Lawsuit Filed Against “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” Singer
- Here’s an eBay auction for our readers with a big heart and some dough to spare. SIR Nashville is auctioning off a guitar autographed by twenty three famous musicians; a few of them are country (Dolly Parton, Wynonna, Randy Owen, Alison Krauss, Deanna Carter, Big & Rich). All of the proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- Watch: The vintage-style West Texas music video for Ryan Bingham’s “Southside of Heaven”.
- Even before the Bluebird opened in Nashville in 1983 Kent Finlay had started his weekly Songwriter’s Circle for the San Marcos/Austin, TX area. It was slow at first but eventually began to pick up steam. There will be a 20 year reunion of regulars from the Circle of ‘87 tomorrow night (Nov. 29) at Cheatham Street Warehouse. Some of those past regulars were Todd Snider, Terri Hendrix, Al Barlow, James McMurtry, John Arthur Martinez, Bruce Robison, Hal Ketchum, and Kent Finlay.
- Read an excerpt from Trace Adkins’ new book, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions From a Freethinking Roughneck.
… Uncle Cecil and his buddy propped me up in the middle of the bench seat of his pickup truck and sped off north toward Springhill. I remember looking in the rearview mirror and seeing my face. It looked like a slab of bloody meat hanging down off my skull. My nose was dangling by a single piece of skin. I guess I was in shock and out of my head.
“Hey! Uncle Cecil! Look!” I said, pulling my nose up and down off my face.
“Stop doing that, son!” he said, with a nauseated look on his face.
- Watch: Dolly has a new video, too, for “Better Get To Livin’”.
- PETA members are up in arms over the fur coat worn by John Rich at the CMA Awards.
- Eric Beall suggests that the music industry come to terms with what Alan Greenspan calls “creative destruction.” He doesn’t think that 10-14 song albums are suited for every artist, and continuing to release albums of that size only hurts the music itself and will eventually destroy what used to be a creative business.
- The 21st Annual Downtown Hoedown in Las Vegas on November 5th will feature free concerts from Hal Ketchum, Sawyer Brown, and Ray Scott.
- Elmo Shropshire owns the rights to the novelty holiday classic “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”, but is being sued by a company that says he interfered with a million-plus dollar deal “to sell musical trucks, bobblehead dolls, snow globes and cookie jars featuring characters from an animated show based on the novelty song.”
- In an interview with Nashville Hype Kristy Jackson–owner of Fever Pitch Music and writer of Reba McEntire’s hit song “Take It Back”– reveals what she thinks are the best and worst things about Nashville and the way the industry operates.
The best thing about the industry in this day and age is the fact that independent artists like myself now have access to distribution through the Internet and are able to make a living at what they are passionate about. The worst thing about this industry is the total corporate domination of the mainstream radio airways, the effect of the TV realty marketing machines and the fact that it’s not about great songs anymore.
- Bloodshot Records signed Justin Townes Earle and plans to re-distribute his EP from earlier this year, Yuma.
- After having come to grips with her fame Shania says she will be back next year with a new album.
- The end of 2007 is drawing nearer with each passing day, which means less news as everybody wraps things up and begins preparing for 2008. In the mean time we get to reflect on the past year. Amber Waves of Twang author Chip Frazier kicked off the reflection with his final Best of 2007 list in which he ranked the top 50 albums. That’s a pretty lofty endeavor if you ask me.
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November 28, 2007 at 12:54 pm Permalink
When I read the headline about Elmo being sued, I thought Merle Haggard finally decided to sue. I have always thought “Grandma” sounded like “Daddy Frank.”
November 28, 2007 at 2:43 pm Permalink
I read the Adkins book and it wasn’t bad, but it really is just his opinions on the way things are along with some of his history. I found it to be an interesting read, but I come from the same kind of background and agree with a lot of his views, although some of it is a little extreme. There are a few humorous anecdotes, though. The thing that struck me the most was that it seemed like he was setting himself up to run for political office.
November 28, 2007 at 2:57 pm Permalink
hahaha, thats a good one brady, you actually sound serious when you talk about actually reading his book and acting like he isnt a complete dork!! I’ll admit, I haven’t read it, so i can’t judge his book by the cover, but this is TRACE ADKINS?!?!?!
November 28, 2007 at 3:11 pm Permalink
He really talks about the issues. Energy, immigration, the Middle East, history, leadership, education, 9/11, etc. I don’t agree with it all, but he lays it out straight. I didn’t have some preconceived perception of him other than reading his humorous sound bytes every now and then, so I don’t know if there’s some reason that what he says shouldn’t be considered a viable opinion.
November 28, 2007 at 3:19 pm Permalink
Fair enough. I think I can get a little carried away sometimes if I am not a fan of that persons music (my preconceived perception). It’s the bizarro version of my “steve earle rule” I guess. I dont care what Earle’s politics (I don’t agree in any way with them) are since I dig his music. As it has been discussed recently with the Eric Church video, it is intreesting to see what we as a public will digest from various artists and what will not be accepted from others. Ultimately, I have a hard enough time caring what the talking heads on tv that have real foreign policy experience say, so that leaves Mr. Badonkadonk out in the cold for me, at least.
November 28, 2007 at 3:40 pm Permalink
The talking heads are out of touch with reality and dishonest as hell, so I don’t blame you for not caring what they say. I disliked Badonkadonk as much as the next guy that didn’t care for it, but I think some of his other material is strong enough to make me forget that mishap.
November 28, 2007 at 3:57 pm Permalink
Good point again, I’m glad we had this talk. To quote from my fave movie “Good Talk…” - Old School (Craig Kilborn)
November 28, 2007 at 4:03 pm Permalink
Speaking of Kilborn, check out this Onion piece on him.
November 29, 2007 at 12:29 am Permalink
Looks like finally the copycats will be put to justice.
Hello Originality.
December 4, 2007 at 1:23 pm Permalink
Regarding the conversation about Trace Adkins’ book, the media is going to publish the most controversial or colorful passages and ignore whatever makes sense because it will get them the most instantaneous response, but here’s one of the more pertinent passages I pulled from the book.
Some celebrities believe they are better informed about what’s going on. That’s why actors, actresses, and singers speak out about politics so much these days. They think they’re more knowledgeable than the people who work regular nine-to-five jobs.
I’ll let you in on a secret: Those Hollywood–New York people are no more intelligent and enlightened than you are. Do your own research and do your legwork and vote how your heart tells you to vote. Don’t be swayed by anything anybody famous might have to say, especially entertainers, because they’ve bought into their own hype in thinking that because they are artists, they are somehow connected in a deeper, more spiritual way than you are. They’ve bought into their own bullshit.
And for God’s sake, don’t go into the booth and pull the curtain and pull a lever because you hear me or Natalie Maines or Bruce Springsteen or any celebrity say that they support a certain candidate or cause. Learn all you can and think for yourself.
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