CMT Blog: 2008 June

The recent induction of Tom T. Hall and the Statler Brothers into the Country Music Hall of Fame is a long overdue recognition of two of the format's most innovative acts. Hall is the most literary writer in country music -- not in any pompous, allusive, name-dropping way but in his instinctive mastery of narration and character. His best songs are as emotionally complete as the finest short stories. Like an imagist poet, he gives you all the salient details and lets you make of them what you will.

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In the past five years, Kenny Chesney has sold nearly 7 million concert tickets. Concert promoter AEG is hoping his next five years will be just as big.

Nicole Kidman already has her labor playlist ready. Husband Keith Urban will be among those serenading her through the pains of natural childbirth.

Kenny Rogers takes some questions about an upcoming show in the Caribbean, which he's sure he'll screw up.

Willie Nelson is a black belt, and other peculiar facts about the iconic country legend.

The Tennessean calls Taylor Swift the "new normal" on Music Row in this story about the shifting paradigms in the business.

Sure, she can sing. But Trisha Yearwood can also help you with your Fourth of July cookout. Here's a hint: vinegar.

Lately I've been listening to this duo from Mexico, Rodrigo y Gabriela. They started out playing guitar together in Mexico City, and eventually made their way to Dublin, where their signature sound started to take shape. Playing house parties, pubs and street corners all over Europe, they earned their reputation as great live performers, and picked up something of a cult following on the World Music circuit. But if some would call them a novelty act, their self-titled CD will attest to their musicianship. It was all recorded with live takes, with the exception of some overdubs on "Orion." This video for "Diablo Rojo" was picked up by VH1 in May.

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The things Phil Vassar does with his grand piano are not the things you learn in lessons as a kid. I doubt piano teachers are encouraging kids to stand up while playing, to play their own harmonicas for accompaniment, or to jump up on top of the piano at the end of a song. Somehow, though, those are exactly the kinds of things that make a Vassar concert so damn cool.

And maybe because he didn't learn to play with traditional after-school lessons, he taught himself a hipper way of playing. (He taught himself how to play The Commodores' "Easy" when he found his aunt's old piano being stored in his basement during high school.) Read more...

The Deas family was featured in an episode of CMT Paid Vacation with Pauly Shore.

Words can not describe the experience we had on our Paid Vacation from CMT! We had the time of our lives. We had no idea what to expect, there were surprises the whole trip. The first day our emotions were very high from the unexpected win to packing and traveling with four children on a private jet. If someone told us we would have to pack for the entire family in an hour we would have said "yeah right." Read more...

Nicole Kidman wasn't too busy to pick up a salad for Nashville radio personality Gerry House while husband Keith Urban was being interviewed on his morning show. We think House was just kidding when he gave her his order.

For 42 years, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has been making music that's hard to classify and easy to love. And they're bringing it to Austin, Texas, on July 18.

The unlikely pairing of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss is still garnering stellar reviews everywhere they go. Like this one from Variety that says they bring out the best in each other.

Mary-Kate Olsen was almost too tired to talk to David Letterman about her little bus trip to Bonnaroo by way of Nashville.

Guess who is just a good ol' Southern girl that likes her Cracker Barrel at 9 o'clock at night. Could her last name be Cyrus?

The venerable actor and comedian Andy Griffith makes a guest appearance with Brad Paisley in one of this week's new music videos, as viewed and evaluated by CMT's video team. Paisley also appears in a new video by the rapper Snoop Dogg, and it sparked a fairly intense discussion. Singer-songwriter Marcel returns with a new outing. And, from Can You Duet, Kate and Kacey Coppola try to get the last word.

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It's funny how I'll take my perfectly fine photos and convert them into black-and-white images. My nice digital camera that takes clear, color and crisp photos will never be fully utilized. It's equipped with all the "must-have" irrelevant features like taking videos that will never be taken and underwater capabilities that will never leave land. All the money I've spent on "special" features to then turn around and transform my flawless color photos into early 19th century masterpieces, my special moments diluted to colorless illustrations.

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It doesn't get much better than hearing live bluegrass, sitting under the sun, camping out, and maybe hitting up a nearby river for a dip. If work commitments and travel expenses didn't exist, here's how I'd spend July.

Grey Fox Bluegrass -- (July 17-20 in Oak Hill, N.Y.) How I wish I could go this year! Hot Rize will be performing, celebrating a 30-year anniversary. I could really go for some "Coleen Malone" right about now. And for you hardcore Hot Rize fans, there will even be a set by Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers. Seeing Bryan Sutton dressed in true Trailblazer attire while playing some intense bluegrass is an incredible sighting, let me tell ya. All-girl old-time string band Uncle Earl will also make one of their few appearances of 2008 here, and so will the Infamous Stringdusters.

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This week marks the one-year anniversary of the CMT Blog. I can't speak for my co-bloggers, but I have learned during the past 12 months. Namely, that country fans are a passionate bunch. If it was my job to blog about, say, children's theater, I don't know that I'd see such heated discussions and get such tremendous feedback. Good and bad.

I've learned a handful of specific lessons that will likely stay with me for years to come. And these are my Top 10:

1. Never say anything remotely negative about Dolly Parton. Ever. Or at least be prepared for the hailstorm of flak from her fans.

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