Sunday Selections: January 24, 2016
The biggest story of the past week is the death of Glenn Frey, whose work with the Eagles has, for better or worse, influenced multiple generations of country artists.
Travis Tritt
Introducing Larry Rogowin
Please join me in welcoming our newest staff writer, Mr. Larry Rogowin. Welcome aboard, Larry! – KJC I can’t say I grew up listening to […]
Single Review: Gloriana, “Trouble”
“Trouble” Gloriana Written by Ross Copperman, Mike Gossin, Jon Nite, and Rachel Reinert I’m starting to think there’s a group of guys in Nashville who […]
The Best Singles of 1994, Part 3: #20 – #11
Our Best of 1994 Singles List continues with Part Three, which includes the ten songs that just missed the top ten! This section includes several […]
CMA Awards: Entertainer of the Year (1967-2013)
Since its inception, the top honor an artist could be given at the Country Music Association awards is this one: Entertainer of the Year. Originally a revolving door of winners, the winner in early years was often not even nominated the following year. In 1981, Barbara Mandrell became the first artist to win the award twice. Alabama succeeded her with a three year run from 1982-1984. Fourteen years later, Garth Brooks became the first artist two win four times, a feat later matched by Kenny Chesney in 2008.
Here’s a look back at the award from the very beginning, along with some facts and feats about the category and its nominees.
1967
- Bill Anderson
- Eddy Arnold
- Merle Haggard
- Sonny James
- Buck Owens
One year after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Eddy Arnold was named the very first Entertainer of the Year at the inaugural CMA awards in 1967. Don’t assume it was a sympathy vote. Arnold had three #1 hits in the twelve months leading up to the ceremony, as he was in the middle of his impressive mid-sixties comeback, a period best defined by the 1965 classic, “Make the World Go Away.” He remains the only member of the Hall of Fame to win this award after being inducted.
Single Review: Toby Keith, "I Like Girls That Drink Beer"
An awesome throwback that recalls the great class-crossed lovers anthems without borrowing too heavily from them.
100 Greatest Men: #63. Clint Black
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
The Class of 1989 permanently changed the face of country music. Clint Black was its valedictorian.
100 Greatest Men: #69. Travis Tritt
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
A famed member of the Class of ’89, Travis Tritt suburbanized the Outlaw sound for a broad new country music audience.
Pop Goes Country – A Cover Song Report Card
Cover songs can be a hot topic at just about any given time. We recently got to hear a somewhat underwhelming OneRepublic cover by Faith Hill, which Kevin recently reviewed. Other recent attempts include Sara Evans’ pop-country reworking of Rod Stewart’s “My Heart Can’t Tell You No,” as well as last year’s polarizing Beyoncé cover by Reba McEntire.
Since cover songs are so much fun to talk about, I thought I’d weigh in on a few well-known cover songs from the past few years – the good ones, as well as a few that we would rather forget. My criteria is simple: A good cover song should bring something new to the table, and the song should be treated in a way that is well-suited to the artist as well as the genre. This list focuses specifically on country covers of non-country songs.
100 Greatest Men: #81. Eagles
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
You can count their country hits on one hand, and still have fingers to spare. But the Eagles did more to shape the sound of country music than any rock band before or since.