Neal McCoy photo courtesy of 903 Records
Photo Courtesy of 903 Music
Each week country music expert Neil Haislop answers your questions!
Q: The best concerts I have ever attended were Neal McCoy's. He is so energetic and talented in not only country songs but rock as well. I haven't heard of anything for some time that he has done. I miss his songs and energy. What is he doing now?
(Kaye, Princeton, WV)
A: Kaye, I agree with you about Neal McCoy. There's nobody out there that ever put on a better show or had more charisma on stage live, than Neal McCoy — that includes Garth and all the rest. And, if anybody out there ever wondered what the shouting is all about, they should check Neal's website, nealmccoy.com, check his tour schedule and see his show if they can. You should do the same, Kaye, and you'll be able to learn about the record label he started for himself and others, plus his tour schedule that does take him to West Virginia or neighboring states this year.
Q: What is happening with Sammy Kershaw?
(Debbie, Woodland Park, CO)
A: Debbie, Sammy Kershaw is still in the business. He has an album out titled Honky Tonk Boots, and his current single, "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On," has been out for some time. Also, he's still married to Lorrie Morgan and they just recently renewed their wedding vows. Find out more about Sammy at sammykershaw.com.
Q: Kenny Chesney is awesome! I was just wondering if there was any way to get in touch with Kenny? Also, when Kenny is not on the road or in the studio, does he ever read his fan mail? And if so, does he ever respond?
(Eric, Kathleen, GA)
A: Eric, we want folks to ask just one question?but you slipped in a few so, this time I'll answer what I can briefly. The very best way to stay in touch with a star is to join their fan club. That can also be a path to getting in touch with them directly. Also, like nearly every star, Kenny does take some time to read his fan mail. And, we assume that he occasionally responds directly. Thing is, he gets thousands of emails and other communications, so it's impossible for him to read everything he gets and respond personally.
Q: Please explain your continued interest in the young fly-by-night artists. We need to remember the classic living and deceased artists that were the founders of the Opry, and The Country Music Hall of Fame!
(Elaine, Hartsville, SC)
A: Elaine, I'm always a little surprised that anybody can ask this question of me or GAC or today's country radio. The simple answer is, like any industry, country music must always be searching for the next big thing, the hot new talents that grew up listening to country, and find new ways to write and perform it. That's what will bring in more, young, new fans, and keep the industry alive.
After all, if fans of Jimmy Rodgers had rejected new guys like Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb, or if fans of Roy and Ernest had slapped down that rebel, Hank Williams, or that smoothly-named Ray Price, or their fans had succeeded in destroying those dangerous outlaws, Willie, Waylon, Johnny, Kris, Merle, etc., or if Kitty Wells' and Patsy Cline's fans had shut out Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, or their fans slapped down Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell and Reba McEntire and so on, well, you get my point.
Fortunately, country music does honor its past stars, and there is a market for classic country and stations that play it. Plus, there are institutions like the Grand Ole Opry on GAC, where our veterans can find a national audience. So relax, let younger fans find their younger stars and, for your part, keep honoring, buying and supporting older country greats. This way your grandkids will be able to discover their generation of hot new country stars, while complaining about "old" stars like Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, and Carrie Underwood.
Q: Where do I find a song by Alan Jackson titled, "The Talkin' Repair Blues"? What album is it on?
(Rose, Forsyth, GA)
A: Rose, you're referring to Alan's No. 18 chart record from 2005, "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues." That quirky, satirical, Dennis Linde-written song can be found on Alan Jackson's CD What I Do. Visit alanjackson.com to find out more about Alan and his music.
Q: This is serious and confusing. On "GMA" (Good Morning America) March 14 Tim McGraw sang two of his songs and part of the song "Let It Go". My question is, how did he change clothes from the taping of this to what he was wearing in a performance shown on the Internet? He was wearing different outfit on with all the same people around and doing all the same stuff — but on the TV he was very handsomely dressed with a long sleeve white shirt and vest. On the 'net I noticed he was wearing a sweater, like he was cold at first and got hot by singing that short time. Did they do two singing segments? They must have because on the 'net he also sang "Suspicions," which I love.
(Myra, Breese, IL)
A: Myra, I didn't see all the things you saw, but I'll point out a couple of things.
To do all the promotion and performances Tim McGraw had to do for his new album, Let It Go, he made at least two trips to New York City. One week he was there just to pre-tape several performances. Then he returned to New York to do live appearances on shows like "The View," paying off some of those talking segments with the pre-taped performances in different clothing. Also, things you see on the web are rarely live performances unless it specifically says it's simultaneously on the Internet and TV.
Q: I absolutely adore the video by Joe Nichols, "I'll Wait For You," featuring Joe made up as an old man, and his wife was dying. Why is it now replaced by a video featuring him in a house with a young woman? Did they take the first video off of the air, and why?
(Naomi, Salem, NH)
A: Naomi, I've had a lot of questions about the "why" of the two video versions of "I'll Wait For You," so I asked Joe Nichols about them recently. He told me, "The first version of the video is the first version of the record, the tan version. It was something that we could to help get the video pushed out to TV," Joe says of the first, electric version.
He adds that the newer acoustic version, and simpler video, were just a way to extend the life of the song on the chart. "People had been playing the song a long time this year (22 weeks), so it just gave them something different to play," he explained. Joe hopes that fans want to download or record both versions of the song and videos.