July 20th is a very important day, as it marks the anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first people to ever walk on the moon in 1969.  Over the next few years, 10 more would do the same.  Every time we did it, it was incredible without question, but the first time was the most riveting.

But the one thing that has always stuck with me was the "story" my dad told me that night, and I believed him.  He told me in a typical "dad fashion way" that they waited till it was his birthday to walk in the moon, July 20.  I was like, "wow, dad!"  OK, I was a little kid, and my dad was my hero, as was yours at that age.  I think he was pulling my leg.....

Truth is, my dad died a few years later, and that was sad. But with that said, I was glad he saw it that night, as he was from a very different time.  My dad lived through The Great Depression, he also was an Ice Delivery Man as a teen. He brought a block of ice to your house to keep food cold in your wooden chest for the week as most did not have a fridge as we know it.  He played high school football with a fold-able leather helmet and no face mask. He was in WWII in the U.S. Army Air Corps, because the Air Force has not been invented yet. He was born before talking movies, television, played golf with wooden shafted clubs, and his parents never really spoke English, drove or owned a car.  And he met my mom at a Dude Ranch!  Seems like the Middle Ages.

Even though he "downplayed" that event that night with Neil and Buzz, he had to have been in awe to see how far the world had come since he was born as he turned 45 that night.  From block ice delivery, to walking on the moon?  It had to be astounding to him, as it was, and still is to me.

My dad's birthday is today, he would have been 96.  Too bad he never saw even 56, as 53 was all he was given. It's OK dad, I'll mark the 51st anniversary of the moon walk for you. 

After all, they still celebrate it every year on your birthday!

Luke Combs was the musical guest last night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and sang his latest single "Lovin' On You"! Who else can't wait to see him next summer at the Country Fest?!?

Next Release – The Sandman TONIGHT! DC – Only on Audible  (Prime) - Based on the Graphic Novels

Human Capital – BIG cast, thriller based on a BIG book. July 17

 Radioactive - Only on Prime – Rosamund Pike, story of Madame Curie, looks great! July 24^th

Greyhound – WWII thriller with Tom Hanks opened on Apple TV this week to HUGE numbers

 Unhinged - With Russell Crowe, July 31  (Preview)

Number One Movie - The Empire Strikes Back  (Fun to look Back)

Blake Shelton / Gwen , And Trace Adkins  - Doing a huge Drive-In Show at local Drive-Ins July 25 Tickets on sale now  (Info Here)

Mulan – Has been delayed again, this time in theaters August 21  (No Music)   (Preview)

Bill And Ted 3 - August 28 release date /   (Preview) 

Tenet - August 12 release to theaters, Nolan Directed -   (Preview)

NBC's – Peacock Streaming Service fired up this week! (Info)

More Dirty Dancing? - Might be a new movie, Jennifer Grey signed on to make a new “Dancing Movie” (Details) 

Hallmark has just announced that they are launching a line of Christmas wines. “Jingle,” is a Cabernet Sauvignon with "aromas of cherry, dark chocolate, and a hint of holiday spice"; and “Joy,” a Sauvignon Blanc with "notes of tropical fruits, white peach, and ripe pineapple." The wines will be available in October, but you can pre-order them now. Click here for more details from Delish!

One of the best movies of all time, 'Clueless' turns 25 on Sunday! I can remember when this movie was released, and I also remember watching it over and over! So many classic lines, stars, and of course... the fashion! The TODAY show caught up with three of the actors in the movie, Wallace Shawn (Mr. Wendell Hall), Twink Caplan (Miss Toby Geist) and Dan Hedaya (Mel Horowitz), click here to hear their memories of making the movie.

A great listener, Erin asked me if I would consider doing a piece on The Judds.  Of course the answer is yes, as they were a very important part of Country Music for a long while.  I am proud to say I played all their songs for years on great radio stations across the country.

I remember riding an elevator in 1984 to the seventh floor of the Southern Hotel when I worked at WRMZ FM-100 in Columbus, Ohio as I went to work one day as a young broadcaster.  I rode up with a man, and two well-dressed women that were wearing great perfume.  No one knew who they were then, but in about a month, we would all know -  The Judds.  They recorded a decade worth of great songs, but the gift outside of the music was just as valuable.  They started to point us in a very different direction.

The mother-daughter duo (Naomi and Wynonna)  won more awards than we can list. They had a ton of big songs that took the country by storm. And they were seemingly everywhere at a time when Country Stars were having a tough time getting any real outside exposure in the main stream, except Alabama. They were glitz and glam. Their sound was for the most part simple, acoustic driven, and had incredible two-part DNA harmony.  The Judds gave us something we really needed then. They were stars!  

Again, they were paradoxical, there was no shortage of people in the 1980's that said they, "Didn't like Country."  But they liked The Judds, who were VERY country, (those non-fans just didn't know that) People liked who they were, as much as the music they made. And that is something we really needed then. The Judds were a new breed of country stardom and glamour.  Gone were the days of the Loretta Lynn dresses, and the Tammy Wynette hair.

Mama He's Crazy - As popular as any song of the 1980's

But they didn't go all jeans and boots like some of the other new women of the era like Sylvia, Charly McClain, or Janie Fricke.  They were a hybrid of the old, the new, and their own style, and it worked.  It was a perfect combination at the perfect time.  If you love country and are too young to remember, a Google, or YouTube search is totally worth it.

Why Not Me - Is one of my favorite Country Songs - Big Hit!

The hits, Rockin' With The Rhythm  / Girls Night Out  / Grandpa.... / Don't Be Cruel /  The list goes one and on and never really does end, it is very long.  They played every venue there is, and were part of a Superbowl Halftime Show. They had endorsement deals, and were always on TV in some way.  It was incredible the exposure they got, and it was all deserved, they had a national and international appeal that was undeniable.

 Had A Dream -  Their Very First Song -  Not a big hit, BUT you could hear something was different

The Judds disbanded from active touring when Naomi developed health issues in the early 1990's, but Wynonna went on to a really successful solo career.  They have reunited a few times, and that's fine.  But the gift they gave us was immeasurable during their run.  We needed someone to help us get noticed.  The Judds did exactly that. They were in the right place at the right time, for us, and them. They brought so many fans to us, especially women, who loved the music, the style, and the confidence The Judds brought to our format.

 Wynonna - Tell My Why - One of many solo hits for her!

They made it look so easy on stage with big smiles and passionate performances.  And they unquestionably influenced heavily the next wave of women in Country as much as anyone ever has. In the history of our format, they are in same breath as Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Barbara Mandrell, Reba, and a handful of others in the fact that they helped inspire an endless list of future women stars.

The Judds  -  Stars!

We celebrate National Mac And Cheese Day this week, the number of ways to enjoy it are only rivaled by the number of people that love it. 

When I first moved into my first apartment all those years ago, I lived on Kraft M/C.  I think it was 19 cents a box then. I would make it about 12 different ways to stretch my budget then.  There are tons of choices now in the M/C battle, but being honest, I like it when we make it now at the house the best!  This is no dis to the box boys, but home made is the best.

There are now thousands of makers of M/C, but I found this way of making it that you may want to try this weekend especially as it takes a little time:  This was AMAZING!

Smoky Jalapeno Popper Mac And Cheese

Or maybe since today is Amazon Prime Day, order one of these:

Stouffer's Mac And Cheese Dispenser

Any way you decide to go, Mac And Cheese is always a favorite.

Enjoy!

Little Big Town made a virtual stop on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night (July 13). They sang "Wine, Beer, Whiskey" from their album Nightfall.

In 1994, the country group, Blackhawk, had a top 10 hit called, "I Sure Can Smell The Rain."  Which, first of all is a great song, but secondly it begs the question, why DO we smell rain? Or, at least, why do we smell when rain is about to start?

I found a pretty interesting article on pocket.com which explains why.

To check out the article, click here!

Ashley McBryde performed three songs on CBS This Morning this past Saturday (July 11). She sang "Sparrow", "Hang In There Girl", and her latest single "One Night Standards" from her new album Never Will!