October 2008 – Page 4 – Country Universe

Inside Johnny Cash’s America: A Conversation with Morgan Neville

October 23, 2008 Dan Milliken 7

There are artists, and then there are people who use their particular craft to speak directly to the core of the human condition, who buck what is familiar and comfortable in pursuit of what is

Discussion: Pick the Grammy Nominees – Best Country Song

October 22, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 26

The old country music adage remains: It’s all about the song. Grammy voters have 161 of them to choose from on this year’s Country Ballot. Recent winners in this category have included “Before He Cheats”,

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #15: Matraca Berg Takes a Bow (1997)

October 22, 2008 Guest Contributor 4

#15: Matraca Berg A Night in the Spotlight 1997 With her slate of 11 #1 singles as a songwriter, her recent induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and even a solo stint as

Discussion: Pick the Grammy Nominees – Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals

October 21, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 18

The next category on this year’s Country Ballot is a wide open race this year. Usually, the award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals goes to the Dixie Chicks or

Craig Morgan, That’s Why

October 21, 2008 Guest Contributor 12

Craig Morgan That’s Why On Craig Morgan’s new album, That’s Why, life is about sitting in Cracker Barrel rockers, driving around the old town square and sipping on Boones Farm wine. No surprise, given that he’s earned steady radio

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #16: Jeannie C. Riley in a miniskirt (1968)

October 21, 2008 Guest Contributor 4

#16: Jeannie C. Riley “Harper Valley, P.T.A.” 1968 At the peak of her powers, Jeannie C. Riley was enjoying the success of her small-town story song “Harper Valley P.T.A.” in the fall of 1968. But her

Discussion: Pick the Grammy Nominees – Best Male Country Vocal Performance

October 20, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 17

The next category on the Country Ballot is Best Male Country Vocal Performance. There are more performances to choose from among the men, with 83 entries compared to 64 for the women. It’s a typically

Single/Video Review: Toby Keith, “God Love Her”

October 20, 2008 Dan Milliken 24

What’s going on, Toby? Seriously, now: when one of the genre’s finest mainstream voices is stooping to tired numbers like this one, something is seriously up. “God Love Her” is an uptempo, Mellencampish toss-off about

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #17: Kris Kristofferson, Song of the Year win (1970)

October 20, 2008 Guest Contributor 3

#17: Kris Kristofferson Song of the Year win 1970 Mumbling but magnificent in its own unique way, the acceptance speech for Song of the Year in 1970 was an inarticulate message from an exceedingly eloquent

Discussion: Re-Evaluating the Music of Your Youth

October 19, 2008 Guest Contributor 0

The following quote caught my eye recently in an online blog: It’s a funny thing I’ve noticed lately, listening to the “classic rock” stations that are now — unbelievably — broadcasting the soundtrack of my