Carrie is polarizing and I understand why. I’ve seen the same thing happen when Patsy dropped her cowgirl outfits. Or when Willie, Waylon, & Jessi took on the traditionalists. Again when Bocephus smacked them down as well. Remember Tanya Tucker and what she went through? Kristofferson? Cash in the early years? There are dozens and dozens of examples. Dozens of car\eers either not being made or destroyed because of a very narrow view of what some “think” is country. The history of country music is literally littered with the bodies of traditionalists left in it’s wake.

Every now and then an artist comes along that upsets the traditionalists’ narrow minds and throws their beliefs right back in their collective faces. Carrie does so simply because she doesn’t fit their narrow view of what country music is. And there is absolutely nothing she can do that will change those minds. For one thing, they refuse to even acknowledge her reverence of the history of the genre. Anytime she sings a traditional song she’s crucified as trying to “market” herself. The fact that she loves old school country means nothing. None will even bother to research her past or admit she IS country. Regardless of how many traditional songs she covers or just how really well she does so!

What is so ludicrous about it is the hypocrisy attached. The same artists deemed “unworthy” are now their icons. They put on a pedastal the exact same artists they hounded in the past and attack young artists like Miss Carrie for not knowing the history of the genre. Not being “country” enough. Huh! Maybe she knows more than they think! Funny how that works! :-(

Good music is good music. A star is made because they appeal to the only people that matter; the fans! If you can’t put butts in the seats then does anyone see you perform? Kinda’ like the bear in the woods eh?

Ah…… traditionalists! NOW I’m foaming at the mouth! :-o

I’m really pulling for young Miss Farley. What truly amazes me about her is the maturity of her voice and songwriting. No boyfriend revenge stuff here! Plus I love her response song to Brad Paisley with the fishin’ song. Ha! Sounds ’bout like my Lovely Bride! “So I can watch my shows”. Man, watching her “shows”? If that ain’t country I’ll kiss your grits! :-)

Sooner or later Patty will mess up and get close enough for me to go watch her! I’d love to catch her at one of the songwriter bars in Nashville. Now that would really be something in an intimate setting. Wow!

Oh well, a man has to have a dream or wither away. Or something like that! ;-)

Er…Sir, just a correction for the record…”Patty worship”?..I prefer to think of my obsession as “devotion”…But I never do confuse PL with the Almighty…She is simply one of His Masterpieces, that’s all, and another reason that I believe in God! But if it ever does reach the point where I’m lighting candles etc, then I’ll admit I have a problem! :)

Glad you caught that episode of PHC…Patty was amazing…If you think that was great, ya shoulda “seen it in color”! Seriously…she seems to add some extra magic when she does CCH live…I’d challenge anyone to see Patty Loveless do Cold Cold Heart in concert and keep a dry eye. If they are able to, then THEY have a cold cold heart!

Sorry you weren’t able to make her concert…Morristown NJ was as close as the got to New England this year, and it was roughly four and a half hr trip each way…but if that was my one shot to see this National Treasure and Queen of Country Soul in concert, I HAD to be there!

And you are absolutely correct about Rachel Farley…I think you are onto something here…She’s almost too good for Country radio and TV…but hopefully in a few years we’ll be discussing her work here on Country Universe’s Reader’ Choice Awards..(like how I brought this back on topic?) Seriously, when I first head her voice just now, I thought she sounded like a cross between Katrina Elam and Julie Roberts…But more rootsy Country. GREAT find, Thanks for the link!

congrats to her! soooo well deserved!

Well, you got that right since the Republic died with the bailouts! ;-)

Patty who? I’m not sure who you’re talkin’ about! :-o

I did catch that Prairie Home Companion and Patty was absolutely wonderful. Man, when she sang “Cold, Cold Heart” it gave me goosebumps. Still waiting on her to get somewhere close to my zip code but the closest she’s been is four hours away. Just can’t do that distance right now. You can stay up to watch Conan? Geez, you’re a better man than me. 2100 rolls around and I pass right out! Heh!

I’ve been meaning to send you this link: Rachel Farley http://www.myspace.com/rachelfarleymusic .

Dan Seals and a few others have been touting this 13 yr old singer/songwriter and I finally got to hear her live last week. I like her a bunch. Her style is right up your alley so if you can find time somewhere in your Patty worship check her out. If nothing else she’ll give you another looooong career to follow! ;-)

To paraphrase a great American Revolutionary War hero (with apologies) Nathan Hale,,I regret that I have but one vote to give for my Queen of Country Soul…(per said eligible category)

I think I can guess two of the editors/writers who gave Patty #1 votes for Best Female Vocalist…With five writers, was two votes enough to put her over the top in that category, or did she have some additional help? (I was always terrible at math…) Not asking for names or anything like that, that just wouldn’t be right in a free Democracy..

It’s great that Patty is a favorite here among readers and editors alike. We stand with many great critics in this, as well as with many of Patty’s peers. And this forum is one refreshing corrective to the marketplace and media which have not always given Miss Loveless her due. Nice to be here among so many smart people with great taste!

Thanks for the NYT’s concert review lead, Blake..Yes I did see that..And Garrison Keillor also congratulated Patty on a recent episode of Prairie Home Companion for that Times review..(Did you catch that episode? Patty was amazing and knocked four Sleepless Nights songs clear out of the park, including Crazy Arms and Cold Cold Heart..,she had done the same with CCH on Conan just a few nights before) I’m really happy for all the positive press Patty is receiving. As you can imagine, I kinda make it a hobby to read every review, article and interview about PL that I can get my hands on, and I gotta say Blake, that your interview with Patty a while back was probably the finest I have ever read, and maybe one of the best interviews for ANY artist that I have read in recent years. (you can make the check out to CASH in my name…:) ) Seriously, great job.

And for anyone who is interested, I believe the Prarie Home Companion archives has Patty’s episode online by segment, (maybe the NPR radio site), and the Conan episode that featured Patty is on hulu.com, Jan 14th episode about 37 minutes into the broadcast. Check it out! :)