The One And Only April 2007 Mailbag

As the popularity of The 9513 rises, so do the number of questions we receive. The number of questions this month was more than ever, so it took a group effort to get them all answered for y’all. You can view our previous mailbags or send us your questions through our contact form or just keep on reading.

When will Angela Hacker’s debut CD be available?
It has been available since April 3, 2007. Check out our review of Miss Hacker’s album.

When is Johnny Cash’s birthday?
Johnny Cash’s birthday is on February 26th and we celebrated this year by giving away some of his songs for free. We’ll be doing this periodically, so you might want to keep reading The 9513.

Why did Tim McGraw write the song “Last Dollar?”
The song was actually written by Big Kenny (Kenny Alphin) of Big and Rich. In short, Big Kenny was $140,000 in debt and had $200 left to his name when he decided to gamble. He won up to $1,000 before losing all but $21. After leaving a $20 tip for the dealer, he only had a dollar left, which gave him the inspiration for this song. You can read more about why Big Kenny wrote “Last Dollar (Fly Away)” at The Tennessean.

What does Dierks Bentley cost?
Well, you can get his CDs for $10 to $15 on Amazon and you can find tickets on Ticketmaster for under $40. If that doesn’t answer your question, then I don’t think Dierks is the kind of name you think it is.

Who sang “Swingin’”?
John Anderson recorded “Swingin’” and it garnered him the 1983 CMA Single Of The Year. You can listen to Pam Tillis’ recent duet with John Anderson, “Life Has Sure Changed Us Around,” right here on The 9513. Also, stay tuned for the release of his latest album, Easy Money, on May 15th of this year.

How much does Martina McBride weigh?
Good luck finding that out and hasn’t anyone ever told you it isn’t polite to ask a woman’s weight?

How many times a year do the members of the Grand Ole Opry perform?
Opry members used to be required to perform 26 Saturdays per year, but there is currently no minimum appearance requirement. Some Opry members (like Jimmy Dickens) perform on every show, others (like Garth Brooks) are retired and seldom appear, and some (like Stonewall Jackson) wish that they were asked to appear a lot more often.

Why did Trace Adkins write “I’ve Been Watching You?”
Rodney Atkins recorded “Watching You” and, with a name similar to Trace Adkins’ and a voice similar to Tim McGraw’s, he has a solid contemporary country pedigree. The song was written by Atkins, Steve Dean and Brian White and inspired by Atkins’ young son, who is also featured in the song’s music video.

When did George Jones die?
Hopefully, no time soon! The Possum is still going strong and you can read The 9513’s review of his recent concert at the Ryman Auditorium here.

When is Ashley Monroe’s release date?
Satisfied has already been released to some digital outlets. It was originally supposed to hit stores in late 2006 but was pushed back to March 2007. The second release date also came and went and the project is tentatively scheduled for release sometime in summer 2007. Given Sony’s recent track record, I’ll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, read the The 9513’s review of her excellent debut album and head over to iTunes and check it out for yourself.

When did Kenny Chesney join the Opry?
Kenny is not an Opry member and almost certainly will never be invited. However, if you’re interested in who might join the Opry next, check out the recent discussion.

Where can I find out how many CD’s Carrie Underwood has released?
Carrie Underwood has only released one CD to date, that being her 2005 debut album Some Hearts. Carrie has already begun to record her second album and is set to release it later this year.

What is the name of Martina McBride’s newest album?
Martina McBride’s newest album is titled Waking Up Laughing and we have a review here.

Who wrote the lyrics to “Ticks” by Brady Paisley?
Brad wrote the lyrics to “Ticks” with Kelley Lovelace and Tim Owens and said turning it in to the label made him more than a little nervous.

Has Taylor Swift won any awards for her songs?
She won an award for Breakthrough Video of the Year at the recent CMT Awards show. She has yet to win any other major awards, but she is nominated for Top New Female Vocalist at the upcoming ACM Awards. Tune in on May 15th at 8PM (ET) to see if she wins.

Who is Ray Benson?
Ray Benson is the lead vocalist of Asleep at the Wheel, an Austin, TX based western swing band. They just released their latest album, Reinventing the Wheel, if you’re interested in checking out “The Nine-Time Grammy-Winning Kings of Texas Swing.”

Who is Dierks Bentley dating?
Sorry ladies, Dierks Bentley is no longer on the market. Read and weep.

Is someone leaving Lonestar?
Yes, the lead vocalist, Richie McDonald, is leaving to pursue a solo career.

Who sings Dixie Lullaby?
Pat Green, baby.

What is the length of a Hacker?
Depends on if you’re talking about an Angela or a Zac. Seriously, what kinda question is this?

What did Sugarland sing at the 2007 CMT awards?
Sugarland performed the song “Stay” from their album Enjoy The Ride. If you’d like to see the video, head on over CMT Loaded and start watching at the 5:21 to go mark.

What song did Trent Tomlinson write for George Strait?
According to Trent’s website he co-wrote “Why Can’t I Leave Her Alone” with some of friends, including Ashe Underwood. The song is available on George Strait’s It Just Comes Natural album.

Who wrote the song “Mr. Bojangles?”
Texas legend Jerry Jeff Walker.

Was “Stupid Boy” written for Tom Cruise?
As far as I know it was not, but it does fit in pretty good with their situation. With Keith Urban married to Cruise’s ex-wife and all. The song wasn’t written by Urban, though, and at the end, it shifts into the first-person point of view.