A shared connection between a Knoxville music teacher and Simon Estes eventually led to his scheduled concert in December. Megan Phillips tells KNIA/KRLS News that she saw Estes as her and her husband were leaving from a lunch stop in Des Moines. Phillips is from Centerville, which is also Estes’ hometown. She says she was one of the first recipients of the Simon Estes scholarship through Centerville High School. As Estes and Phillips chatted, Estes revealed his desire to sing in all 99 Iowa counties as part of his Roots and Wings program. Phillips mentioned the new Knoxville Performing Arts Center, and she says the ball just got rolling after that.