With Trisha Yearwood, who has always been one of my favorites when it comes to female country singers of the last three decades, I think she has more yet to offer her audiences. Not that she hasn’t offered a lot already (what with her closing in on that vaunted 20-year mark of recording), but I feel there is more yet to be discovered with her. She talks about wanting to duet with Linda Ronstadt, which would pretty much be not only a feather in her career cap, but the culmination of a life-long dream. I hope it happens, because there aren’t too many singers who ever get to sing with someone who inspired them to the extent that Linda inspired Trisha.

In the case of Kenny Chesney, I think the best path to reaching his full potential is perhaps in not trying to put on a Jimmy Buffett act, because there really is only room in the world for one Parrothead. I do remember hearing his hit from a few years back, “I’d Have Done A Lot Of Things Different”, and thinking that such material is the kind of thing that true male country artists of the past always seemed to hunger for. If he can find something along those lines and balance it with the fun-in-the-sun material he’s known for, he probably could do even better than he’s doing now

While the fans of classics will stay in tune with their old time favs, cuntry radio I don’t think will be buying it. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear “Last Call” getting quit a bit of air play around here, where Kenny is played at least twice every hour. I loved that song from the first time I heard a snip and downloaded it right away, but for sure thought radio will not give this a shot at all, so sometimes they do surprise us with some traditional stuff but very rarely.

So although I have my own old time favs I have come to adapt to the new format of what is country now a days, and learned a different sort of appreciation separate from traditional. That is just my take on it.

Now that I mentioned Kenny, he is one that I do believe does have more potential. I’m sure some would be curious about this statement. I am tired of the drinking, partying, island music that has been the last four years of Kenny, with a few somewhat gems thrown in.
He has shown with “More Than A Memory”, “Don’t Blink”, and “You Saved Me” that he can do it I think he just chooses to please the people to fill those stadiums. EOTY is supposed to be an all around award not just album and concert sales, and that is how it has been awarded to him, with alot more deserving left wondering.

Erik North hit the nail on the head with Martina McBride, who would also be my choice. As clear-headed as she is about all details of her career, from her schedule, to her touring exploits, to her overall image, I’m just a little flabbergasted by some of the material she’s issued. Wild Angels was a terrific album, but she’s been very spotty since. Imagine if she recorded a few cuts by Ronstadt, Matraca Berg and other writers in that groove.

Lee Ann Womack isn’t always great live, although it’s hard to compare her 1997 CMA performance with Shania’s, given that it was Womack’s first major TV performance. I’ve seen her sing great, I’ve seen her sing so-so, but that’s with most country artists.

And I think I can anticipate another objection to my statements in addition to the one you raised.;)

Yeah, I know my hero Patty Loveless likes Carrie as one of today’s bright young artists, but I would probably agree too if I also heard Carrie’s Opry performance of “Stand By Your Man”…which is the specific example of Carrie’s potential that Patty usually cites..

I loved Carrie’s Opry performance and interpretation of “How Great Thou Art” and I think this is a similar example of what she is capable of…that is why it is all the more daunting that she is wasting her talent on inferior material, in my opinion.

I sure wasn’t looking to re-ignite our old debate about Carrie, (I’ve really been trying to be good.) And I hope you have read my many more recent comments where I have praised Carrie’s voice and talent time and time again.

My only issues with Miss Underwood are what I consider the premature and excessive level of acclaim that she has received, and the strong pop flavor of her material. That’s my take on it, and no matter how many others agree, it doesn’t make it fact, that’s just our opinion.

Yeah, I still think her induction to the Opry was pre-mature, but there are a lot of other early inductees that I have the same issue with. Dierks Bentley and Craig Morgan to name a few, their inductions have me scratching my head as well. (Sorry Dierks and Craig fans)..

And as far as the “traditional bandwagon” that you mentioned and questioned, the way I see it is this:

Tradtional elements give Country music it’s identity, and makes it distinctive. Excessive pop influence waters it down and puts it in peril of losing it’s soul. And Country Music has probably the richest and proudest musical heritage of any non-classical genre, Imo. Blues and Jazz and Folk are probably in the same league (I consider Bluegrass a type of Country music). But is there a Ryman for pop music? A geographical Mecca for that amorphous genre? To me, most pop, and much Country-pop should be filed under “miscellaneous”. I’d be hard pressed to even define the genre, except to say it has a characteristic blandness.

Without Traditonal elements, today’s “country-lite” is really nothing more than pop music with a Southern drawl. Many bloggers are on a “Tradition bandwagon’”it’s true, but unfortunately the marketplace is not. Many of us are tired of seeing supremely talented and Timeless artists like Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea, Carlene Carter,and Roseanne Cash (to name a few) take a back seat to any of the current flavors of the month that are dominating the charts and radio and TV airtime.

These Country music blogs,( especially our gracious host Country Universe) give many of us on the “bandwagon” a unique forum to celebrate and support the Timeless over the trendy.

That is my approach with most new artist as well.

Steve, I saw VP’s response a mile away, as soon as I read your comment.:)