October 2008 – Page 2 – Country Universe

Heidi Newfield, “Cry Cry (‘Til the Sun Shines)”

October 29, 2008 Dan Milliken 5

Sad day: Heidi Newfield wastes her great voice on a super uncreative self-help song that recycles contemporary country’s favorite standby characters – women whose men mistreat them, and men who drink away their troubles –

James Otto, “These Are the Good Ole Days”

October 29, 2008 Dan Milliken 8

Attempt #2 to follow up “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” finds Otto eschewing nostalgia to a groovy beat that sounds like something John Mayer might do at his sunniest and most simplified. There’s nothing really

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #10: Kathy Mattea Makes a Difference (1992)

October 29, 2008 Guest Contributor 4

#10: Kathy Mattea AIDS Ribbon Presentation 1992 In a courageous move, Kathy Mattea drew attention to the AIDS epidemic at the 1992 ceremony. The entertainment industry was making special note of the disease by wearing

Crystal Shawanda, “My Roots Are Showing”

October 28, 2008 Dan Milliken 21

It’s been a while since I’ve heard a mainstream country single that really surprised me. This one does. The song combines the basic theme of Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine” with the bluesy rollick

Toby Keith, That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy

October 28, 2008 Guest Contributor 13

Toby Keith That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy As the introduction to his novel, Mother Night, Kurt Vonnegut warned, “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #11: Garth and his Georges (1991)

October 28, 2008 Guest Contributor 4

#11: Garth Brooks Entertainer of the Year speech 1991 The star of Garth Brooks was burning brighter than ever by the time of the 1991 ceremony. His win for the 1990 Horizon award was only

Waylon Jennings & the .357’s, Waylon Forever

October 28, 2008 Dan Milliken 3

Waylon Jennings & the .357’s Waylon Forever If country music has taught us one thing over the last decade, it is to never underestimate an aging legend. With much of Nashville doing everything it can

Waylon Jennings Giveaway – “Outlaw S***”

October 28, 2008 Dan Milliken 1

On behalf of Vagrant Records, Country Universe is pleased to offer a free mp3 of “Outlaw S***,” one of the more fascinating tracks on Waylon Jennings’ recent posthumous release with the .357’s, Waylon Forever. Listen

Discussion: From Country Song to Feature Film

October 27, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 13

Tonight, CMT is screening the movie Beer For My Horses, based on the Toby Keith and Willie Nelson smash a few years back. Keith co-stars with my favorite blue collar comic, Rodney Carrington. Nelson also

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #12: Trisha Yearwood‘s coronation (1997)

October 27, 2008 Guest Contributor 8

#12: Trisha Yearwood Female Vocalist of the Year 1997 Trisha Yearwood had been nominated for numerous CMA awards in the past, but she’d often been surpassed by her peers. Her lone victory before the 1997