Former BYU-I student to work at CMT
- posted: 30 Oct. 2007
- scrollarts@byui.edu
Many students, often before they even graduate, fantasize about that perfect career they have always wanted. What would it be like to actually have that dream job? Leighton Linning is one former student who got that chance in more ways than one.
In school at BYU-Idaho, Linning majored in jazz studies with an emphasis on jazz guitar. With some hard work, dedication and a little bit of the miraculous, he was able to use the skills he learned in school to eventually start up his own entertainment company called Sundown Ranch, near Bryce Canyon, Utah.
It all began after Linning and a friend found out that their past employer in Jackson, Wyo., was selling his business. They had been playing music for some time and decided to take a shot at starting something of their own. Thus, the ranch was born.
At Sundown Ranch, musicians entertain the audience with western music put to skits and shows.
These performances sometimes feature a wagon attacked by people dressed as the Indians of the Old West. As the owner of the ranch, Linning runs the office and organizes the activities. His goals for his ranch and other performances include making people happy and possibly sharing the gospel.
Linning has performed all over America and is going to be working for Country Music Television (CMT) in the near future.
He said that he had applied to CMT online, thinking that it was worth trying for, but not really plausible.
CMT contacted him after two months of waiting, and he was told that even though his résumé didn’t really have all the qualifications they were looking for, every time they looked it over it just felt right. He said they told him it was “unlike any other résumé we have seen.”
The lucky musician has also been invited to play for Tiffany Lee, who has worked as Tim McGraw’s manager.
Linning said that Lee heard his show in the summer at Sundown Ranch and wanted him to play lead guitar for her sometime in the future.
“I feel like the Lord wants me to be here,” Linning said.
He explained that to be a celebrity was not his dream; it was something more simple.
“My only dream is to be better on my instrument,” Linning said. 
