Dates of Note in Country Music, January 1-15

Category: News

(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)

January 1:

Frank Kettering of the Hoosier Hot Shots born in Monmouth, Illinois, 1909 (died 1973)
Hank Williams died in the back seat of a car between Knoxville, Tennessee and Oak Hill, West Virginia (cardiac arrest), 1953 (was 29)
Aubrey "Moon" Mullican died in Beaumont, Texas (heart attack), 1967 (was 57)
Floyd "Salty" Holmes of the Prairie Ramblers died (unknown cause), 1970 (was 60)
Townes Van Zandt died in Mount Juliet, Tennessee (heart attack), 1997 (was 52)
Del Reeves died in Nashville, Tennessee (emphysema), 2007 (was 73)
Johnny Cash played at San Quentin prison, 1959. Among the prisoners in attendance was Merle Haggard.

January 2:

Harold Bradley born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1926 (now 85)
Dick Feller born in Bronaugh, Missouri, 1943 (now 68)
Roger Miller born in Fort Worth, Texas, 1936 (died 1992)
Red Smiley died in Richmond, Virginia (complications from diabetes), 1972 (was 46)
Tex Ritter died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart attack), 1974 (was 68)
Wayne Walker died (unknown causes), 1979 (was 53)
Louise Scruggs, wife and manager of Earl Scruggs, died in Nashville, Tennessee (respiratory disease), 2006 (was 78)

January 3:

Nikki Nelson of Highway 101 born in San Diego, California, 1969 (now 42)
Leon McAuliffe born in Houston, Texas, 1917 (died 1988)
Felton Jarvis died in Nashville, Tennessee (stroke), 1981 (was 46)
Doye O'Dell died in Northridge, California (complications of a stroke), 2001 (was 88)
Quanah Talmadge Tubb (better known as Billy Talmadge Tubb) died (unknown causes), 2007 (was 81)
Grandpa Jones suffered stroke after performing on the Grand Ole Opry, 1998

Sam Phillips opened Sun Recording Studio, 1950

January 4:

Lorene Mann born in Huntland, Tennessee, 1937 (now 74)
Mike Henderson born in Independence, Missouri, 1955 (now 56)
Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters born in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1955 (now 56)
Patty Loveless born in Pikeville, Kentucky, 1957 (now 54)
Deana Carter born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1966 (now 45)
Clayton McMichen died in Battletown, Kentucky (unknown causes), 1970 (was 69)
Jake Hess died in Opelika, Alabama (complications of heart attack), 2004 (was 76)
First barn dance program in America airs on WBAP, Fort Worth, Texas, 1923

January 5:
Steve Ripley of the Tractors born in Boise, Idaho, 1950 (now 61)
Iris DeMent born in Paragould, Arkansas, 1961 (now 50)
Big Bill Lister born in Kenedy, Texas, 1923 (died 2009)

Sam Phillips (Sun Records owner) born in Florence, Alabama, 1923 (died 2003)
Tug McGraw, former baseball pitcher and father of Tim McGraw, died in his son's home in Nashville, Tennessee (brain cancer), 2004 (was 59)

January 6:
Earl Scruggs born in Flint Hill, North Carolina, 1924 (now 87)
Joey Miskulin ("Joey the Cow Polka King") of Riders in the Sky born in Chicago, Illinois, 1949 (now 62)
Jett Williams born in Montgomery, Alabama, 1953 (now 58)
Harry "Hap" Peebles born in Anthony, Kansas, 1913 (died 1993)
Autry Inman born in Florence, Alabama, 1929 (died 1988)

Bobby Lord born in Sanford, Florida, 1934 (died 2008)

Chubby Wise died in Bowie, Maryland (heart attack), 1996 (was 80)
Bobby Austin died in Camas, Washington (illness), 2002 (was 68)
Sneaky Pete Kleinkow died in Petaluma, California (complications of Alzheimer's disease), 2007 (was 72)
Ken Nelson died in Somis, California (natural causes), 2008 (was 96)

January 7:

Jack Greene born in Maryville, Tennessee, 1930 (now 81)
Leona Williams born in Vienna, Missouri, 1943 (now 68)
Marshall Chapman born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1949 (now 62)
David Lee Murphy born in Herrin, Illinois, 1959 (now 52)
John Rich born in Amarillo, Texas, 1974 (now 37)
Bunny Biggs (Jamup of Jamup and Honey) born, 1897 (died 1948)
Owen Bradley died in Nashville, Tennessee (heart ailment/complications of flu), 1998 (was 82)

January 8:

Christy Lane born in Peoria, Illinois, 1940 (now 71)
Holly Tashian born in New York, New York, 1946 (now 65)

Hoke Rice of the Rice Brothers born in Gainesville, Georgia, 1909 (died 1974)
Luther Perkins born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1928 (died 1968)
Elvis Presley born in Tupelo, Mississippi, 1935 (died 1977)
Randall Hylton born in Willis, Virginia, 1946 (died 2001)
Sara Carter died in Kingsport, Tennessee (natural causes), 1979 (was 79)
Maxwell Emmett "Pat" Buttram, sidekick to Gene Autry, died in Los Angeles, California (kidney failure), 1994 (was 78)
Elvis Presley postage stamp (29c) issued by the U.S. Postal Service, 1993. The stamp is the Postal Service's best-selling commemorative stamp of all-time, with sales of over 517,000,000.
Billboard magazine publishes first "Hillbilly Records" chart, 1944. The first #1 song was "Pistol Packin' Mama" -- the Bing Crosby & Andrews Sisters' version. Al Dexter's original would be the second #1 song in Billboard chart history.

January 9:

Roy Head born in Three Rivers, Texas, 1943 (now 68)
Crystal Gayle born in Paintsville, Kentucky, 1951 (now 60)
Jimmy Day born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1934 (died 1999)
Big Al Downing born in Lenapah, Oklahoma, 1940 (died 2005)
Jimmy Boyd ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus") born in McComb, Mississippi, 1940 (died 2009)

Richard Nixon born in Yorba Linda, California, 1913 (died 1994). Nixon was the first sitting U.S. president to attend the Grand Ole Opry (1974).
Jon Hager of the Hager Twins died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 2009 (was 67)

January 10:

Curly Ray Cline born in Braisden, West Virginia, 1923 (died 1997)
Zeb Turner died (cancer), 1978 (was 62)
Loretta Webb married Oliver "Mooney" Lynn, 1948

January 11:

Naomi Judd born in Ashland, Kentucky, 1946 (now 65)
Robert Earl Keen born in Houston, Texas, 1956 (now 55)
Tommy Duncan born in Hillsboro, Texas, 1911 (died 1967)
Goldie Hill Smith born in Kanes County, Texas, 1933 (died 2005)
Max D. Barnes died in Nashville, Tennesee (pneumonia), 2004 (was 67)
Jimmy Griffin of the Remingtons died in Franklin, Tennessee (cancer), 2005 (was 61)
Stonewall Jackson filed $10 million age discrimination lawsuit against the Grand Ole Opry, 2007

January 12:

Ray Price born in Perryville, Texas, 1926 (now 85)
William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys born in Brewton, Alabama, 1939 (now 72)
Ricky Van Shelton born in Danville, Virginia, 1952 (now 59)
LaWanda Lindsey born in Tampa, Florida, 1953 (now 58)
Claudia Church Crowell born in Lenoir, North Carolina, 1962 (now 49)
Tex Ritter born in Panola County, Texas, 1905 (died 1974)
Paul Warren died in Nashville, Tennessee (illness), 1978 (was 59)
The film O Brother, Where Art Thou opened nationwide, 2001. The soundtrack won three Grammy awards: Album of the Year, Best Country Collaboration with Vocals (Dan Tyminski, "Man of Constant Sorrow"), and Best Male Country Vocal Performance (Dr. Ralph Stanley, "O Death"). It also sold over eight million copies and sparked a brief resurgence in the popularity of bluegrass and traditional country music.

January 13:

Trace Adkins born in Springhill, Louisiana, 1962 (now 49)
Jenny Lou Carson born in Decatur, Illinois, 1915 (died 1978)
Doyle Holly died in Nashville, Tennessee (prostate cancer), 2007 (was 70)

January 14:

Billie Jo Spears born in Beaumont, Texas, 1937 (now 74)
J. Henry "T-Bone" Burnett born in St. Louis Missouri, 1948 (now 63).  An Americana music performer and producer (of albums by Los Lobos and the BoDeans), he was the producer of the award-winning soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou.

January 15:

David Lynn Jones born in Bexar, Arkansas, 1950 (now 61)
Kurt Howell of Southern Pacific born in Winter Haven, Florida, 1958 (now 53)
Billy Walker born in Ralls, Texas, 1929 (died 2006)

Jack Guthrie died in Livermore, California (tuberculosis), 1948 (was 32)
Vic Willis died in Hohenwald, Tennessee (car wreck), 1995 (was 72)

The Final Notes of 2010

Category:  News

Here is the chronological list of those from the world of country music who performed their last song in 2010.

Chilton Price Searcy (January 14, age 96, natural causes):  a songwriter who wrote Pee Wee King & Redd Stewart's hit "Slow Poke" and the classic "You Belong to Me," covered by the likes of Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline (and lampooned by Homer & Jethro).

Carl Smith (January 16, age 82, complications of stroke):  Country Music Hall of Famer with a long and productive career (and father of Carlene Carter).

Richard A. "Pete" Peterson (February 8, age 77, unknown causes):  historian and author of the book Creating Country Music:  Fabricating Authenticity.

Michael Blosil (February 26, age 18, suicide [jumped to his death]):  the son of Marie Osmond.

Matt Wariner (April 16, age 28, car wreck):  the nephew of country singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Wariner and local (Noblesville, Indiana) musician himself.

Hoot Borden (May 1, age and cause unknown):  the longtime bus driver for Ernest Tubb.

Ernie Harwell (May 6, age 92, cancer):  the voice of baseball's Detroit Tigers for decades was also a songwriter.  The first song of his that was ever recorded was "Upside Down," which appeared on Homer & Jethro's 1967 album Somethin' Stupid.

Judy Lynn (May 26, age 74, congestive heart failure):  an underrated singer who had one major hit, 1962's "Footsteps of a Fool," and gave up her career in 1980 to go into the ministry.

Thomas "Slim" Bryant (May 27, age 101, illness):  singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose talent went all the way back to the Skillet Lickers.  He was also the last living person who recorded with Father of Country Music Jimmie Rodgers (he played on Rodgers' recording "Miss the Mississippi and You").

Jimmy Dean (June 13, age 81, natural causes):  a pioneer in country music and Muppets (Jim Henson's creation Rowlf the dog was a regular on Dean's TV show), he had a long career as a singer ("Big Bad John," "PT 109") and as a sausage maker.  He was one of the 2010 Hall of Fame inductees.

Bill Porter (July 7, age 79, Alzheimer's disease):  when Chet Atkins was asked how he developed the Nashville Sound, he had a two-word answer:  "Bill Porter."  The legendary RCA engineer worked with rock's Presley and country's Reeves with equal, amazing results.

Hank Cochran (July 15, age 74, pancreatic cancer):  he wrote songs.  Boy, did he write songs:  "I Fall to Pieces," "A-11," "The Chair," "Don't Touch Me," "I'd Fight the World," "It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)," and so many more.

Fred Carter, Jr. (July 17, age 76, stroke):  the father of Deana Carter was also a prolific session musician.

Margaret Ann Rich (July 22, age 76, Alzheimer's disease):  the widow of Charlie Rich was also the writer of his songs "Field of Yellow Daisies" and "Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs."

Grady "Tiny" Harris (July 23, age 81, blood clot):  the leader of the Tiny Harris Band, an outfit that played behind the likes of Freddie Hart and Tammy Wynette.

John L. "Johnny" Carson (July 27, age 77, heart failure):  the grandson of Fiddlin' John Carson helped to found the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Ben Keith (July 27, age 73, heart attack):  when Neil Young wanted a country sound he called on Keith's steel guitar prowess, which were evident on Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces."

John Aylesworth (July 28, age 80, pneumonia):  he created a countrified version of Laugh-In for the CBS network.  He called it Hee Haw. 

Mitch Miller (July 31, age 99, illness):  the king of the "sing-along" records also produced sessions for Marty Robbins.

Mitch Jayne (August 2, age 80, cancer):  Mayberry's favorite band the Darlings were actually the Dillards, with Jayne on bass.  Jayne and the Dillards were inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 2009.

Kenny Edwards (August 19, age 64, prostate cancer):  Edwards co-founded the Stone Poneys, a country-rock band with a young lead vocalist by the name of LInda Ronstadt.  After the band disbanded Edwards lent his talents on guitar, steel, and harmony to Ronstadt's music.

Bill Phillips (August 23, age 74, diabetes):  an underrated songwriter (he co-wrote "Falling Back to You," which Webb Pierce recorded) and singer, his biggest hit was "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," a song that introduced the world to co-author and background singer Dolly Parton.

Linda Hargrove (October 24, age 61, leukemia/complications of bone marrow transplant):  Nashville songwriter who gave us the classics "Tennessee Whiskey" (George Jones) and "Just Get Up and Close the Door" (Johnny Rodriguez). 

Ronny Scaife (November 3, age 63, brain hemorrhage):  the songwriter behind Travis Tritt's "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'."

Don Meredith (December 5, age 72, brain hemorrhage):  "Dandy Don," the color commentator on ABC's Monday Night Football, turned Willie Nelson's "The Party's Over" into a household song.

Nick ("Nick the Stick") Hunter (December 16, age 67, cancer):  he promoted the likes of Hank Williams Jr. and Dwight Yoakam and founded what is now known as Koch Records.

Farewell, and thanks for the music.

Hank Williams Party at Herzog

Category:  News


The Cincinnati Music Heritage Foundation hosted a "Hank Williams Christmas Party" on the second floor of the building at 811 Race Street in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday (December 22).  The date and locale were significant in that it was on December 22, 1948 that Hank Williams entered the Herzog Studios, located on the second floor of the building, and recorded "Lovesick Blues."


The occasion also served as a listening party for the forthcoming Sol Records release Hank to Thank by the Dallas Moore Band.  Moore, who sings as though he is channeling Waylon Jennings, recorded the album in the old Herzog space, marking the first time since the official studios closed in the 1950s that the locale has been used to record an album (think Marty Stuart's Ghost Train:  The Studio B Sessions).  


Author Brian Turpen, who is a contributor to the Hank Williams Fan Club magazine and author of the book Ramblin' Man:  Short Stories From the Life of Hank Williams, was on hand for the event.  During his remarks he stated the Herzog site is the only building in which Williams recorded that has survived the wrecking ball or urban expansion.


Live music was provided by Cincinnati's honky tonk band Straw Boss, who roared through a number of classic country songs, some of which ("Blues Stay Away From Me" and the song the night honored) were recorded at Herzog.  They are a promising band, but they tend to suffer from the desire to modernize classic country songs with a rock sound (most noted on their forgettable version of "Blue Yodel #1 [T for Texas]").  When they stuck to singing the country songs like country songs they were a good highlight to the festivities.


Among the attendees were funk legend (and Cincinnati native/music scene supporter) Bootsy Collins and his wife.

Dates of Note in Country Music, December 16-31

Category: News

(Country Music Hall of Famers in bold)

December 16:

Jim Glaser of the Glaser Brothers born in Spalding, Nebraska, 1937 (now 73)
Jeff Carson born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1964 (now 46)
Shelby Singleton born in Waskom, Texas, 1931 (died 2009)
Jenny Lou Carson died (unknown causes), 1978 (was 63)
Martha Carson died (natural causes), 2004 (was 83)
Gary Stewart died (suicide), 2003 (was 58)
Dan Fogelberg died (cancer), 2007 (was 56)


December 17:

Sharon White Skaggs born in Wichita Falls, Texas, 1953 (now 57)
Frankie Miller born in Victoria, Texas, 1930 (now 80)
Tracy Byrd born in Vidor, Texas, 1966 (now 44)
Karl Davis born in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, 1905 (died 1979)
Spade Cooley born in Grand, Oklahoma, 1910 (died 1969)
Nat Stuckey born in Cass County, Texas, 1933 (died 1988)
Roy Huskey Jr. born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1956 (died 1997)
Rex Allen Sr. died (accidentally run over by car), 1999 (was 77)
Commercial plane carrying Doug Stone crash-lands in Chicago, 1999. Stone was uninjured.

December 18:

Cledus T. Judd (real name: James Poole) born in Crowe Springs, Georgia, 1964 (now 46)
Wilf Carter (Montana Slim) born in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, 1904 (died 1996)
The first recording session for the Louvin Brothers (they recorded "Alabama") at Castle Studios, Nashville, 1947

December 19:

Little Jimmy Dickens born in Bolt, West Virginia, 1920 (now 90)
John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bang born in Long Beach, California, 1945 (now 65)
Janie Fricke born in South Whitney, Indiana, 1947 (now 63)
Jumpin' Bill Carlisle born in Wakefield, Kentucky, 1908 (died 2003)
Marion Worth died (emphysema), 1999 (was 69)
Hank Williams' last show, given at the Skyline Club, Austin, Texas, 1952
Johnny Paycheck shot a man outside a bar in Greenfield, Ohio, 1985

December 20:

Skeeter Willis of the Willis Brothers born in Colton, Oklahoma, 1917 (died 1976)
Jack Stapp died (unknown cause), 1980 (was 68)
Don Law died (unknown cause), 1982 (was 80)
Hank Snow died (various illnesses), 1999 (was 85)

December 21:

Freddie Hart born in Lockapoke, Alabama, 1926 (now 84)
Lee Roy Parnell born in Abilene, Texas, 1956 (now 54)
Christy Forrester of the Forester Sisters born in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, 1962 (now 48)
Vito Pellettieri born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1889 (died 1977)
Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance born in Como, Mississippi, 1925 (died 2005)
Natchee the Indian (ne Lester Vernon Storer) died in Santa Clara, California (unknown cause), 1970 (was 54)
John Bailes of the Bailes brothers died (unknown cause), 1989 (was 71)
Harold Morrison died (illness), 1994 (was 62)

December 22:

Red Stegall born in Gainesville, Texas, 1937 (now 73)
Chuck Mead of BR5-49 born in Nevada, Missouri, 1960 (now 50)
Paul Martin of Exile born in Winchester, Kentucky, 1962 (now 48)
Harold "Hawkshaw" Hawkins born in Huntington, West Virginia, 1921 (died 1963)
Dave Dudley died (heart attack), 2003 (was 75)

December 23:

Murray "Buddy" Harman born in Nashville, Tennessee, 1928 (died 2008)



December 24:

Lulu Belle Wiseman born in Boone, North Carolina, 1913 (died 1999)
Jake Hess born in Limestone County, Alabama, 1927 (died 2004)
Stoney Edwards born in Seminole, Oklahoma, 1929 (died 1997)
Charlie Moore died (illness), 1979 (was 44)

December 25:

J.R. "Curly" Sechler born in China Grove, North Carolina, 1919 (now 91)
Jimmy Buffett born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, 1946 (now 64)
Barbara Mandrell born in Houston, Texas, 1948 (now 62)
Steve Wariner born in Noblesville, Indiana, 1954 (now 56)
Alton Delmore born in Elkmont, Alabama, 1908 (died 1964)
Billy Nelson, Willie Nelson's son, died (suicide), 1991 (was 33)
Johnny Cash and family robbed and held at gunpoint in their Jamaica home, 1982

December 26:

Ronnie Prophet born in Calument, Quebec, 1938 (now 72)
Bob Carpenter of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1946 (now 64)
Audrey Wiggins born in Asheville, North Carolina, 1967 (now 43)
Beecher Ray "Pete" "Bashful Brother Oswald" Kirby born in Sevier County, Tennessee, 1911 (died 2002)
Harry Choates born in Rayne, Louisiana, 1911 (died 1951)
Jimmie Osborne died (suicide), 1957 (was 34)

Red Foley and wife Sally injured in a fire in their apartment, 1964


December 27:

Scotty Moore born in Gadsden, Tennessee, 1931 (now 79)
Les Taylor of Exile born in Oneida, Kentucky, 1948 (now 62)
Darrin Vincent of Dailey & Vincent born in Kirkville, Missouri, 1969 (now 41)
Bob Luman died (pneumonia), 1978 (was 41)
Vestal Goodman died (complications from the flu), 2003 (was 74)
Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland died (staph infection), 2004 (was 74)

December 28:

Joe Diffie born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1958 (now 52)
Mike McGuire of Shenandoah born in Haleyville, Alabama, 1958 (now 52)
Marty Roe of Diamond Rio born in Lebanon, Ohio, 1960 (now 50)
Dorsey Burnette born in Memphis, Tennessee, 1932 (died 1979)
Hank Williams Jr.'s first recording session at age 14, 1963

December 29:

Rose Lee Maphis born in Baltimore, Maryland, 1922 (now 88)
Ed Bruce born in Keiser, Arkansas, 1940 (now 70)

December 30:

Suzy Bogguss born in Aledo, Illinois, 1956 (now 53)
Melvin Goins born in Bramwell, West Virginia, 1933 (now 76)
Mike Auldridge born in Washington, DC, 1938 (now 71)
Bob Ferguson born in Willow Spring, Missouri, 1927 (died 2001)
Skeeter Davis (nee Mary Frances Penick) born in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, 1931 (died 2004)
John Hartford born in New York, New York, 1937 (died 2001)

December 31:

Dale Noe born in New Boston, Ohio, 1927 (died 2005)
Rex Allen Sr. born in Wilcox, Arizona, 1920 (died 1999)
John Denver born in Roswell, New Mexico, 1943 (died 1997)
Rick Nelson died (plane crash), 1985 (was 45)
Floyd Cramer died (lung cancer), 1997 (was 64)
Jim McReynolds of Jim & Jesse died (cancer), 2002 (was 75)
Charlie Louvin injured in car accident, 2001
The old Country Music Hall of Fame closed, 2000

Three Country Songs Added to Grammy Hall of Fame

Category:  News


The Grammy Hall of Fame announced its 2010 inductees this week.  Three country songs are included in the list of recordings:


"Lovesick Blues" - Hank Williams.  Recorded in 1948 at Cincinnati's Herzog Studios, Hank's version of the song is the second version of "Lovesick Blues" inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  Emmett Miller & His Orchestra's 1928 version was inducted in 2007.  This is the fifth Williams song inducted, following "Hey Good Lookin'," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Jambalya (On the Bayou)," and "Your Cheatin' Heart."


"On the Road Again" - Willie Nelson.  This 1980 song is Nelson's third recording inducted (fourth if you count the collaboration Wanted!  The Outlaws with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser).  His other entries are his version of "Always on My Mind" and his album Red Headed Stranger.


"Steel Guitar Rag" - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.  Opening with Bob Wills saying, "Take it away, Leon!" this 1936 classic has finally been acknowledged by the Grammy Hall of Fame.  It is Wills' second recording in the Hall of Fame, the other being 1940's "New San Antonio Rose."


The Grammy web site states, "The Grammy Hall of Fame Award was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old.  Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts."  There are a total of 73 country recordings (most of them individual songs, not albums) in the Grammy Hall of Fame out of the 881 total inductees.  

From Philosopher Tim Wilson....

Category:  News/Opinion


The Fox network will be unveiling yet another music awards show on Monday (12/6).  The "American Country Awards" will have its inaugural broadcast on the network that created it at 8 PM eastern time.  Keeping with the current trend of "we don't know what country is" (see Jewel's nomination for a country female performance Grammy earlier), that longtime country great, Bret Michaels, will be featured on the Fox show.


It's time to give a quote from comedian, songwriter, author, and philosopher Tim Wilson.  In his song "But I Could Be Wrong" he uttered this statement:


"I'm about fed up with Nashville's ass
And the 'hand me a trophy' awards."


Nashville's not responsible for this one, but the sentiment is dead-on accurate.