Grand Ole Opry Finds New Home With XM Satellite Radio
- Houston Press ranks the 10 worst songs to ever come out of Houston. Both Kenny Rogers and Clint Black make the list for “You Decorated My Life” and “I Raq and Roll” (which sounds horrible from the title alone). Both artists also make The Houston 100, a list of Houston’s top songs ever. The list is littered with notable country names throughout and is well worth taking a look at. Just a few of the artists included are: Steve Earle, Gene Watson, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Floyd Tillman, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, The Highwaymen, Townes Van Zandt, and Johnny Bush. Pretty much an abridged version of the Who’s Who of country music.
- Joe Nichols received three nominations for the 13th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards.
- As an adoptee himself Rodney Atkins has been named the national celebrity spokesperson for the National Council for Adoption.
- If you haven’t made the dive by now you might want to start thinking about getting XM satellite radio, which just so happens to be the new home of the Grand Ole Opry. The station will feature live Friday and Saturday night performances along with the Tuesday Night Opry.
XM also will offer classic broadcasts of the renowned country music show, archival performances and “The Eddie Stubbs Show,” which is hosted by regular Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs.
- The Austin Chronicle delivers these reviews:
- Kevin Fowler - Bring It On (1 star)
“Even George Jones lowers himself to guest on “Me and the Boys,” while Fowler continues to name-check outlaws throughout in completely unironic boilerplate. This is everything wrong with modern country music: All balls and beer with no brains or heart.” - Lyle Lovett & His Large Band - It’s Not Big It’s Large (3 1/2 stars)
“The opening big-band blast of “Tickle Toe,” a Lester Young composition, is an overture of sorts for a set that then ranges from soul and gospel to high-stepping country, introspective folk to bluegrass.” - Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade (2 stars)
“Though the drum-machine backing doesn’t overpower Earle’s songwriting on the opener or poignant “Come Home to Me,” it does hollow the songs, and the banal anthem “Satellite Radio” and reworking of Tom Waits’ “Way Down in the Hole” are looped disasters.”
- Kevin Fowler - Bring It On (1 star)
- Reader’s Digest has an exclusive audio interview with Martina McBride about domestic violence.
- In his article about labeling sell-outs, Brad from Galleywinter says:
Much has been made the past few years about acts that grew organically in the Texas and Oklahoma market moving to the literally greener pastures of national renown. Some acts have been labeled sell-outs, others have merely disappeared altogether; and still others straddle the tightrope trying to appease everyone.
The biggest whipping boy for all of this has been Pat Green.
- Are the artists of country music wholesome when compared to artists of other genres like Aerosmith, or is it just a misconception? Alison Bonaguro attempts to tackle that question and open up the discussion in her latest post on the CMT Blog.
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Forgotten Artists: Cal Smith - When the Florida Sunshine Opry (Eustis, FL) booked its first “name” (non-local) act back in 1999, the act they chose was Cal Smith. No wonder, since Cal is an excellent singer, musician, storyteller and showman. | View more artists featured in Paul W. Dennis' recurring "Forgotten Artists" feature »
Tagged In This Article
Clint Black // Grand Ole Opry // Joe Nichols // Kenny Rogers // Kevin Fowler // Lyle Lovett // Martina McBride // Pat Green // Rodney Atkins // Steve Earle
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