CMT Blog: Archive

You probably know Chris Crocker as the "leave-Britney-alone" guy. He was the internet sensation who appeared out of nowhere after Britney Spears' unpolished performance at last year's VMA Awards. Her sloppy style brought critics out with a vengeance. And that spawned Crocker's desperate video plea to the media to back off, making him the butt of jokes and the subject of criticism himself. But really, it comes down to the fact that fans firmly stand by their artists. I know this because I get hate mail whenever I write something remotely negative.

Now, aside from this guy, country fans are the most loyal group I know. And there may already be some out there who would dramatically come to a country artist's rescue. I've crossed paths with a handful of good candidates. A few years ago I traveled all the way from Chicago down to Rayville, La., to see Tim McGraw at his Swampstock event. Only Tim got sick three songs into his set, then left the stage for good. The minute a sigh of disappointment crossed my lips, his fans claimed that I shouldn't be thinking of myself at a time like this, when he was so clearly ill. They defended McGraw like he was their BFF. They didn't post an internet video about it, though.

No one in country music has taken it as far as Crocker. Yet. For now, country fans seem to rein in their passion and keep things offline. If the day comes, though, that someone posts a video pleading with the media to leave Billy Ray Cyrus alone, I won't be surprised. Awed, maybe. But not surprised.