CRS Day Three

Brooks & Dunn made the "big announcemnt" at lunchtime. Later, Alan Jackson joked, "I knew those two would end up getting married someday." Seriously, Brooks & Dunn decided to honor the heritage of the music that has provided them with a career by donating the proceeds of their last concert to the Country Music Hall & Fame. The show will be August 10th in Nashville, with a string of big guest stars to be annouced later.

Alan Jackson played a casual show for lunch. He was his own Alan Jackson jukebox, as he played requests called out by the audience and just winged his way through a non-playlisted set. He through in a couple of new songs, but admitted to the downside of hearing new music live for the first time - it's hard to understand the lyrics and gist of the song. Musically, Alan and The Strayhorns sounded wonderful, but the lunchtime gig brought back some not-so-pleasant memories for Alan as he recounted his early days in Nashville playing music at a greasy spoon for 4 hours for $25. Watching everyone eat lunch while he sang reminded him of those days, yet this time he didn't even get the money! The latest American Idol to get a deal in Nashville, newcomer Danny Gokey, opened the show. He played a short set that included his first single, "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me," and wrapped up with a touching song dedicated to his late wife, "I Won't Say Goodbye."

After the afternoon seminars on the radio businees, it was on to another songwriter's showcase. It seems that each year at CRS a legendary artist is featured in some capacity, and this year was no exception. Tom T. Hall was given his due respect as he emerged from behind the curtain to a standing ovation which literally cut off the speaker's introduction of the legendary songwriter. At 73, Tom T. Hall is as spry and sharp-tongued as a man half his age. He said that he has been retired for 12 years and doesn't get out much anymore. As a matter of fact, he noted that he was missing an episode of Gunsmoke just to make this rare appearance at CRS. The audience showed its appreciation as Tom T. sang three songs, including his classics "The Day Clayton Delaney Died," and "I Love," the latter written to counter a psychological exercise to list all things you hate in order to change the behavior. Tom T. decided that he would write about things he loved. At the time, radio loved it because it was so short, and it went on to become his fourth number one hit.

Sheepishly following Tom T. Hall, Easton Corbin came out with songwriter, Wynn Varble to sing and tell a few stories behind their respective hits, "A Little More Country Than That," (originally written for Blaine Larsen who never cut it), "Waitin' On A Woman," and "Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind," (not intended for a woman, Kellie Pickler, to sing. Actually, Wynn had no idea who Kellie was when he was told that she cut the song. Wynn thought that "Kelly" was a "he" and it was his kids that had to inform him that "Kellie" was from American Idol.)

Tuesday Newsday

Brock better bring home some flowers tonight, because it’s Barbra Jean’s birthday! Melissa Peterman is 37. Enjoy the memories from the Reba McEntire concert last October at the Pan Am Center by clicking on Reba in the Live Music Video Bar.

Speaking of live concerts in the area, if you’re in the mood to drive into the mountains this summer, there’s more to see than just Lonestar and Cross Canadian Ragweed at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. How about a trip to the Inn of the Mountain Gods to see Clint Black on July 13th, Trace Adkins on August 8th, or Sugarland on September 4th? More on these concerts later. Another show that is a little closer is the Randy Rogers Band, in El Paso for the first time on July 9th at Take II. Stay tuned to win tickets.

Another former American Idol contestant is hanging out a shingle in Nashville. Simon told her that she was a “country singer,” so Kristy Lee Cook from Season 7 has signed with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville. She will be recording her debut album between stops on the Idols Live Tour, and her first single should be sent to radio later this summer. When it gets here, we’ll add her to our collection of Idols here at The Country Station: Carrie Underwood, Bucky Covington, Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler, Phil Stacey, Kelly Clarkson, and Carmen Rasmussen.

From the pages of country music’s history come two artists who not only shared the same record label and producer but had some of the best-remembered country singles of the 1960s. The Statler Brothers and Tom T. Hall were officially added to the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday. Both honorees were presented with their symbolic Hall of Fame medallions in front of an audience of Hall members, as well as their mutual producer, Jerry Kennedy.

During the ceremony, Tom T. Hall, The Storyteller, apologized for his 72-year-old-voice’s aged rendition of “Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine.” And after nearly six years since they last sang together, The Statlers didn’t miss a beat when they sang “I’ll Go To My Grave Loving You.” If you ever make it to the Hall, you’ll see departed member Lew DeWitt recognized on the Statler’s Hall of Fame plaque, right alongside enduring members Don and Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, and Jimmy Fortune. The sound bite of the night was from Jimmy Fortune. When thanking his children – all seven of them – Jimmy quipped, “I went broke makin’ Fortunes.”

In a separate ceremony nine weeks ago, Emmy Lou Harris and the late Ernest “Pop” Stoneman were also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

And finally, here’s a cute picture: Miranda Lambert and her dog, Hank Lambert-Shelton. Blake Shelton actually found the dog while he was fishing some time ago. Er, the dog found Blake. When it became apparent that the dog wasn’t going to go anywhere, they kept him, named him Hank to match all of Miranda’s other pets named after music legends, and now Blake sings to him - “Hanky Doodle Dandy.”