I apologize if the title is misleading. Don’t bother trying to find Jeff Bridges country debut. Nonetheless, it would not have been surprising. We have seen commendable attempts by Kevin Costner and Billy Bob Thornton, but their projects came across contrived and unauthentic. No, this title is a reference to the upcoming film Crazy Heart [...]
If someone appraised your yearbook, what do you think it’s worth would be? If you were Hank Thompson, the answer would be $200. Country music buffs with deep pockets should be aware of the country music estate sale that Christie’s, New York’s popular auctioning company, is spear-heading on December 3. This might seem out of [...]
The other night I took a stroll down to my favorite neighborhood bar Brown’s Diner. It’s located on Blair Ave right off of 21st Ave in the Hillsboro Village Area of Nashville. For anyone who has never been to Brown’s, its a great place to get a cheeseburger and hear some of Nashville’s best [...]
It seems that the prerequisite for all of the country alumni that have graduated from Belmont University is that they conform to wherever country music is heading. Jace Everett never got that memo. Although he has never had any real solo chart success per say, his first charted single, “That’s The Kind Of Love I’m [...]
Continue reading "Sultry Alt Country Courtesy of Jace Everett" »
Once upon a time there was a certain young hooligan from Memphis that was billed along with the likes of Faron Young and Hank Snow. The young man was shunned by the country greats. They didn’t regard him as country, and for good reason. His music was edgier and suggestive. What they didn’t know is [...]
Continue reading "Taylor Swift Pulls Off Hat Trick and One More" »
When my roommate told me that he was going to be an extra in the upcoming film A Pure Country Gift, I asked if it was a sequel to the should-have-been-straight-to-VHS-classic. Of course he said yes, and I was ecstatic. I have very fond memories of the original. Let me rephrase that. I have very [...]
I am concluding my predictions on the tomorrow’s CMA Awards Show. Let’s not waste any time.
The Vocal Group of the Year Award has usually been reserved for Rascal Flatts. Unstoppable has accrued a #1 hit with “Here Comes Goodbye” and a #2 hit with “Summer Night,” but “Why” hasn’t really taken off. The guys better [...]
Oh, if only the CMA awards could be like college football. Jamey Johnson would beat out Brad Paisley. Miranda Lambert would pull a huge upset against Taylor Swift. Unfortunately, there are no come-from-behind victories at the CMA’s. Most of the “little people” do not even get to compete. So, I am going to appease the [...]
Death is not a respecter of person, musician or not. However, it does seem that the most talented artists are always taken in their prime. They either leave this world under extreme circumstances that are beyond their control, or by their own volition. Johnny Horton’s death falls under the category of the aforementioned. Horton, like [...]
All the time we hear talk about “Today’s” Country Music. Some think it is absolutely horrible and consider it a slap in the face to the genre. However, there are some that would strongly disagree and see it as a refreshing change for country music. I can see both sides of the fence. I personally [...]
Every country music publication loves to praise the marriage of Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill. It seems that every time you pick up an issue of Country Weekly they want to tell you how well Alan and Denise are doing. But no one ever pays attention to country music’s perfect match that is truly one [...]
Continue reading "Johnny Wright and Kitty Wells 72 Years and Counting" »
I wonder what type of country music you would find on Bucky Covington’s iPod. You would probably find all of the classic artists, such as, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and George Jones. There might be a Sugarland song thrown in there, but that would be to impress the ladies. His rock collection would be just [...]
The brilliant baritone of Billy Dean can only be surpassed by the brilliance of his mullet. There are only a handful of country artists that could execute the amount of smoothness that Billy Dean brought to each vocal. It is a travesty that he did not have a single #1 hit to his name. Dean [...]
Continue reading "Most Underrated Country Songs, “Billy The Kid”" »
I am not going to re-report the announcement of Garth’ 5 year plan or his new Las Vegas gig. I am going to ask two questions. Do the fans want him back? And when and if he does come back , in what capacity. The answer to the first one is yes, plain and simple. [...]
Leona Atkins passed away today at her home in Nashville, she was 85 years old. Leona was no stranger to the stage herself. She and her sister Lois Johnson consisted of the “The Johnson Twins” and performed on WLW-AM, which is where she met the legendary guitarist. They were married in 1946. Here is a [...]
Covers albums are not an exact science. Kid gloves are necessary when an artist records an already perfect song. How does one make a timeless classic sound fresh and new without sounding contrived and forced. Rosanne Cash’s The List may not be the end-all covers album, and to be honest it isn’t. But is a [...]
Just as Ryan Seacrest is the hardest working man in show business, Lorianne Crook and Charley Chase are the hardest working duo in country music. Both of them have their plates full, Charley co-hosts Tennessee Mornings on Fox 17 in Nashville, and Lorianne hosts Lorianne Crook’s Celebrity Kitchen on RFD-TV. In addition, they are seen [...]
The country news well is running pretty dry, so I thought I would give a retrospective look at Ronnie Milsap’s top 5 hit “Button Off My Shirt.” There are actually two versions of this song in existence. The one that most people are familiar with is the 1988 version, but in 1996 it was updated [...]
Well, are you ready for it? Here is some country music news coming at you faster than Mel Gibson can chug a bottle of Jose Cuervo.
You might want to stroll on down to Nashville this week on Thursday, Oct. 8. This will be the night for real country music to shine through. The night’s focus [...]
I guess if you can’t beat them, start your own record label. This is exactly what Gretchen Wilson has done. She officially launched Redneck Records. Yeah, big surprise, huh? The company is setting up shop at Studio 27 in Lebanon, TN with Wilson at the helm as it’s president. She has already got distribution through [...]
You might call this a cop-out, but I didn’t see any alternative. In 1992, the world of country music was introduced to a spiked mullet-Elvis wannabe, Billy Ray Cyrus. His first and only #1 single “Achy Breaky Heart” debuted with startling success. Previous to the song’s popularity, it went through an identity crisis. At first, [...]
Kitty Wells has accomplished every milestone that an artist would want to in country music. She has had multiple hit songs, including becoming the first female country artist with a number one hit “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” Unfortunately, she has crossed over one milestone that no one would wish upon anybody, [...]
Continue reading "Queen of Country Music’s Daughter Passes Away" »
Apparently, a wink from his girlfriend is an instant stress reliever in our #2. With just a blink of an eye, she sets him at ease faster than a shot of Southern Comfort. Of course, I am referring to Neal McCoy’s #1 hit in 1994, “Wink.” I know a lot of people who simply adore [...]
Maybe I’m just a sourpuss. Maybe I prefer melancholy over silliness. I don’t know what I have against novelty songs, but the annoyance I feel towards them is the same as the loose hair that falls underneath my shirt collar after a haircut. I have always had a soft spot for Shenandoah. “Cumberland Road,” “Next [...]
No, it’s not an acoustic set from Alan Thicke or Kirk Cameron. If you thought the Country Music Hall of Fame was big enough, think again. There are plans in the works to double the Hall’s size. The already 140,000 square foot building is looking to expand on 5th avenue. This is conjunction with the [...]
Continue reading "Country Hall of Fame Experiencing Growing Pains" »