Three Artists Who Kept Me Laughing This Decade
This is my last blog of the week, the year and the decade. So I have one last chance to look back before I start looking ahead. And this time, I want to go out reflecting with a smile on my face. You know as well as I do, a lot of country artists out there can give you something to smile about. But three of them have made me laugh out loud countless times in the last 10 years: Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley. Not so much with their songs, although some of Paisley's lyrics are downright hysterical -- "I don't highlight my hair, I've still got a pair" -- but with their live show banter.
Brad Paisley has that dry sense of humor and is a man of few words in interviews. But up on a stage, he becomes some kind of comedian. And he's armed with pictures of the teen Paisley in a bolo tie and Members Only jacket, making comments about how the drunker the fans get, the better his music sounds. Funny, funny stuff.
Keith Urban, too, has kept me and hundreds of thousands of fans completely engaged over the years with his charming wit. He may look the part of a brooding sex symbol, but he is seriously funny. Even on tough subjects like his stay at the Betty Ford Clinic, where he compared it to prison and how he had a roommate and an early bedtime. Or when a fan in a Q&A asked him if he'd ever cover '80s pop, he asked her, "What? Like Madonna, but with banjo?"
Dierks Bentley has to be on this list, too, because of his honest brand of humor. He doesn't talk like he's been coached. He just talks like he's your friend, even in an arena with 15,000 other friends. When I asked him once how it felt to have President Obama quote him, he told me, "That is so badass." Of all the responses he could've had ("It's an honor to be part of the new administration" or "I'm proud to be an American"), his true colors came through in those four words.
Photo credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
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janet m says:
Have to agree with you on the three above. But add yourself to the mix. Have certainly enjoyed reading your views on the country music scene as well. Happy New Year!
jenn says:
Taylor Swift kept me laughing with her non talent. lol!!
Michelle R. says:
Keith, Brad, and Dierks are definitely my three favorite male artists. I totally agree that they can always make you laugh. Thanks for the blog! This one is great!
Lioness says:
Keith certainly has such a quick wit about him! What I think is so charming about him is he often laughs at himself!! Have you ever noticed how fast Dierks Bentley talks?? Sometimes in interviews I don’t even know what he’s saying. I’m not to up on Paisley’s brand of humor. Don’t know why, but I sometimes get irritated at some of his so called funny lyrics. I really hated his Ticks song. Still don’t understand how that got to be a #1 song. YUCK!
Traditional says:
Can we hope for this to also be your last blog ever alison?
rockerbillie says:
I enjoy humor always. Brad is funny, Keith is clever and Dierks has the best Hot love songs ever. And his ’sideways’ is great. He is having fun and why shouldn’t they all? Long live country artists and music.
MiaT says:
They are all 3 pretty funny guys. Great Blog Alison!
Happy New year Alison! and Thank You for all the great blogs! They make me think & also laugh! Here’s to a interesting 2010 !
Redmaz says:
There are so many great singer/songwriter/comedians out there today, it’s hard to pick just three, so I will say in no particular order…
Todd Snider
Unknown Hinson
Doyle & Debbie
Antsy McClain
Hayes Carll
…and that’s just the beginning.
So, to everyone who has posted…what do you think of these artists?
OhSusannah says:
Good bye to the end of another year, as well as to a memorable decade. Happy New Year and New decade to one and all!
OhSusannah says:
Does anyone else know a wonderful Roseanne Cash/Johnny Cash song called ,”September When It Comes”?I’m not sure when this song was first played,I am sure I saw the video on CMT at some point.I really love almost anything by Roseanne Cash, but this song is a standout for me. It makes me think of my late father every time I think of it.
Peacock Queen says:
I grew up watching “Hee Haw” and I have to say that I miss watching country artists getting together and having fun. I know that in today’s world, a show like “Hee Haw” would be too corny to have an audience, but the members of the country family seemed to really enjoy each other and making themselves laugh as much as the fans. I miss that, and I can see Keith Urban with his banjo and Brad Paisley with his guitar doing “Pickin’ and Grinnin” while doling out corny jokes that were fun while not at anyone’s expense, other than themselves. I wish we could have something like that again with country artists, even if it is just a special once in a while.
Redmaz says:
PQ, do you think Doyle and Debbie fit into that description?
Peacock Queen says:
Oh, what am I being now, a loudmouth or a know-it-all because I said I grew up watching Hee Haw and enjoyed it?
Aunt Pam says:
I’d also like to nominate Sara Evans as one of the funniest entertainers in country music. Great stage presence, quick-witted, very clever and down-to-earth. At one show, she had told the audience that she had gone to college for 11 days before quitting. Later she was telling a joke, messed up the punch line and asked her sisters (backup singers) and brother (bassist) if she’d at least gotten the gist of the joke right. Only, she messed up the word “gist,” caught herself, then started laughing and said, “Obviously, I should have gone to college for 12 days.” When she mentions her second marriage to Jay Barker, invariably, men in the audience would boo. “What?” Sara quipped. “You had your chance. I was single for 48 hours.” Great voice, tight band and a personal connection with the audience. Happy New Year!
Redmaz says:
I watched Hee Haw too(even though I was a ltlle disappointed in Buck through those years) Did you know most of the music was pre-recorded? Not much of it was ever played live. It was basically karaoke. Most quests would sing live to a pre-recorded track. Anyway…I was simply asking you about Doyle and Debbie, and your opinion.
BIGKUFAN says:
I agree whole-heartedly with you. Those three are some of the best in country music. I am a HUGE Keith Urban fan and also luv Brad and Dierks. I have been to several Keith Urban concerts and he is so funny!! He is also very charming, of course. Hope to one day get to meet him. That would be a dream come true!!!
Kevin says:
Blake Shelton is very funny as well
me says:
Red, I checked your short list. I really enjoyed Doyle & Debbie and Antsy McClain…hysterical!
goldie says:
love keith urban he is funny,good looking and a great artist!!!
ashlin says:
sara evans is i think one of the most funny people i have ever heard an just reading bout the stuff sara says cracks me up!
Janice Noren says:
Brad is not my choice as his humor seems forced, however, Keith is a charmer and his humor is just so natural and not scripted. He’s number 1 in my book!
hotelmotel says:
Brad Paisley is way to corny for my taste. And his voice isn’t that great.
Scott says:
Well after checking out the people listed by Redmaz, I’ve come to the conclusion, Paisley, Urban, Bentley and the others aren’t funny at all. Great list Redmaz! It seems you know what you’re talking about when it comes to music. Do you have any more suggestions?
Snookie Lanson says:
I’m familiar with most of those Red listed. Almost ripped a gut the first time I heard Todd Snider on the Opry. Hayes Carll has a dry sense of humor, and sometimes takes a moment to appreciate. Doyle & Debbie, isn’t for everyone, but often their spur of the moment humor is better than what is planned. That’s the sign of a true wit.
Also some of the legends out their who are still making music and being funny are Rider’s in the Sky, Vince Gill, and Ricky Skaggs. Another humorous guy who was around this past decade was Neil McCoy.
Some other artists in the Country genres I find quite humorous, maybe not in their music, but certainly in interviews and on stage, are sidemen like Jerry Douglas and Adam Steffey. In some circles, Alison Krauss’ humor is considered one of the most off the wall out there, and if you ever heard her hosting any of the Bluegrass award shows, you’d know what I’m talking about.
And talking about Bluegrass, comedian/actor Steve Martin put out a highly regarded album this year, and certainly could be added to any funnyman’s list.
Carrie says:
I agree with Sara Evans being funny. I have seen her a couple of times, and she has a wicked sense of humor. Some people take her humor the wrong way, but she seems to me to be a very sweet person who loves her fans.
Katie says:
I totally agree! I actually got to see Dierks and Brad in concert last spring and they were just amazing. Not only were their performances great, but they were hysterical. Dierks was taking selfie pics with audience members and Brad was cracking jokes like there was no tomorrow.
The only other person I would suggest is Blake Shelton, because I also got to see him in concert and was just so funny and singing joke songs and kept the audience laughing.
car-reviews.ru says:
a rhetorical question isnts a question with no answer, its a question you ask which you either dont want or dont expect an answer to. How old are you before you are said to have died of old age?
elizabeth says:
Paisley, Dierks and Urban are in no way funny to me. Keith has a good voice but the other two leave much to be desired with their singing voices. Nice guys. JMO.
njm says:
Great list!!
Keith Urban is really funny, I agree sometimes people can’t get past the looks and see the true person and their talent.
I loved the Start A Band Video; Keith and Brad were really being silly having so much fun, especially the part where Keith blew into Brad’s ear and surprised him! To funny!