, nearly all of their belongings — including clothing, furniture, and Christmas gifts — were gone.

The loss has been especially difficult given the family’s recent history. Just two years ago, they experienced homelessness before finally finding stability again. After working to rebuild their lives, the sudden destruction of their home has left them starting over once more.

The family initially believed renters insurance would help them recover, but later learned the policy only covered the property manager’s losses, not their personal belongings. With no coverage for their possessions, the fire left them without resources to replace what was lost.

Compounding the hardship, both Wiley and Hogan were temporarily laid off last month amid widespread job cuts connected to General Motors subcontractor Ryder Supply Chain Solutions. The couple had been carefully budgeting and preparing to return to work in January when the fire occurred.

The timing of the disaster also meant the loss of the small number of Christmas gifts they had managed to purchase for their children. Now staying in a hotel with only a few days of coverage remaining, the family is unsure what comes next.

Despite the overwhelming circumstances, the family remains hopeful and is asking the community for support, whether through donations or prayers. Wiley also hopes their experience serves as a reminder for renters to carefully review insurance policies and understand what is — and is not — covered in the event of a disaster.

The family is currently accepting donations of clothing for boys in sizes 8–10 and 10–12, shoes in sizes 2 and 8, and for girls, extra small shirts, size 4 pants, and size 6.5 shoes.

Donations can be made here.

Puckett’s Brings the Hitmakers to Columbia on Thursday

Join Puckett’s for their next Hitmakers night featuring Dylan Altman, Matt Warren & Pat McLaughlin. Known for hits such as: “Watch the Wind Blow By”, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night”, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)”, “Learning How to Bend”, "I Remember Everything" and “Lynda”. Enjoy hearing the stories behind the songs during this live performance from the Puckett’s Stage.

Dylan Altman has been writing songs & performing in Nashville since 1995. He has had three #1 songs: Tim McGraw’s “Watch The Wind Blow By,” Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride.”  Other artists who have recorded Altman’s songs include Eric Paslay, Chase Bryant, Joe Nichols, Eli Young Band, Gloriana, Jennette McCurdy, Trace Adkins, Will Hoge, Gabe Dixon, John King, JT Hodges, The Almost, Ted Russell Kamp, Hayden Panettiere and Jonathan Jackson.

Matt Warren was born in Nashville, TN. He is a graduate of Gallatin Senior High & has a BS degree in Education from Middle Tennessee State University. He first debuted into the Nashville music scene as an artist in 1996 when he & his band, 40 East, signed a deal with the Nashville booking agency Crescent Moon Talent & began a fall tour of the southeast region. The band broke up before they could make a record. His next endeavor as an artist was with his band Papa Joe in 2001. They released their debut record, "Storybook Ending", on an independent record label.

In 2002, Warren made his professional staff writer debut onto Music Row's elite published songwriter scene when he signed his first deal with House of Fame in Muscle Shoals, AL. Matt's first cut as a House of Fame writer was “Puttin’ Memories Away”, co-written with Gary Allan & featured on the Oprah Winfrey show when Gary was her guest. Warren is the recipient of 2 ASCAP Awards for most spins in a year (2009, 2013). In 2009, he won the ASCAP award for the top 10 hit "Learning How to Bend". In 2013, he co-wrote the ASCAP award winning #1 smash hit & all-time biggest selling Gary Allan single ever, "Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)", which was also nominated for the 2014 ACM song of the year award.

He has had songs recorded by Americana music icon Jim Lauderdale & by Pittsburgh blue collar rock legend & Bruce Springsteen co-writer & band mate, Joe Grushecky. He also co-wrote the lead single from the 2017 “Got Soul” record by Robert Randolph & The Family Band called “L-O-V-E Love Let It Do What It Do” which featured country star Darius Rucker & was a 2018 Grammy nominated record for Robert Randolph & the Family Band in the “Blues record of the year” category. Warren continues to work on his own artistry & put out his record "Self- titled" in the spring of 2014 on his own independent record label United We Jam Records with his business partners Daniel Loper & Alan Bradshaw. "Self-titled" is produced by Grammy, CMA & ACM multi-award winning musician & artist Tom Bukovac. It was tracked by Grammy Award winning engineer/producer Justin Niebank & mixed by Grammy Award winning engineer/producer Mills Logan. Matt’s band features Steve Gorman on drums (The Black Crowes, Trigger Hippy), Audley Freed on guitar (Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow), Tom Bukovac on guitar, slide guitar & keys (John Fogerty, Trigger Hippy), Michael Rhodes on bass (Ray Charles, Willie Nelson), John Lancaster on piano, Rhodes & Nord (Gary Allan, Will Hoge), Johnny Neel on Hammond B-3 & piano (Allman Brothers, Blue Floyd), Nick Buda on drums (Col. Bruce Hampton & The Code Talkers, Hank Williams Jr.), Jedd Hughes on guitar & beer (Rodney Crowell & Emmylou Harris) & Pat McLaughlin on guitar (Johnny Cash, The Subdudes). The record features vocalists Hillary Lindsey, Sarah Buxton, & Pat McLaughlin.

Pat McLaughlin, a Nashville-based songwriter originally from Waterloo, Iowa, first gained prominence in the late 1970s after relocating to Music City, where he honed his craft blending country, R&B, and rock influences. His breakthrough came in 1987 when Steve Wariner's recording of McLaughlin's "Lynda" topped the country charts, earning him his first BMI Country Award. This was followed by another major hit in 1992 with "Tell Me About It," a duet by Tanya Tucker and Delbert McClinton that also secured a BMI award and marked a rare mainstream success for the understated tunesmith. Throughout the 1980s and '90s, McLaughlin amassed around 40 cuts by artists including Alan Jackson ("It's Alright to Be a Redneck") and blues legend Taj Mahal, while releasing his own acclaimed albums like the 1988 Capitol debut Pat McLaughlin and the independently issued Get Out and Stay Out (1995), produced by Mitchell Froom.

McLaughlin's legacy deepened through his profound collaboration with John Prine, co-writing several tracks for Prine's 2018 album The Tree of Forgiveness, including the poignant "Summer's End," which won the 2019 Americana Music Association Song of the Year. Their partnership peaked posthumously with "I Remember Everything," Prine's final recorded song, which claimed the 2021 Grammy for Best American Roots Song. A versatile session guitarist known for his signature "chunking" rhythm style, McLaughlin contributed to landmark recordings, including Johnny Cash's final American Recordings sessions, and has performed alongside icons like Prine and in bands such as Tiny Town (1998). Despite his preference for live gigs over the spotlight, his soulful songcraft has cemented him as a revered figure in Nashville's songwriter community.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Thursday, December 18th

Friday, December 19th

Saturday, December 20th

Sunday, December 21st

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, December 18th

Todd Ciprian - Tito’s Spring Hill, 6–9 PM
The Irish Tenors - CSCC - Cherry Theater, 7 PM
Steve Gary - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
Hitmakers Series - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM

Friday, December 19th

Golden Soul Revue - Grinder’s Switch Winery, 7–9 PM
Everamarillo - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
Radio Farm - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Wentzel Brothers Band - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Saturday, December 20th

Robert Johnson - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
A Tender Tennessee Christmas Show - The Mulehouse, 7:30 PM
Writers Round on the Patio - Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Troy Castellano - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Much-To-Do - The Boondox, 8 PM
South Bound Crows - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Sunday, December 21st

Christmas Jazz with Cord Martin & Friends - The Mulehouse, 6 PM

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