Guest Contributor

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #6: Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Opening Act (1990)

November 4, 2008 Guest Contributor 10

#6: Mary Chapin Carpenter Opening Act 1990 In a rare coup for a new artist, Mary Chapin Carpenter earned a coveted performance slot on the 1990 show, and she used it to establish her identity

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #7: Shania Twain, Entertainer of the Year (1999)

November 3, 2008 Guest Contributor 7

#7: Shania Twain Entertainer of the Year 1999 She’d long been an afterthought with the Country Music Association, failing to secure an award in her six-year career, but the organization righted past wrongs by honoring

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #8: Faith Gets Carried Away (2006)

November 3, 2008 Guest Contributor 8

#8: Faith Hill & Carrie Underwood Female Vocalist of the Year 2006 The CMAs experienced an unwanted (and many would argue, unwarranted) amount of attention in 2006, when an intended joke by Faith Hill cast

Dean Dillon

November 1, 2008 Guest Contributor 6

Although he started his career in front of a microphone, Dean Dillon soon transitioned into one of the finest songwriters in Nashville, notably enhancing the careers of one of its legends and illustrating an uncommon

Adam Gregory, “What It Takes”

October 31, 2008 Guest Contributor 14

At just twenty-three years old, Adam Gregory has built a following in Nashville based on a soulful vocal style and a strong dose of melody. His first single, “Crazy Days,” dinted the charts, and now he’s

Discussion: Artist of the Decade?

October 30, 2008 Guest Contributor 34

Earlier today, the Academy of Country Music announced that George Strait would be its Artist of the Decade. Only four other acts have been honored as artist of the decade: Marty Robbins in 1969, Loretta

Concert Review: Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton

October 30, 2008 Guest Contributor 5

Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton Star of the Desert Arena Primm, NV October 14, 2008 In the better late than never category, on October 14, in between two of the craziest weeks ever, I made

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #9 Dolly & Randy, Male Vocalist presentation (1988)

October 30, 2008 Guest Contributor 2

#9: Dolly Parton & Randy Travis Male Vocalist of the Year presentation 1988 Dolly Parton had a little fun with her presentation of the Male Vocalist of the Year award in 1988. First, she flirted

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

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