There are many reasons songs are important and why they make this list.  Reba was the number one female in country music for many years without any question.  She of course went on to superstardom that she still enjoys today.  Dozens of big country songs, tons of awards, TV shows, emcee work, stage, movies, concerts, singing at the Superbowl, and pop culture icon.  And it was all made possible by this little love song from 1980.  This song delivered Reba McEntire to us, even though this song only peaked at #8 on the charts.  It was her first real hit that got her noticed after a series of mis-fires for a few years, this one broke through.  Her first number one song would come a year or two later, (Can't Even Get The Blues) and then she was on her way.  Hard to think that she had released about 10 singles before this on various labels and albums since 1976.  Of course Reba had many songs after this that were far bigger hits, but this is the song that changed everything.  In short order, Reba would pass the other big stars of the day and emerge as a superstar, and it all can be walked right back to this little song that brought huge fame.

Last Week #38

My Full Profile On Reba

As far as I am concerned there is only one way to really eat cookies  - soft cookies! 

Here you go!!!

SOFT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!!!!

Here's a recap of the songs I featured in my Year-Long Countdown. Thanks for listening and reading every day!

#38 - Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw

#39 - Wait In The Truck - Hardy / Lainey Wilson

#40 - Angel In Disquise - Earl Thomas Conley

#41 - Any Man Of Mine - Shania

February Recap

January Recap

Here is a recap of my articles this week from WQMX.com. Grab some coffee and earbuds and let's get you caught up!

Thanks for reading and listening every day!

My Old Couch

Eat Of The Week

50 Most Important Country Songs 1980-Today #38

Forgotten Jukebox TS-09

Country Music Memory Lane (New) Trio

Wynn At The Movies And More

Box Office Results - Godzilla X Kong  (80 million)

#2  Ghostbusters    ( 17 million)

#3 Kung Fu Panda 4   (16 Million) 

New This Week – Godzilla – Kong  /   A Cats Life 

The New - Beetlejuice trailer is out! 

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

Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today -  #38     (Link)

 As Women's History Month comes to an end, I wanted to feature this - event.  Three friends Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt put together this incredible project that was heralded at that moment and has stood the test of time.  This album is simply sensational for about every reason an album can be.  If you've never heard it, it's worth a download or at least a YouTube listen. This is about as good as specialty projects or events get.  Mainly, because it's not just tossing people together and doing an album.  They are legends and this is spectacular as you would expect it to be.

One Of Trio's Singles #5

This project was finally done in 1987 after being thought about for well over 10 years.  At the time these three were all in the middle of very successful solo recording and touring careers.  But, finally after many years they decided it was time to sit down and get this done.  All three of these remarkable women were big stars.  Dolly of course in country, pop and then the movies becoming an international icon.  Emmylou had a terrific run in country for many years as a solo artist and as a duet partner with a huge amount of stars having a following in and out of country.  She also has one of the most distinctive voices we have ever had. Plus Harris is one of the most respected vocalists and artists ever in our format.  Linda of course was among the most versatile vocalists ever in the music biz of any kind.  She was a big pop-rock star for years, then great success in country scoring a lot of big hit songs. 

The First Single - Trio

They also assembled the best acoustic musicians to be a part of this wonderful album. In the end the key to this very good idea was this. All three had great fan bases and all three had loyal followings across the board. They all are immensely talented and the blending of voices and styles melded perfectly on this album. This sold millions, and won awards and brought a lot of pub to country at a time mainstream coverage was tough for us to get.  To me, it's the crown jewel of all of their careers, in that fact only these three could have done this. 

Emmylou Harris Solo - Angelic Voice - Legend

In 1999 there was a second Trio Album, Trio 2.  It too was reviewed with great enthusiasm and in fairness is a very good album. But for me the magic of this first Trio album is very tough to top.  What a GREAT project, three friends at the top of their games coming together to give us this gift.

Huge Country Hit For Linda Ronstadt  - Solo

Dolly At Her Best - Solo

You know what might be fun? Calling on Reba, Trisha Yearwood and Alison Krauss to do something similar to this in today's world.

Taylor Swift  - You Belong With Me  - 2009 -  (Album  -  Fearless)

  No matter how big of a star you are, you can have a song in the Forgotten Jukebox.  There is little doubt this song lives on at her mega concerts, but as far as country singles and airplay go, many of her country singles from years ago have been shelved.   But this is a great song from her country days.  She was just coming into her own as a star and was on tour with other "bigger stars" (seems laughable now), where she wrote the Fearless album, and this single was on it.  I loved this song, inspired by an overheard phone conversation, plus the video sent a message to the rest of Nashville this was not business as usual. No one could have seen coming what we see today, but there was no doubt there was something different about her, I knew it then.  She was honest, vulnerable, straight forward and singing her absolute truth.  The undeniable strength of Taylor Swift, still today is that she knows exactly who she is singing to, who they are, what they want to hear, and what they would want to say if they were in her position within the song.  She is as influential as any star we have ever had, and her influence will continue far beyond the Era's Tour.  It will be felt for years to come.  As influential as she is, there will always only be one Taylor Swift.  Great song and strong video here.

Last Weeks Selection

Today 3 new members of the Country Music Hall Of Fame were announced. Two giants from different era's and both very instrumental to today's Country.  Plus one of Nashville's best musicians!

John Anderson -Click to read my profile on him!

Immensely influential to future stars for many years.  As influential as any over the past 40 years.  A real fan favorite, and a true traditionalist.

Toby Keith - Click to read my profile on him!

Incredible talent, and dominated the charts and format for many years. Sadly passing away way too soon.  A true Mega Star in our format by any measure.

And Touring Musician  -  James Burton

 In all honesty, what can really be said about this gem of a song?  When this was out, we couldn't play it enough. This is so amazingly relatable to everyone on the planet.  The importance of this song is in the writing of Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman. Inspired from a real life misdiagnosis of a friend of those two and how it made them feel. The song went from pen, to demo to McGraw, in a few short days, very unusual.  Not often has a song been written that was so powerful, honest and poignant, as it makes you feel sad, happy, hopeful and in the end proud to be a human.  Of course it's not often our mortality is written and celebrated in song.  This song also struck people outside of country and introduced Tim and us to a whole bunch of new fans, as this song is universal.  One thing we all have in common is death. Both our own and those close to us.  This song plants the seed that maybe we all can  - and will face our own demise with the strength and courage stated here.  A seven week #1, millions sold, video honored, and Single of the Year and Song of the Year in 2004 from the CMA, and ACM, and 2004 Grammy for Best Country Song. With the written song, the timeless musical arrangement and McGraw's performance, this song will played on country stations for decades.  Seldom are hit songs this big.

Last Week #39

My Full Profile On Tim McGraw

In case you missed some of my articles this week from WQMX.com, here is a recap.  Grab some coffee and earbuds and let's get you caught up!

Thanks for reading and listening every day!

BROWNS - Joe Had To Go!

Eat Of The Week

3 New Hall Of Famers

50 Most Important Country Songs 1980-Today #39

Forgotten Jukebox SM-10

CMML - Trisha Yearwood (Revisit)

Wynn At The Movies And More!