If you follow entertainment news, you may have seen a recent story about Toby Willis, patriarch of an extremely talented brood of musicians and dancers, 12 in all, who perform together as The Willis Clan. They specialize in bluegrass, Celtic, and country music and reached a large audience this past few years after appearing on America’s Got Talent on NBC in 2014, and in a self-titled reality series on TLC television in 2015.
In what has been a shock to everyone who enjoyed their positive, feel-good music, Toby has been charged by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation with child rape in a 12 year old case. TBI claims that Willis had fled to Kentucky in an attempt to avoid prosecution, but was arrested in Greenville before a concert the family had scheduled.
As is sadly common in cases such as this, the family has made no comment, and even taken down The Willis Clan web site. No official statement has been made, but we have learned that they have cancelled all remaining dates that are booked going forward.
Neither Toby, nor his wife, Brenda, were involved in their children’s stage show, other than in supporting roles.
We expect that no further information will be forthcoming until this legal question is resolved. The Willis Clan had been cancelled by TLC prior to Toby’s arrest.
