Jackson Dean, scored his first #1 hit with his debut single "Don't Come Lookin'" and now he has sent his next single to country radio! Jackson said on social media that "the song was written from a place of honesty about the way a woman makes a young guy feel. It’s something we don’t talk about a lot, but it’s there just the same."

I have not been sleeping well lately. Over the weekend, that all changed! Man, did I catch up on sleep!

Friday night I was out by 8:30 and slept until 11:00 Saturday morning...it felt GREAT! Saturday was quite similar.

Even catching up on all that sleep I was still able to get things done that needed to be done. So, it was a great weekend and I hope it was for you too.

So you kick back to relax to some country music this fine evening.   It's Ben, sure appreciate you having me and 94.9 WQMX on your radio, app, or stream... 

When you think of Rodney Atkins "If You're Going Through Hell"... This is probably not what pops into your mind.

Yeah, it's "Country Goes Metal" the 5 song EP is due in March.  (it might be interesting seeing the actual artists do the song in a different genre, I don't know about this.)

The re-imagined songs will be Chris Young's "Losing Sleep", Sam Hunt's "Leave The Night On", Montgomery Gentry's "My Town" and Dustin Lynch's "Small Town Boy".  

Maybe metal goes country should have been the angle but we'll see...  I'm not going to hold my breath.

I absolutely love "Heart Like A Truck" from Lainey Wilson, definitely on my year end list. Loved hearing her sing this acooustic at our Bosom Buddies Benefit in October and this live performance is pretty amazing. Lainey is backed up on this one by choir students from the University of Nebraska Omaha along with a pianist, a couple acoustic guitars and a drummer playing a cajon. Of course Lainey's vocals are always on point and watching this will give you goosebumps!

I had a few errands to run on Thursday evening (ugh), and also went to dinner with my mom.

She chose to go to a staple on our list of dining establishments - Hartville Kitchen. It was SO GOOD (as usual)! Also, it's not a trip to the Hartville Kitchen without getting pie for dessert is it? My favorites are either their Chocholate Cream or Chocholate Peanut Butter Cream...they're awesomely delicious!

We had to wait in line for a table for about 15 minutes but it was SO worth it! 

Happy Thursday everyone! This Thursday, I'm sharing a trailer from Blumhouses latest January Release, (oof) M3gan.

This AI horror will hopfully play a big part in the newer era of robot based horror, since it's inching ever so close to our reality.

Either way, this girls got moves.

Check out the trailer below!

Put a little or maybe a lot of Country in your Christmas.  Tonight on ABC they have 2 specials.

First, CMA Country Christmas at 9pm.  Check out Carly Pearce, Old Dominion, Scotty McCreery, Dan & Shay, Maren Morris and others belting out songs of the season.

The second special follows the first.  ABC News Superstar Series features Reba McEntire.  The line-up to talk about Reba is a who's who of country...  Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Dierks, Dolly, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Miranda, Vince Gill and Wynonna Judd...  

Should be a great night of country music. If you miss them I belive they will be on Hulu tomorrow.

For the past few years I've been writing and posting my Country Music Memory Lane Series here and my Mega Star Series too.  They post here on Thursdays and will continue to do so, as we look back at the artists that got us where we are today.  But I am starting another year long series in January in addition to CMML.

I will have a year long countdown of the 50 Songs That Stuck.  Over the past 42 years I've played Country Music on the radio, I will feature 50 songs that are the ones I have enjoyed playing, and in many cases still play -  on the radio.  Of course these lists are always totally subjective, but they are fun.  I'll post these on Tuesdays right here!

Here are some of the loose parameters.

I am NOT saying these are the BEST songs, just the ones I enjoy the most.

I am NOT saying I am "right"

There is a great mix of traditional country, pop country, and crossover as I have played country through many phases.

These songs are all that I have played, or still play on the air since 1981.  They didn't necessarily have to be released during that time, just played on the radio.

I tried to represent as many artists as possible.

There is only ONE artist that is mentioned twice.

We will start with #50 in January!!

Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing as always!

The loss to the Bengals pretty much closes out the Browns on any post season.  Another awful loss from an organization that seemingly moved on to next year before Sundays game, leaving hard working players and loyal fans behind.  A loss filled with terrible penalties, boneheaded in game choices, and offensive futility yet again.  This week the Browns told you they gave up on the season.

And can we just stop with all the local and national media with this silliness that the Browns have the Bengals "number?"  And that the Browns are in Joe Burrows head?  I know you need on air fodder, but that is ridiculous.  Burrow is as poised and as complete of a QB that has come around in a while.  Anyone that thought he was intimidated coming into this game - that's just laughable.  Where they are and where we are  - well, it's a large crevasse. 

In the last two weeks the Browns played the leagues worst team in Houston, and one of the best in Cincy.  So, it's been a fair test when you average it out.  The offense has scored a grand total of 16 points in those games with a single touchdown. Last week alone the special teams and defense scored 21.  Sunday, the Browns defense played a darn good game, admittedly against a Cincy team without three legit offensive weapons.  But the Browns were in a position to compete and maybe win. But they chose otherwise.  They chose to start spring training for 2023 early.

They had a chance to get in that game with a QB that has led the offense all year long and has the stats to back it up.  But Brissett rode the pine all day, while Watson was left in there to learn on the job.  OK, I know he is the future, he's going to be great again and that's fine.  But right now, his present is not good.  Teams are showing amazing, almost brazen disrespect to him, it's almost embarrassing.  Teams are just jamming up the running game against us and telling the Browns, "Go ahead Watson, throw the ball and beat us!"   Watson is lost right now. 

With next season in view already, the only thing that can really happen to the Browns in the next month is not good.  There will be no post season this year and Brissett will not be here either next year.  So if sending out Watson for the next few games is Stefanki's, or the Browns choice, that is flawed.  If 2023 is what you're really thinking, getting Watson possibly seriously hurt in these next meaningless games is a real organizational risk. The Ravens this week and the Commanders in a couple weeks are playing BIG games for themselves for THIS season, and they will be ruthless, and couldn't care less about Watson.  Then the Steelers in the final week.

The Browns have a major problem that is clearly organization wide. They know everything.  That's a bad way to be in life or as an NFL team.  You see, when you know everything, there is nothing left for you to learn.  So you don't - and won't -  and if you are of that ilk, you will have little success and lead an existence that is lonely and alienating.  With Watson as your clear future - the future is simply that - it's not today.  Winning Sunday was all that mattered and Stefanski told every other hard working veteran that's been there for years that this season was over.  This staff has no idea how to win that game -  on that day.

The Bengals simply laughed as a noncompetitive, rusty and confused QB tried to beat them  -  and he couldn't and didn't.  Brissett is not the long term answer, but he may have been Sunday when it still could have mattered, but we will never know.  With his knowledge of the offense and his experience THIS season with THIS team he would have given then Bengals something else to think about.

The Browns are 5-8 with 4 games to go.  But it's OK, we are in good hands, because the coach and organization knows everything.

GO BROWNS!

This time of the year is filled with so many feelings and emotions.  Many are really great and some are not so.  Many feel big pressure on gift giving, both receiving and giving.  The latter is a major problem for many.  Especially as you get older it is harder to buy gifts for people, namely family members.

So here is some help, on how to step up your gift giving game!

Be A GREAT Gift Giver!