I Wish I Had A Man-Voice Like Randy Travis
- TMZ posted video of fans and paparazzi mobbing Randy Travis. My favorite quote from someone in the crowd: “I love your voice. I wish I had a man-voice like this. [I] hate my voice.”
- After a recent shopping spree, Texas billionaire Robert Rowling–through his company TRT Holdings–became the largest shareholder of Gaylord Entertainment, which counts the Grand Ole Opry House and the Ryman Auditorium among its assets. The jury is still out as to what the large acquisition of shares will lead to.
- Songwriter Hank Cochran, the man responsible for writing such hits as Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces,” Eddy Arnold’s “Make the World Go Away,” and George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property” and “The Chair,” is recovering following surgery to remove cancerous tumors from his pancreas and lymph nodes. He’s expected to make a full recovery.
- Alison Bonaguro has a nice recap of last Thursday’s Country Thunder festival featuring Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert as the night’s headliners. Saturday night featured Jessica Simpson, and early reports aren’t looking good.
- In a Q&A with the Houston Chronicle’s Joey Guerra, Martina McBride expresses her regret that sometimes the best songs on the album don’t get to be singles. She lists “Strangers,” “Cry Cry (’Til The Sun Shines)” and “Love Land” as past album cuts that she wishes everybody had heard. For her next album, McBride says she’ll be working with producer Dan Huff.
- Drew Kennedy announced that he’ll be heading into the studio the first week of November to record his new album. This time around Bruce Robison will be joining Gerald Boyd, who produced Dollar Theater Movie, at the helm to produce the project.
- Word has it Tim McGraw is working on a new movie with Robert Duvall. No plot details have been revealed, but the film is titled Get Low and is due out some time in 2009.
- The Boston Globe’s Sarah Rodman explores the easy chemistry between Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush and their role in ushering in a wave of music that is less concerned with genre-branding than delivering what fans want.
- The Gobblers Knob subscribes to the big umbrella philosophy of country music, but in an effort to distinguish between the different sounds that the umbrella encompasses, Kelly has adopted different sub-genre labels. For instance, “Country with Tattoos” covers bands like The Mother Truckers, Heybale and The Texas Sapphires. To describe bands like Reckless Kelly, Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward and Blue Edmondson, the term “Country with Muscle” was invented. Two recent releases that showcase what Kelly calls the swagger and sweat that a disc requires to join the ranks of the aforementioned releases are John D. Hale Band’s Lost (MySpace) and Back Porch Mary’s Time of the Broken Heart (MySpace).
- The upcoming Brad Paisley instrumental album has been aptly titled Play and includes guest appearances from Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, B.B. King (I’ve even seen it mentioned that Keith Urban will appear on the album). Aside from those guests, “Come On In” will also feature Buck Owens.
- The Washington Post’s J. Freedom du Lac doesn’t understand Kenny Chesney’s enduring crossover appeal and wants to know, “how in the world did Kenny Chesney become so incredibly popular?”
- Trace Adkins is joining Alan Jackson for 17 dates on his fall Good Time tour.
- The HearYa indie music blog posted “Murder In The City,” a new song from The Avett Brothers off of their six-song The Second Gleam EP, due out tomorrow.
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Tagged In This Article
Alan Jackson // Back Porch Mary // Brad Paisley // Bruce Robison // Buck Owens // Country Thunder // Dierks Bentley // Drew Kennedy // Eddy Arnold // Grand Ole Opry // Hank Cochran // Jennifer Nettles // Jessica Simpson // John D. Hale Band // Kenny Chesney // Martina McBride // Miranda Lambert // Randy Travis // Reckless Kelly // Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward // Ryman Auditorium // Steve Wariner // Sugarland // The Avett Brothers // The Mother Truckers // The Texas Sapphires // Tim McGraw // Trace Adkins // Vince Gill
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July 21, 2008 at 11:14 am Permalink
I wonder what Jess’s reception will be like when she takes the stage on The Opry. You just know that if she gets booed there, her daddy will be comparing her to Elvis.
Martina: NOOOOO! Work with Rick Rueben not Dan Huff.
July 21, 2008 at 11:18 am Permalink
Thanks for the shout out!
As far as the Texas billionaire that bought a bunch of Gaylord, he is also the owner of Omni Hotels. I worked for them for quite some time and I had a chance to talk with him and his cronies from time to time. I doubt he’ll do much, if anything he’ll spruce up anything that needs sprucing up and make things generally better….or not.
July 21, 2008 at 11:27 am Permalink
If you are still in touch with him, whisper to him that firing Pete Fisher would not be unpopular.
July 21, 2008 at 11:42 am Permalink
Stormy,
Dann Huff is the ‘biggest’ producer in Nashville right now so why wouldn’t Martina work with him. Rick Rubin is too busy working on his Columbia artist roster to do a record on Martina.
July 21, 2008 at 11:51 am Permalink
“Cry Cry (’Til The Sun Shines)” is also going to be on the Heidi Newfield album, so perhaps it’ll get a shot after all.
July 21, 2008 at 12:03 pm Permalink
Ahhh why doesn’t Trace and Alan have a Texas date?!?! =(
July 21, 2008 at 12:06 pm Permalink
Drew Kennedy and Bruce Robison together? That sounds like a great idea.
July 21, 2008 at 12:24 pm Permalink
Most of Dann Huff’s productions are too slick. Then again, that’s what’s being played these days, so Martina’s probably wise to go with him.
July 21, 2008 at 1:17 pm Permalink
Forget working with Martina, I cant wait to see what Rubin does with the Avett Brothers sound, Rubin likes having certain artists perform somewhat ironic covers, how ’bout the Avett’s bust out with “This One’s for the Girls”…
July 21, 2008 at 1:33 pm Permalink
Matt: Dann is also probably the most boring producer in Nashville.
Kelly: I just want Martina to get her balls back.
July 21, 2008 at 1:52 pm Permalink
Here’s hoping that Hank Cochran makes a full recovery.
July 21, 2008 at 1:52 pm Permalink
The reaction to Jessica Simpson going Country has me miffed. You get acts like Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts & Sugarland who are already Pop but are warmly welcomed by many Country, then along comes Jessica with a song that actually sounds Country - yet everyone is rioting about it? Says something doesn’t it. It’ll never fail to amaze me how people lap up these kid-on Country acts but when a proper Country artist comes along BANG no thank you go away…..
The biggest laugh for me will be when these idiots hear the DOLLY PARTON song that is on Jessica’s album. Charlie Pride and Willie Nelson are also supposed to be on it. Guess they aren’t Country either eh?
July 21, 2008 at 2:36 pm Permalink
David from Scotland: you just called Simpson a “proper country artist”…compared to who? I dont think its a revolutionary thought to suggest that she fits quite nicely with the Urbans and Chesney’s of the world, but lets keep her there. Please do not refer to her brand of country music as “proper”….
July 21, 2008 at 2:40 pm Permalink
I don’t like the Simpson song. But I don’t understand it either, David Nisbet. Why does Jessica Simpson get so much flack from country fans for being pop when other country artists seem to get a pass for being pop from some of these same fans?
But then again, why does Kenny Chesney sell millions of CDs when equally good major label artists sell half that number?
I guess the question is: when two artists put out music of similar kind, quality, and when those artists both benefit from major label promotions, what quality makes one a huge star and the other one flop away from losing a record deal? Is it all marketing efforts? A bit of luck? Looks?
Conversely, I’ve seen several fans dismiss Jessica Simpson as a dumb blonde, but many country fans seem to embrace the same quality in Kellie Pickler. How do we explain this?
July 21, 2008 at 3:26 pm Permalink
I think the people who are booing Jessica Simpson all must have seen “The Dukes of Hazzard” movie and are finally getting the chance to express their opinion. In a related vein, I think Jessica should have Johnny Knoxville on stage for some duet action….
I hope Robert Rowling doesn’t sell out Gaylord’s traditional country music programs and venues. After what happened to TNN (and CMT) it makes me nervous when I hear about ownership changes. As for replacing Pete Fisher as head of the Opry, that would be risky as they could put someone in who favors the modern pop-rock stuff. I would nominate either Eddie Stubbs or Robert K. Oermann as replacements!
As for producers for Martina, I’d like to see her hooked up with either Carl Jackson (who did a stellar job on the Louvin Brothers tribute) or Keith Stegall, but that’s just me…..
Off Topic: I got to see the new version of Bomshel perform live Saturday night here in Los Angeles and their upcoming single “Cheater, Cheater” is a fun song. Airhead country radio will likely ignore it as they have with all the previous Bomshel singles which is a shame. I got to chat with fiddle player Kristy O. afterwards and she is a total sweetheart. The audience was mostly CURB label folks and personal friends and it had a family picnic flavor to the proceedings. The single hits radio October 15th and I really hope these gals garner some airplay this go round….
July 21, 2008 at 3:27 pm Permalink
David - If Jessica Simpson had started out in country music, it might be a different story. If she was a beloved artist like Robert Plant, it might be a different story. If Jessica Simpson hadn’t had a reality TV show about her life that made her look like a prissy idiot, it might be a different story. If Jessica Simpson didn’t reek of desperation (i.e., my career failed elsewhere, let’s see if the loyal country audience will buy my music) it might be a different story. If Jessica Simpson hadn’t spent the past 6 months wearing a cowboy hat and boots and proclaiming she is a sweet down home country girl, when she can’t go anywhere without her hairdresser and her plastic surgery enhanced sister, it might be a different story. If Jessica’s songs with Dolly and Willie didn’t seem like an obvious ploy for instant credibility, it might be a different story. However, it’s simply not a different story. Does that help?
As far as Kenny’s popularity goes, I figured it out this summer. Booze. His concerts are seen as the perfect opportunity to get drunk with your friends. I’ve never seen so many wasted high school/college kids in my life. Kenny through beer goggles must be awesome.
“Love Land” by Martina was the only song that stuck with me off her last album. It’s worth a listen. (However, given that track record, I won’t be buying her next one.)
July 21, 2008 at 3:36 pm Permalink
David,
For the record, I don’t dislike Jessica because her song doesn’t sound country, I dislike her because the song is atrocious. Likewise, there are many songs of Chesney’s and even Urban’s that I could live without, though I’m a fan of Keith’s. Furthermore, I love Dolly and Willie, but I don’t think many people can deny that they have been opportunistic when it comes to who they are willing to sing or work with these days. So, the fact that they will be appearing on her album doesn’t convince me of her authentacation.
July 21, 2008 at 3:47 pm Permalink
I agree with Leeann. Simpson’s song is pretty bad, and that’s why I don’t like it.
I couldn’t care less about this other stuff: If she puts out a good song, I might buy it.
All of these other reasons to hate Simpson have little to do with musical quality and seem contrived to me. All the charges against Simpson seem pretty minor to the truly outrageously bad behavior of, say, George Jones. If Jones puts out a great record I’ll buy it in spite of his bad behavior. If Simpson manages to put out something good, I’d buy that too.
July 21, 2008 at 3:52 pm Permalink
as for why kenny chesney has become so popular: women and gay men. just saying. spare me the flames. you’re all thinking it.
July 21, 2008 at 4:43 pm Permalink
Is there not going to be a live 9513 Nashville Star blogfest tonight? I’ve been enjoying those a lot more than the program itself. Darn….
July 21, 2008 at 5:28 pm Permalink
It’s going to happen, Rick. I was late in posting the thread because I’ve spent most of the day working on my review of Sugarland’s new album.
July 21, 2008 at 5:44 pm Permalink
David: Choking her way through a Dolly Parton song started most of us hating Jess.
Lynn: If Jessica had started in country it would have been a completely different matter because she would never have gotten a contract.
July 21, 2008 at 6:32 pm Permalink
Pop country music sucks. Doesnt matter if it’s coming from Rascal Flatts or Jessica Simpson. It just sucks.
July 21, 2008 at 8:05 pm Permalink
Stormy,
Jessica would’ve gotten a deal now.
Mike Wimmer,
So does pop country from Rodney Crowell suck too?
July 21, 2008 at 9:16 pm Permalink
Matt: She would have gotten a deal 10 years ago in country and she is too old to start there now.
Rodney Crowell didn’t make pop country, he made country pop which is a whole different genre.
July 21, 2008 at 9:17 pm Permalink
Sorry: That should read she wouldn’t have gotten a deal 10 years ago.
July 21, 2008 at 10:12 pm Permalink
HairandToeNails: I can’t explain the Jessica Simpson thing. Irrational….maybe. She just evokes a rather violent reaction from me. I took an informal poll of the women in my office today, and I can definitely say that I am not alone. I’m sure men and younger girls see her differently. However, she is generally in my peer group and as she is someone who is in the public eye and on my radio/magazine/TV (nearly every single day!), I will hold her to a higher standard.
Unsurprisingly, her first song and video play directly to the image she portrays that I can’t stand. However, even if my favorite artist had sung that particular song, I wouldn’t buy it. It’s lame and “contrived.”
July 22, 2008 at 7:24 pm Permalink
Even better than J. Freedom’s questioning of Chesney’s popularity is the comments fans have posted to help explain it to him. It’s worth a trip back there if you haven’t seen the thread lately.
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