Let's all check our calendars and see exactly what year it is.  It is 2021, and yes, that is Clay Walker back on the charts.  One of the real hit makers from the 1990's and early 2000's is back and that is great to see.

He's 51 now, looks great and sounds just as you remember him. Walker is one of those guys that had a great run on the charts with a long line of hits, and a bunch of number ones.  I was a fan, as were we all. What is interesting is that I feel there will be for the foreseeable future a taste for 90's country.  So many of today's country fans became country fans in that incredible decade and have stayed with us.  Walker was one of the driving forces in it, and it's really good see him back, as he takes us back.

Remember The First Time You Heard His First Hit? - 1993

This song is just as you remember him, and Walker simply is Walker and not trying to be something reinvented, or trying some new thing because stars half his age are having success with something. This is a nice song, suited right for him.  It's been a decade and it's good to see this new song and video.  Just as What's It To You was, this song is traditional, very tidy, and does not wear out it welcome.

Grab a coffee, and let's take a listen to Clay Walker's new song!

Kane Brown was an early winner at this years ACM Awards picking up Video of the Year for "Wordwide Beautiful". He sang the song last night on The Late Late Show with James Corden, check out his performance! 

Kane will be bringing his 'Blessed & Free' tour to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday, November 21 with Jordan Davis and Restless Road. Click here to purchase tickets! 

Thinking about a summer gig that would be fun and you could let all your feathers out?

Well the RubberDucks are looking for a bunch of Mascots to quack/cheer them on this season.

If you would want to try-out...   Click Here.  (also how to try-out for the singing of the National Anthem)

It would definitely be fun way to spend the summer for 4 lucky individuals...

If you are like me... when a duo goes solo, you still hear the group... usually.

It doesn't usually work for duos going solo.

Check out the "Beach Cowboy", Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line and see what you think.... 

His Wave Pack EP is out now...  

Beach Cowboy

Sunday Service in the Sand

Party on the Beach

Made By Water

Florida Georgia Line sang their #1 single "Long Live" on Good Morning America yesterday, check out their performance: 

Brett Eldredge was the musical guest today on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and sang his latest single from his album 'Sunday Drive'. Take a listen to "Good Day": 

About Half – Of us feel good about returning to a movie theater   (Cinemasafe)

#1 - Godzilla / Kong Top Grossing movie since pandemic began (Godzilla vs. Kong - $13.8 Million) this week

Mortal Kombat - Release Date is now April 23  (Story)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 - Is in the works  (Story)  Original 2002

Top Gun: Maverick - Has been postponed from July to November due to the pandemic (Story)   

Channing Tatum - Is turning Magic Mike into a dance competition show for HBO Max.  (Story)

Ellen DeGeneres – Has hit an all-time ratings low with just 800,000 viewers, lost almost half its viewers this season ''Live with Kelly and Ryan'' is averaging 1.8 million   

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane - Crystal Gayle  (link)

The late Billy Mayes and Vince the ShamWow Guy have nothing on Brantley Gilbert... I love the tongue and cheek part of the pitch.

Brantley's Sold Out, Trail Ride in Tennessee looks pretty cool this weekend too.

This past weekend, the Beautiful Windy and I masked up and went down to take a little day trip to Columbus. We had heard of this place called the North Market and how cool it was, and it was.

This is a combination of Cleveland's West Side Market and the worlds most delicious food court.  Yes, you can buy meat and things to take home, but we had interest in eating the incredible food that you can eat right there.  Many of these places are totally authentic and some have been visited by Guy Fieri on this Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives show.    (We love that show BTW)

We ate at a Polish stand that had incredible huge cheese balls, with a spicy stew to dip it in.  We also sampled sensational brisket from the Barrel And Boar.  I could have eaten that all day long.  We had Tibetan food, and ate some truly amazing real ice cream that was so good, we almost went back for seconds.

Places like this are really fun.  We ate like the scene in Crazy Rich Asians movie when they eat in the street from all those terrific places.  Felt the same. We have found a few places like this over the past few years and I can't wait to get back there.

If you find yourself in Columbus, stop in here.  Simply great!

Jennifer saw last weeks article and asked if I could feature Crystal Gayle (Brenda Gail Webb) this week. Of course!  She recorded for many years had a truly great career. I wish history was kinder to talented people of this era.

She, as you may know is Loretta Lynn's sister, and did follow her sisters footsteps to a degree, as yes, she was a country singer.  But Gayle's style, arrangements and about everything else was very different.  Her voice was different, her fashion, and her floor length hair which became her pop culture trademark was certainly different.  Her success was different too.  Without question, she had a great career, but one thing she did have in common professionally with Loretta was each had a ton of hits, wrapped around a gigantic signature song. Loretta's Coal Miners Daughter, and Gayle's, Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue. 

Songs Get No Bigger Than This

She was a backup singer in Loretta's band, but soon landed her own recording contract in the mid 1970's and began her run. Her style was a more pop-country, and at first there was limited success.  But in 1977 when she recorded Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, things changed forever. It was an international #1 hit song that not only changed her career, but helped country become noticed by a whole new audience that never sampled us before.  The song was originally written for a British singer to record, but never made it across the pond until Gayle recorded it.  Can you imagine anyone else singing that song?  Me either.

This Was A Big Song As Well - Same Era

The success that followed was big, and there were plenty of country hits and many crossover hits too.  Gayle was one of the most successful crossover artists we have ever had. That was the trend at the time, and she was the right person in the right place at the right time.  She not only had her own songs, she recorded a gigantic duet with Eddie Rabbitt, You And I, which became a big wedding song nationally for a few years.  Her run from the late 1970's till the late 1980's was very successful. She was a star.

This Duet Was The Equivalent Of "Amazed " Many Years Later

The thing I really loved about her was, she was a great singer with an angelic voice.  Her voice was not stereotypical country, it was mass appeal.  She was one of those great singers from that era that could just flat out sing. Ala - Barbara Mandrell,  Janie Fricke, and others.  And the type of songs she could sing were endless.  She had great success on the country and pop charts, but like many when country shifted more traditional, hers and many others chart run were casualties.  But I can listen to her sing Don't It Make My Browns Eyes Blue another thousand times.

This Was A Real Big Song - Late Night AM Radio Song

She and her sister each recorded one of the most important songs in our history.  Coal Miners Daughter was from a different time and era of course and was highly influential, but no less important. And Gayle's DIMMBEB, is one of the most important songs ever in country in terms of a more modern era, by attracting new fans on the eve of Urban Cowboy. Her version of it is country music sacred ground.  Not many families can say that.

One Of My Favorite Gayle Songs - Big Hit Country And Pop

Crystal Gayle had a great career, and was a big star.  She won awards, A Grammy, and sold millions of albums. She also was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2016 (what took so long?).  And in a recording session in 1977 with a song that is 2:32  - helped propel country to a new level, one we are still enjoying today.   And she still has floor length hair.