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Written by Neil Haislop
Oct 30, 2007 at 03:40 PM
CHECKIN' IN WITH TOP TEN GRAND OLE OPRY STAR PORTER WAGONER DIES FROM CANCER Grand Ole Opry legend Porter Wagoner passed away Sunday at 8:25pm at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tenn. Wagoner, 80 years old, had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. He is survived by three children, Richard, Debra and Denise. "The Grand Ole Opry family is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of our dear friend, Porter Wagoner. His passion for the Opry and all of country music was truly immeasurable. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time," says Pete Fisher, vice-president and general manager of The Grand Ole Opry. Born in West Plains, Missouri in 1927, Wagoner was first a local radio fixture on his way to becoming a pillar of the Grand Ole Opry, a hit recording artist, television icon, Country Music Hall of Fame member, and the very model of the quintessential country music star. Beginning in the early 50s, Porter had more than 80 charting singles, including more than 25 Top 10 hits. Hits including "Misery Loves Company," "I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand," "The Cold Hard Facts of Life," "The Carroll County Accident," and "A Satisfied Mind" were all deeply rooted, hard-country classics. Other music such as "The Green, Green Grass of Home," and one-of-a-kind concept albums are recognized today as being twenty and thirty years ahead of their time. Wagoner brought his songs, his resplendent wardrobe of flashy rhinestone suits, and country music as a whole, to a massive and often new audience through the most modern means then available - syndicated television. The Porter Wagoner Show ran for an amazing 21 years, beginning in 1961, and reached more than 100 TV markets. Like its namesake, it was one of the most influential forces in country music history. And it was on the show that Porter introduced fans to the talents of Dolly Parton. Their duets yielded hit after hit, winning a Grammy and three CMA Duo of the Year Awards. After Dolly left the show and went on her own, Parton wrote one of the greatest love songs ever to express how she felt towards Porter, "I Will Always Love You." On May 19, the Opry honored Wagoner for his 50 years as an Opry member and celebrated with him the acclaim of what would be his final recording project, Wagonmaster, produced by his friend and fellow Opry star Marty Stuart. Visitation and funeral arrangements are incomplete. TRISHA YEARWOOD SANG FOR FINAL GAME OF WORLD SERIES When Trisha Yearwod signed on to sing the National Anthem for the World Series 4th game last night Coors Field in Colorado, she didn't know it would be the final game as the Boston Red Sox swept the series beating the Colorado Rockies in four straight games with a 4 to 3 clincher Sunday night. GARTH HAS NEW EVENT AT CAPITOL-HOLLYWOOD Actually it's the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) who will give a special presentation to Garth Brooks on his Hollywood Walk of Fame star in front of the historic Capitol Records building on Monday, November 5th at 9:30AM PT. The outdoor event is open to the public. The exact street address of the event is 1750 North Vine St. Hollywood, CA 90028. Fans wishing to attend are encouraged to arrive by 8AM PT due to area street closures. The presentation kicks off a whirlwind day for the superstar: immediately following the RIAA event, Brooks will tape The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and then head to Kansas City to kick off his first of nine sell-out shows at the Sprint Center. His new album, The Ultimate Hits, lands in-stores November 6th. (Note: The event will streamed Live on www.garthbrooks.com). JOSH TURNER A MADE MAN OF GRAND OLE OPRY Josh Turner was inducted into the world-famous Grand Ole Opry this evening by Opry superstar Vince Gill. After Turner performed his current hit “Firecracker” and his breakthrough smash “Long Black Train,” Gill made Opry membership official, saying, “We are so proud of your success. Congratulations.” Turner responded, “Thank you Grand Ole Opry… Country music has always been a huge part of my life. I have always been willing and able to fight for it and that’s what I want to continue to do— and just continue to make great music for all these great country fans out here. Thank y’all.” During the induction which aired live on “Opry Live” on GAC: Great American Country, Turner was also presented the Opry Member Award, a 14-inch bronze and oak wood replica of the Opry’s vintage microphone stand designed by renowned sculptor Bill Rains. RODNEY ATKINS TO PERFORM ON EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME It's been an exciting week for country singer Rodney Atkins. This past weekend, after finishing a date with Brad Paisley in Calgary, ONT, Atkins hopped on a private plane to fly all night and perform for a taping of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition New Hampshire. The plane arrived at 6:00am and Atkins' band was on the set an hour later. Later that afternoon, he flew back across the continent to Vancouver for a show only to hop on a redeye back to Nashville afterwards to anxiously return home to his family. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is probably the biggest thing I've ever done," says Atkins. "This is one of those shows that is really about building people up in a culture where most thrive on reality TV and watching people fail. It's a show that is based on a community effort to help one of their own and it's an honor to be part of something that really matters." CARRIE UNDERWOOD MUSIC CHOICE ARTIST OF MONTH -Music Choice made Carrie Underwood, will be the featured 'Artist of the Month' in November. Music Choice, the most popular On Demand music network in the country, will feature the six-time platinum-selling country music superstar in three Music Choice Original shows, including: Carrie Underwood: I Told You So - a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of her new video, "So Small" Carrie Underwood: Naked - an unscripted Q&A session where Carrie answers questions from her fans Carrie Underwood: Video Carnival - a hosted video playlist that takes viewers on a chronological video tour through Carrie's rise to superstardom. In addition, Music Choice will provide a selection of Carrie Underwood's videos to watch free On Demand throughout the month of November. Fans can tune-in to see her latest video, "So Small" from her new album on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville, "Carnival Ride", as well as many of her other smash hits such as, "Before He Cheats," "Don't Forget to Remember Me," "Jesus, Take The Wheel," and "Wasted." ALSO AT MUSIC CHOICE TAYLOR SWIFT Music Choice announces that Taylor Swift will be featured on the Music Choice Original program Fresh Crops from November 12th through the end of the year. “We are thrilled that Music Choice chose Taylor Swift as the first Country Music artist to be featured in Fresh Crops,” says Scott Borchetta, President/CEO of Big Machine Records. ALAN JACKSON TO HEADLINE 2008 SPRINT SOUND&SPEED FESTIVAL For the third consecutive year, the stars of country music and NASCAR will converge on Music City USA to join Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling recording artist Alan Jackson and other top country music performers for Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust on Jan. 11-12, 2008. The announcement was made by executives from Sprint, SunTrust and ASCAR during the Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jackson is an avid car collector with a garage full of classic cars, including his first set of wheels, a 1977 Thunderbird. His 1997 video for “Who's Cheatin' Who” was filmed at the Concord (N.C.) Motorsports Park and featured some of NASCAR’s hottest drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Brett Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Jeremy ]Mayfield, Bobby Hillin, Jr., and Bill Elliott. JACK INGRAM BURNIN' UP THE ROAD...LITERALLY Jack Ingram has been burning up the road on tour with Dierks Bentley, that's good...but burning up his bus? Not good. “As fans may or may not know, this year has been filled with a series of bus mishaps for us,” notes Jack Ingram. “It started with a fire on the second week of the Paisley tour and the loss of numerous generators all summer caused more than a few new buses. Last week tragedy almost struck again. You see, sometimes after walking off stage the band and I will get so hot and sweaty that in order to cool off, we take off our shirts and hang them up to dry out. I know it’s probably not something we’d do at home, but keep in mind this is a bus full of guys! Anyway, this particular night, our steel player Jay put his shirt over the top of a lamp in the back lounge. Apparently he didn’t see that it was on and he walked away. So later that night, we smell smoke and are trying to figure out where it is coming from. Finally we go check the back lounge and the shirt is on fire and smoke is engulfing the back lounge! Luckily disaster was averted just in time, thank the Lord, but we beat the hell out of Jay!” jokes Jack. WANNA STAR IN CMT'S TRICK MY TRUCK SHOW? CMT’s hit reality truck make-over show Trick My Truck is currently seeking new cast members. Mechanical and fabrication ability is a huge plus, but a great personality and look is an absolute must. Looking for Men, 25 to 50, with larger than life personalities who know, or at least look like they know what to do with a wrench under the hood of a truck. Think American Chopper, or Monster Garage or Trick My Truck. This is a one time, one day opportunity taking place in Joplin, Missouri on Wednesday, October 31st so if you think you have what it takes to help turn people’s dreams into reality, then send an e-mail with your bio, contact information and picture to Or call (323) 801-2280 and ask for Justin. RISSI PALMER A FREE DOWNLOAD AT STARBUCKS Rissi Palsmer became an attraction at 10,000 Starbucks stores Saturday, when her debut single, "Country Girl," became a featured, free dowload. The "Songs of the Day" celebration is part of the coffee chains free digital music promotion from October 2 – November 7, offering 1.5 million free songs per day from a diverse line-up artists. Palmer’s self-titled debut CD was released this past Tuesday, October 23rd and is now available in retail and online music everywhere. For more of the latest information, visit www.rissipalmer.com SHOW DOG NASHVILLE HOST CARTER’S CHORD SHOW CASE Show Dog Nashville hosted a very special songwriter’s show case for Carter’s Chord, who performed songs that they have been working on for their debut album which is scheduled for release in 2008. Among the tracks performed was their upcoming first single from the record, “Young Love,” which was written by Hillary Lindsey (Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride), Aimee Mayo (Tim McGraw) and Scooter Carusoe (Kenny Chesney). Carter’s Chord, the singing and songwriting sisters of Becky, Emily and Joanna Robertson, are currently working on their debut Show Dog Nashville full length album that label owner and superstar Toby Keith is producing. The trio come with a lineage that marks them as true daughters of the 1970s Outlaw movement, as they are children of Barny and Carter Robertson, who toured and recorded with Waylon Jennings as members of his legendary band The Waylors.
Last Updated ( Oct 31, 2007 at 12:46 PM )