CMT Blog: 2007 December

Nashville is sparkling this Christmas season as it always does. The Nutcracker is shimmering at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, the Rockettes are kicking high in their Santa costumes at Opryland and every suburban street is a canyon of colored lights. But it was an event of less wattage I’ll remember when I think back on this particular holiday.

On a chilly, overcast evening a week ago, I drove to a bar near downtown Nashville to do my part for a charity whose name and goals I have since forgotten. Tara La’Dell, a singer from Georgia by way of New York, was going to provide the entertainment, backed by the justly celebrated pianist and producer John Hobbs. When I got there, the bar was still packed by a boisterous after-work crowd, and La’Dell was still making last-minute stage adjustments. I grabbed a beer, found a table and waited for the show to start.

Finally, La’Dell came on stage and announced that she would be performing a program of Christmas songs. This was not news that delighted me, nor, apparently, did it please several people at the bar who settled their tabs and shuffled out. I had heard La’Dell sing before and knew she could deliver the goods. But after being besieged incessantly by piped-in carols at every mall I had slogged through, I certainly wasn’t in the mood to hear more of them.

I shouldn’t have worried. Nodding to Hobbs, La’Dell leaned back against a tall stool and let her seasonal enthusiasms pour out as though she were expressing them for the first time. Out came “White Christmas” and “O, Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Silent Night” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” And out spiraled the memories of pressing my ear to the radio in our remote farm house in West Virginia and hearing those same tunes, of linking the songs to uncles and cousins still fighting in World War II and wondering if they’d ever be home for another Christmas. The guys at the bar, seated with their backs to the stage, gradually turned to face the glorious music. A waitress who’d been buzzing about stopped at a table to listen intently as La’Dell journeyed on through “Sleigh Ride,” “Jingle Bells” and “Jingle Bell Rock.”

Before I knew it an hour had passed and La’Dell was bowing and beaming to the crowd’s applause. Looking past the bar and through the barely translucent front door, I could imagine snow was falling and that I was young again. And so I did.

All year long, I listen to every CD that comes my way – so you don’t have to! Anyway, here’s a list of songs I couldn’t get enough of in 2007, and the reasons why.

1. “Missing You,” Alison Krauss & John Waite – Something about the way he sings the line “You don’t know how desperate I’ve become...”

2. “The Story,” Brandi Carlile – You know that part where she kind of screams? I love that.

3. “Hard Edges,” Chris Knight – A little girl’s dreams of becoming a dancer come true, sort of.

4. “Talking in Your Sleep,” Crystal Gayle – I was late to find this classic. Even when he’s asleep, he can’t say the right thing.

5. “In a Perfect World,” Gene Watson – With so many things going wrong for him, you’ll feel better about your own life.

6. “Falling Slowly,” Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – My favorite song from my favorite scene in my favorite movie, Once.

7. “Love is a Battlefield,” Jann Arden – I was always too busy finger-snapping on Pat Benatar’s version to realize what a heavy, intense lyric this has.

8. “Pistol Packin’ Mama,” John Prine & Mac Wiseman – Cracks me up every time, and I get a kick out of whoever’s wailing in the background.

9. “Right Moves,” Josh Ritter – I was giving a friend a ride home one night and she said, “Who is this? I like it!” Me too. A great groove.

10. “Your Next Lover,” Lori McKenna – “She puts her pocketbook down and smiles at you” … and you know this isn’t going to turn out well.

11. “Let the Music Get Down in Your Soul,” Marc Broussard – It’s a remake but advice like this never goes out of style.

12. “The Calling,” Mary Chapin Carpenter – Some things you just don’t have control over. It’s OK to embrace those things.

13. “People Change,” Nick Lowe – He’s right, of course, but only a randy chap like Nick can tell a story like this.

14. “Someone Somewhere Tonight”, Pam Tillis – She’s still got it. A fine reminder that the great circle of life goes on.

15. “Heavenly Day,” Patty Griffin – An upbeat love song about her dog!

16. “Because of You,” Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson – My friend cries every time she hears this because it reminds her of her dad.

17. “Follow the Lights,” Ryan Adams & the Cardinals – Such words of encouragement are always welcome.

18. “Fallen,” Storyhill – They sing, “This year the winter will not break me,” and I always think, “Me neither, I hope.”

19. “If You Leave Me Now,” Suzy Bogguss – With her pristine voice, this Chicago oldie sounds like a whole new song.

20. “Don’t Ask Me to Be Friends” (bonus track), Teddy Thompson – If you really don’t want to be friends after a breakup, please don’t pretend otherwise.

21. “This is Me You’re Talking To,” Trisha Yearwood – It’s inevitable that you’ll run into old flames in Nashville. What can I say? This song gets it just right.

If you love Southern cooking, bring your appetite and your manners to Monell’s, where they know how to make you feel welcome. Located in the Germantown neighborhood of Nashville, Monell’s resides in a beautiful 1880s Victorian home. A garden with trees, flowers and bumblebees line the path leading to the side entrance of this eating oasis.

Don’t be alarmed if you’re seated with strangers, because they won’t be strangers for long. You’ll be led to a large wooden table with other guests, usually around ten people, sharing the same one-of-a-kind experience. A choice of tea, sweet tea and fruit tea will be at the table when you sit down. Since there is no menu and you don’t have to order, this cuts down on waiting time. Cole slaw usually starts the parade of food, then an assortment of breads. Without delay, an overwhelming aroma soon hits. You’re ready to feast: Fried chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplings, corn, green beans and as much cornbread as you can handle. If your plate begins to run low, a friendly waitress is always ready to fill each bowl with fresh fixin’s. And don’t forget to leave some room for the end of the meal, as a savory pudding is brought to the table. (The banana pudding is just divine.) Even more important to remember: ALWAYS pass to the left.

Lunch is served Monday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday and breakfast and lunch Saturday and Sunday. A meal will cost about $15 but it’s worth every penny. There are no reservations at Monell’s, so it’s first come, first serve. You’ll feel quite at home with this pleasant atmosphere, but let me warn you -- you may need to unfasten a button or two and don’t forget to allot at least an hour of naptime afterwards.

Keith Urban. He’s a Grammy-nominated, multiple award-winning, mega-superstar. He’s achieved more success and won more accolades than most can imagine. No, it doesn’t seem like many of us would have much in common with Keith Urban. However, we’re wrong. He has something in common with “Everybody.”

This video exposes that common ground between someone that seems larger than life to someone like you and me. I too have had to ask for help in time of need or worry. When I first moved to Nashville, I called home about three times a day. Loneliness had set in and I needed a soft place to fall. I relied on my family's sturdy support to remind me that I would be all right and that tomorrow would be easier. I sure don’t know where I’d be today without their comfort to lean upon.

Like Urban sings, “Just when it feels you’re on a dead-end road/There’s always somewhere left to turn.” He’s right -- there’s always hope. Sometimes we just have to eat our pride and ask for help without being ashamed. I suppose now is the best time of any to have this hopeful holiday spirit. May we all be able to thank that person who has helped us this year and to someday return the favor if we haven’t already. Because really, “You don’t have to find your own way out. You’ve got a voice, let it be heard.”

Most of us don’t have a platinum plaque hanging on the wall, a celebrity spouse to accompany us on extravagant vacations, millions of dollars to spend at our pleasure, but “Everybody” has had to ask for help at some point in our life. Yes, even Keith Urban, who’s had his bought with addiction more than once. But look at him now. Whether self-inflicted or unfortunate circumstances, we’ve all hit that point where we can’t do it alone.

For years now, I’ve kept a clipped-out recipe for shrimp and grits on my refrigerator. I’ve had it so long that I don’t remember the restaurant behind it, but I’m betting it’s the Hominy Grill in Charleston, S.C., because when I ordered a big plate of shrimp and grits from the delightful eatery a few months ago, it tasted precisely as I expected --creamy, delicious and fresh, with snips of bacon and scallions to top it off. I should have ordered seconds. Too bad I was so stuffed from the moist cornbread with huckleberries and a small plate of pimiento cheese. If you ever need a favor from me, bribe me with pimiento cheese.

If you go to Charleston, and the weather is agreeable, consider walking around or renting a bicycle in the historic area. It’s a magnificent view of the city, with gorgeous houses lined up like soldiers. If you’re on foot, you can read the historic plaques and maybe step into a home tour. If you look out on the water far enough, you’ll see Fort Sumter, where the opening shots of the Civil War were fired. The architecture of the churches is inspiring, especially framed by the diamond towers of the Cooper River Bridge. If you gawk long enough, you’ll certainly work up an appetite.

I couldn’t resist returning to Hominy Grill the next morning for brunch. Banana bread was the first order of the day – in addition to a pleasant cup of coffee. Fried green tomatoes are always a sure way into my heart. In time, I savored every bite of a breakfast casserole from the specials board but I am so grateful that I saved room for chocolate pudding. I think the neighbors over the patio fence could hear me scraping the bowl with my licked-clean spoon.

Ok, so I am so exhausted right now. It’s Thursday, the night of the finals and I am still a little shaken from last night. What an incredible night for me and my choir. I am a competitive person, but I just have never felt this way. I cannot believe that we beat out Michael Bolton’s choir last night. I was shocked and relieved. I honestly can barely remember anything after they announced that we are staying. I just had knots inside my stomach. Right after Maria said that we were safe, I turned around to congratulate the choir, and then I looked over at my mom and she was crying. I was thinking she just looked so proud of me and I feel the same way about my choir. They are awesome.

Today, it feels like a ghost town around here. Usually backstage, in the dressing rooms and everything, people are walking around talking, cutting up. But, today it just feels like a funeral. It’s amazing how intense everything got in such a short period. I know I have been talking big. But I am really nervous about tonight. I can’t believe that I have made it this far. Patti LaBelle’s choir is just so good and Nick Lachey really has pulled out all the stops. It’s going to be a weird night. I just hope that my choir can relax and have a good time. I mean, this has been one great experience. Thanks for voting, guys. Hopefully it will pay off tonight.

See photos from Clash of the Choirs.

Cold winter weather brings new challenges for both indoor and outdoor pets. When the weather outside gets frightful, check out this checklist to keep Fido’s life delightful:

Cold weather can aggravate arthritis, which is most common in older pets but can occur at an early age, especially in overweight animals. If your dog or cat has trouble getting up, lying down or climbing stairs, talk to your veterinarian. You might consider giving your pet glucosamine, a dietary supplement that many find relieves joint pain. It’s available in some brands of pet food, and in tablet form at most supermarkets and health food stores. But never give your pet human pain medications without checking with your vet first. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be toxic to animals.

Be careful when you change antifreeze. Dogs and cats love the sweet taste, but it can be deadly. Consider switching to animal-friendly antifreeze, which costs a bit more but is safe for pets.

If you have an outdoor pet, make sure it has shelter and plenty of straw or warm bedding, and replace it if it gets wet. Don’t use an electric heater made for your home, which is a common cause of fires. When it snows, check your pet’s paws for ice balls or injuries. Keep hair around paw pads trimmed to prevent buildup of ice and snow.

Break the ice! Fresh water is crucial, even in winter, so check your outdoor pet’s water dish regularly. Not all pets know how to break through a frozen surface to get to the H20 below. Investing in a heated bowl, available at most pet supply stores, will solve the problem. If the temperature falls way below freezing, it’s too cold even for outdoor pets to stay outside, so bring them in!

Don’t let Clay Walker fool you. He’s not empathetic. He’s just horny.

Back when I first heard the song “Fall,” I thought he’d finally found the one thing that every woman wanted to hear. Then I saw the video -- and completely changed my mind.

To a woman, the lyrics sound like they’re coming from a man who gets it. A guy who understands how selfless a girl’s life can be. Like when he sings “Even though I know you’ve had a bad day, doin’ this and doin’ that, always puttin’ yourself last.” By that, I thought he meant, “Hey baby, you’re so good to everybody else, let me do something for you. Can I get you a latte? Want me to help the kids with homework and you can take a bath? Let me do a grocery run and make dinner.”

Unfortunately, what he meant was, “Can I get in your pants?”

The story in the video comes down to this: Walker making the moves on some unsuspecting woman. He’s stroking her hair, pulling her shirt off her shoulders, kissing her neck. He’s saying he’ll be there for her, and she can fall into his arms, but what he’s doing is trying to turn her vulnerability into getting himself laid. After a long day of what Walker calls “a whole lotta give and not enough take,” I think I can speak for every woman when I say: This is not our fantasy. A man’s, yes. But not ours. Foreplay by a mountain stream is not the answer when you’re overworked and underappreciated.

I’m not saying sex doesn’t sell. A lusty song deserves a lusty video, like Dierks Bentley’s “Come a Little Closer.” He sings about wanting it, then he acts it out. But Walker has tried to disguise taking care of his own needs with a song about taking care of hers. Sex like that doesn’t fix a thing. It’s really just one more thing on our to-do list.

Well, last night was awesome. I really had a great time performing with my choir. They are so excited and that rubs off on me. After the show, I did what these folks call "press" after the show... a bunch of interviews asking me how I felt about my choir's performance and the competition. Overall I just told everyone how I am going to kick their ***** (removed for explicit content).

After that I took my family to find some food. We looked for a diner that was open 24 hours and found a place called Gold Street. We were all pretty tired so we ate and then all went back to the hotel. I barely remember laying my head down on the pillow and I wasn't even drunk!

So, get this…I set my alarm for 7:50, because I had an interview thingy at 9:00 a.m., but I forgot that my phone was on vibrate. Great bit of good that did me. I was a little late, but I made it. I was planning on taking a nap since I didn't get to sleep in, but I can never do that. I always feel worse if I try to sleep in the middle of the day. So instead of a nap, I am blogging. So, if I forget something that I did, it's probably because I am going on no sleep. In fact, I better go. I have a 3:30 p.m. call time and I need to find Miranda. Now, don't get lazy. Vote for my choir again tonight.

See photos from Clash of the Choirs.

Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild are partners in marriage – and in the gym, too.

“We like to work out together,” Karen says. “We try not to talk too much business while we’re working out, and plus we like to hold each other accountable for staying in shape. We hadn’t been very good at in the last year, because we had gotten so busy, and in the last few months, it’s picked up again. We said, ‘OK, we’ve got to be disciplined.’ It’s a chance to clear our heads together and be away from everyone else on the road, and to be a couple.”

With a boost from a personal trainer, they gravitate toward circuit training, because it hits so many body parts in a short amount of time. Jimi, fellow LBT member Philip Sweet and the guys in their touring band are also partial to basketball on the road. “That’s some of the best cardio you can get because you’re constantly moving,” Jimi says.

“That’s fun for the boys,” Karen adds. “I like to do yoga too. That’s a newfound interest for me. Sugarland is really into yoga. I had taken about 10 classes or so, and now that we’re on tour with them, I’ve been taking more classes with them. It’s great to give your mind a break, and the stretching. You have to be pretty strong to do some of those positions.”

In the last few years, Jimi and Karen have discovered a feeling of peace that goes along with skiing, citing Crested Butte and Steamboat Springs, Colo., among their favorite slopes. With the fourth member, Kimberly Roads, heavily devoted to her fitness routine on the road (as well as bringing along her new baby on tour), the band members simply can’t shrug off an afternoon of exercise.

“We don’t really have an excuse on our bus,” says Karen, “other than just laziness.”