Conviction for Wayne Mills Killer Confirmed by Appeals Court
The guilty verdict for bar owner Chris Michael Ferrell who was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder in the death of country artist Wayne Mills on March 6th, 2015 has been confirmed by a Tennessee Court of Appeals. Ferrell was sentenced to 20 mandatory years in prison shortly after being found guilty in a jury trial for the November 23rd, 2013 murder of Wayne Mills. The altercation began when Mills lit a cigarette in the Pit & Barrel bar in Nashville, TN that Chris Ferrell owned, and ended when Ferrell drew a pistol and shot Wayne Mills in the back of the head as Wayne was exiting the property. Now Ferrell’s legal remedies to get the conviction overturned, to have his sentence lessened or commuted, or to receive a new trial in the murder are running out.
After it was initially determined that Chris Ferrell would not receive a new trial on May 29th, 2015 by the presiding judge Steve Dozier of the Davidson County Criminal Court, lawyers for Ferrell filed a formal appeal of the guilty verdict in the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee in Nashville on July 19th, 2016. Saving Country Music had tried unsuccessfully to obtain the results of that appeal previously, but during a post-conviction relief hearing held last Friday, March 1st, records were updated to reflect that the original conviction was affirmed by the Tennessee appeals court on March 13th, 2017, meaning they agreed with the trial court’s conclusions of a guilty verdict.
“[Chris Michael Ferrell’s] cause was heard on the record from the court for Davidson County,” the ruling reads in part. “Upon consideration thereof, this court is of the opinion that no error exists in the judgement of the trial court. Therefore it is ordered that the judge in the trial court is confirmed.”

Then on June 27th, 2017, a motion for “post conviction relief” was filed. Post conviction relief is when the original court once again reviews the case, and chooses whether there is any reason to lessen or commute a sentence, or conduct a new trial. On Friday, March 1st, the post conviction process moved forward via Judge Steve Dozier, who is currently considering the motion. Once Judge Dozier has ruled on the post conviction relief motion, a new court date will be set.
Six years after the murder of Wayne Mills, the singer’s memory still remains rich throughout the independent country music community. The song “King of Alabama” co-written and recorded by Brent Cobb for his 2018 record Providence Canyon was a tribute to Wayne Mills. The song was also co-written by Adam Hood, and both songwriters seceded a songwriting credit to Wayne’s son Jack as part of the recording. The new 2019 album Old News by Southern rock band The Steel Woods also includes a Wayne Mills song, “One of These Days.”
Wayne Mills was originally from the small town of Arab in Northern Alabama. He attended Wallace State Junior College as a baseball player, and eventually played football for the University of Alabama. Mills earned his degree in education and formed the Wayne Mills Band which became one of the hottest college bands on the honky tonk circuit. Though Mills never rose to become a household name, his influence on country music cannot be overstated. He was close personal friends with Jamey Johnson, and Jamey opened for Wayne when he was making his way up in the ranks, as did Blake Shelton, Craig Wayne Boyd, and others. Mills released multiple albums and toured both Europe and Australia during his 15-plus years as a professional musician.
March 6, 2019 @ 10:51 am
Shooting a man in the back of the head over a cigarette? Dispicable and cowardly. Twenty years isn’t enough, he should get a life sentence with no parole.
March 6, 2019 @ 3:02 pm
He will, dont worry
March 15, 2019 @ 8:35 pm
He should be fried, or hung from the gallows or maybe injected for taking a life.
March 6, 2019 @ 12:04 pm
Arab is is a small town but Alabama is a proud state for one of our own. What we in the community want is to give us this coward and let him receive some true Bama Justice. We take care of our own here and we can handle this to. Roll Tide!
March 6, 2019 @ 1:13 pm
I worked at the Ivory Tusk when Wayne played his first gig as a Country music singer. He asked me after his show if he sounded good and was he making a fool of himself. I told him the truth and said he was better than anyone I had heard before. He was one of the nicest persons I had ever met. And I have seen him in situations where he could have and probably should have been an asshole. But he ALWAYS took the high road and was at least polite and was a true gentleman. 20 years in not enough for the dirt bag that took Wayne from us. RIP Wayne!
March 6, 2019 @ 2:06 pm
Wayne was a friend of mine and we were notified of the shooting as soon as Wayne was positively identified. We’ve followed the aftermath and the trial from the beginning. We went to the site of the Pit & Barrel (which has since been demolished) and it had an evil feel about it. I personally hope that Ferrell will get what he deserves while in prison…I don’t have to elaborate, but I hope he is NEVER granted parole and he takes his last breath right where he is now. Wayne’s legacy will never die and he’s still bringing people together…the thing he was best at. I miss you, brother, we’ll all be along in a while.
March 6, 2019 @ 3:28 pm
He will, dont worry
March 6, 2019 @ 9:35 pm
was in Nashville that night from Indy the place had an eerie feeling even earlier in the day even before all that happened and then I seen on the TV show that I watched it it was also set to be on Bar Rescue but after the incident of flames death they took the episode Down and it was never aired on TV for Bar Rescue Glad For Wayne’s Family And FRIENDS That the Courts Did the wright Thing R.I.P WAYNE MILLS
March 7, 2019 @ 8:03 am
Actually that’s not quite 100% true.
Spike TV didn’t air it in its original timeslot but it did air it in the replay spot by accident.
March 6, 2019 @ 9:44 pm
What’s strange about this story is that it’s the bar OWNER who did the shooting.
I’m not a big fan of guns–but even I recognize that a business owner–especially of a cash business–would need one.
Did this killer Ferrell ever do something crazy and violent before–or was this a first-timer?
In my state, there’s no way in hell that the State Liquor Authority would allow someone with a violent felony record to own a bar. (Though some people with criminal records have been known to use phony “front” owners to apply for the license.)
There’s probably more to the story, but from the description, this was about as idiotic a murder as you’re going to find.
March 6, 2019 @ 10:20 pm
Chris Ferrell did have some previous run-ins with the law, but nothing major. If anyone wants to read more on the story, I covered the whole murder trial on the site in 2015.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/?s=wayne+mills
March 6, 2019 @ 10:16 pm
Thanks for the reporting on this. From the outside looking in, it always seemed weird that a business owner would shoot a patron (especially a famous one) in the back over a smoke.
Hope the family finds peace and the killer finds justice.
March 7, 2019 @ 7:22 am
Wayne was loved by all. Especially from Ttown. He is missed. Prayers to his family.
March 7, 2019 @ 9:24 am
Can anyone explain why none of Wayne’s music is on itunes or Apple Music? The only song that I know available through Apple is “One of These Days” from Outlaws Still at Large compilation. I’d love to check out more of his stuff, but I have no interest in cd’s.
March 7, 2019 @ 9:43 am
Wayne last CD, The last honky tonk is available to download on all platforms. Also would recommend visiting, Waynemillsband.com and order his early music. It’s fantastic! And the proceeds go directly to Carol and Jack. You can also order Merch as well.
March 7, 2019 @ 9:44 am
Wayne last CD, The last honky tonk is available to download on all platforms. Also would recommend visiting, Waynemillsband.com and order his early music. It’s fantastic! And the proceeds go directly to Carol and Jack. You can also order Merch as well.
March 7, 2019 @ 5:14 pm
Wayne was a belligerent asshole and a bully when he was drunk.
Lucky for him he was a big dude and nobody tested him when he got like that. He was being an asshole, lighting up a smoke in a non smoking venue.
Doesnt matter if it was after hours or not.
Wayne did it to provoke a response from Ferrell. Im pretty sure Wayne threatened to beat him to a pulp, like he did with many others, only Ferrell had a gun and wasnt gonna let Wayne fuck with him anymore. Wayne played with fire one too many times, and has no one to blame but himself…if he was still alive.
March 7, 2019 @ 7:28 pm
So for lighting up a smoke in a non smoking venue, he deserved to be murdered with a bullet to the back of his head, and his son to grow up without a father?
March 8, 2019 @ 12:42 am
Booger junior, you sound like a shit for brains, back woods, dip shit!!! I knew Wayne a long time and never saw him Bully anyone! He would get drunk and show his ass, but never beat anyone up for no reason !!! Your boy ferrel was a pussy and got butt hurt over some bullshit and acted like the brainless dipshit he was!
March 8, 2019 @ 8:39 am
Folks, with the seriousness of this situation, I ask everyone to try and be civil with each other, even in disagreements. I try to keep this an open forum and don’t want to suppress anyone’s point-of-view.
March 8, 2019 @ 8:43 pm
Sorry but I think talking smack about a guy who was murdered by a white trash coward for no reason is lame! Have some respect for the deceased who cannot defend themselves! Wayne was a brother to me, I spent a long time with him in many situations and knew him very well and to have some Codsack talk shit about him is B.S!!!!
July 29, 2019 @ 8:13 am
I “DON’T” think Chris Ferrell ever needs to see the outside !!! Everyone has their own opinions, so I am going to voice mine !!! This should have been handled in a different way, NO REASON IN THIS WORLD, to take a life away at all !!! Or trying to impress another Singer/Songwriter/ that had not played in Chris Ferrell’s venue and was smoking himself. Wayne Mills, played at the venue numerous times and was able to smoke a cigarette anytime !!! So, I really don’t understand why everyone was smoking and then when Wayne, lite a cigarette, Chris Ferrell, took his life away !!! He does not belong on any streets, Remembering this, “PEOPLE DON’T CHANGE !!!!”