That’s how Jessica Simpson put it. That she plans on making country music for a looooooong time. Well, she didn’t exactly say it. She spelled it out in an e-mail interview with The Indianapolis Star for a preview of her upcoming show at the Indiana State Fair. So this time, there’s no mistaking what went down. E-mail interviews aren’t usually a journalist’s favorite, but at least everything’s there in black and white, and nothing is left up to the writer’s interpretation.
After the bandleader at a musical variety theater in Utah suddenly required emergency surgery, audience member Collin Raye immediately volunteered to help them out.
Mindy McCready has admitted herself into a long-term substance abuse rehab program after being hospitalized for an overdose of Ambien and vodka, proving that even she will do whatever it takes to avoid a session with Dr. Phil.
Shooter Jennings and his band, the .357s, will be backing his late father on a nine-song CD of Waylon Jennings originals and cover tunes. Talk about living forever through modern technology.
Supposedly, Jessica Simpson got no love at her first major concert appearance up in Wisconsin on Saturday night. I find that hard to believe. Why would tens of thousands of fans, who had likely been drinking all day, be that hateful? She came onstage at the Country Thunder USA festival after Kellie Pickler and before Sara Evans, two very lovely bookends. She did some new stuff and a few classic country covers. However, one of the area newspapers, the Kenosha News, reported that many audience members agreed with one guy who said, “I just don’t hear the country in her; I don’t hear the twang. She’s not good enough to be here.” Many country fans agreed? How many did the reporter talk to? Ten? Because that isn’t a majority.
Posted: July 18th, 2008 at 3:14 pm| By: Chet Flippo
Only one new video was available for this week’s screening by CMT’s video evaluation team. So, Rissi Palmer’s new video for her song “No Air” received the panel’s full attention. So, let’s get to it.
Palmer’s “No Air” video features only her, performing the song as a sort of soliloquy on a stunningly beautiful, deserted Caribbean beach. For a young artist to attempt appearing in a video as the only human creature in it … well … that’s not the easiest of tasks. But Palmer pulls it off and does it very credibly. The song, incidentally, was originally performed in a pop version by Jordin Sparks.
Last night I saw Whitney Duncan play a private showcase at Rocketown in downtown Nashville. The day earlier, she came to CMT to sing a few songs. And before that? Well, it’s been a long time, but she had a video in 2004 with Kenny Rogers, but the single never took off. (If you have Rogers’ 42 Ultimate Hits, it’s the second-to-last track.) Now, she’s greasing the promotional wheels for an upcoming album on Warner Bros., smiling and shaking hands at every turn. Here’s the first video, “When I Said I Would.”
Lee Ann Womack admits that the pull of needing to be home with her daughters kept her out of the studio. But she has a new album due out in the fall, and some think it’ll be an award winner.
Pay attention in that first scene of this video, where she’s holding the cell phone up to her ear, because that way the ending will make a lot more sense. In the meantime, you can enjoy Jessica lounging on the kitchen counter, dangling her feet on the bed of a truck and perching herself (with no pants) atop a bathtub. That’s good stuff, but does the video have any legs? Oh, I think I can count on a few guys watching it over and over and over.
Also, for all you people who say she’s nothing but a pop singer, take note: She’s in a barn for most of the video, so she must be country, right? See what you think.
If you’re going to any country festivals this summer, the Wall Street Journal has some tips on how to make the most of your grown-up concert adventure.
That’s how Jessica Simpson put it. That she plans on making country music for a looooooong time. Well, she didn’t exactly say it. She spelled it out in an e-mail interview with The Indianapolis Star for a preview of her upcoming show at the Indiana State Fair. So this time, there’s no mistaking what went down. E-mail interviews aren’t usually a journalist’s favorite, but at least everything’s there in black and white, and nothing is left up to the writer’s interpretation.
Supposedly, 
Only one new video was available for this week’s screening by CMT’s video evaluation team. So, Rissi Palmer’s new video for her song “No Air” received the panel’s full attention. So, let’s get to it.
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