If you read the CMT.com story on Blake Shelton this week, you probably got a hardy laugh out of Blake’s recollection of his favorite Christmas gift. His folks put a rifle under the tree for him 15 years ago. He took it as a sign that his parents felt he was mature enough to use it wisely, but the way he tells the story – “Get your kids a gun for Christmas!” — lets you know he recognizes it’s an odd present.
In the spirit of the season, here’s a look at how some early holiday gifts resonate today:
50 years ago: Elvis Presley gave a red sports car to his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. This one moment tells you a lot about why the King’s finances were a mess when he died. Elvis went from dirt poor to filthy rich and spent lavishly, leaving comparatively little in his estate, though Priscilla eventually made something of it. Of course, Colonel Tom was much more interested in the bucks than the art. You can bet he enjoyed the bling.
40 years ago: Vince Gill and Brent Rowan each received their first electric guitars. Vince loved his Christmas present so much that he continued to use it even after he went pro. Brent? His guitar was a building block. He’s now one of Nashville’s top session musicians, earning Top Guitarist honors from the Academy of Country Music twice and appearing on hits by Josh Turner, Shania Twain and Toby Keith.
30 years ago: Teenage Lorrie Morgan accepted a diamond engagement ring from her boyfriend. A year later, the relationship dissolved — he couldn’t deal with the music business. Lorrie’s usually gone for music-related men since then… Keith Whitley, Jon Randall, Sammy Kershaw, Clint Black’s bus driver. Maybe her high-school sweetheart understood the business pretty well!
20 years ago: Kenny Chesney unwrapped his first electric guitar. He only plays a six-string during a portion of his shows, but his repeated victories as Entertainer of the Year suggest the gift was a good investment. That same year, Reba McEntire accepted a gift from future husband Narvel Blackstock: a horse named Little Bit. Since then, she’s played Carnegie Hall, had her own sitcom, developed a line of clothing and conquered Broadway. Maybe Narvel should give her another horse and name it… A Lot.
Why are some segments of the media painting Kenny Chesney as a hypocrite after expressing his opinion about the Academy of Country Music’s entertainer of the year award being turned into a fan-voted honor? Although he criticized the ACM’s recent decision to have fans decide the winner through online voting, he never once claimed (or otherwise hinted) that he hadn’t used his Web site and fan club to campaign for votes.
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