Country Q&A: Week of November 15, 2006

Faith Hill performs "Stealing Kisses" at "The 40th Annual CMA Awards," on Monday, Nov. 6, live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville on ABC.

Each week country music expert Neil Haislop answers your questions!

Q: Why is everyone blowing "The Faith Hill Incident" at the CMAs way out of proportion? I saw it live on the show and I laughed because it looked like a joke. I don’t think Faith would ever do anything to disrespect another artist.
(Courtney, Devers, TX)

A: Courtney, thanks for your e-mail regarding one of the most senseless, non-controversies I’ve ever seen. Like you, I was watching the moment Carrie Underwood was announced the winner of the Female Vocalist. I was looking at Faith, saw what you saw and actually chuckled at how cute it was. Although she had no reason to apologize, Faith called Carrie to make sure she knew that the reports of her disrespecting Carrie’s win were false. I was backstage covering the CMA awards and none of the 20 journalists there with me saw anything untoward about Faith’s mock reaction.

Q: I really loved the song that Vince Gill sang on the CMA show with Sheryl Crow and his wife and daughter. What was the name of it and is it on his latest CD?
(Debra, Murfreesboro, NC)

A: Debra, the song that Vince performed with his wife, Amy Grant, and daughter, Jenny Gill, is called "What You Give Away." It's on disc 4 of Vince's new box set, These Days.

Q: I would like to know who sings a song about a man who purchases a Corvette from a lady her son owned. He was a private in the service I believe it was named, Private Malone? Could you please tell me the name of the artist and the actual name of the song? My fiancé and I love the song and the video.
(Tammy, Priest River, ID)

A: Tammy the song is titled "Riding with Private Malone." It was recorded by David Ball, and in 2001 it hit No. 2 on the Billboard chart to become one of David’s biggest hits so far.

Q: My question is, why doesn't the NY/NJ area have a country station that is free, not satellite, or one that requires buying a new HD radio to listen to my favorite country songs. Whenever country stars come to Good Morning America it looks like there are plenty of fans showing up. Please help get country back on the airwaves in the NY/NJ area.
(RoseAnn, Sayreville, NJ)

A: RoseAnn, as it turns out there is no mainstream country station in New York City or Los Angeles these days. In spite of the large number of country fans in those cities, big radio companies have made decisions based on how much profit they can make in these and other markets. When they thought they could make more money with a different format in these markets, they simply pulled the plug on country music and did something else. The good news is that a lot of country fans are up in arms about it, and the Country Music Association and Academy of Country music are trying to support any broadcast company or station that returns country music to those markets.

Q: Is there a limit to how many times an artist can win or be nominated for an award at an awards show? Brooks & Dunn took home almost every award they were nominated for at the CMAs, and I know that they have won some of those awards numerous times.
(Todd, Woodbridge, VA)

A: No, there isn’t a limit, Todd. Truth is the only award that Brooks & Dunn completely dominated is the Duo award, just as the Judds did before them. As talented as the small crop of other duos is, they haven’t consistently accomplished enough in one year to knock Kix and Ronnie out of the box (except the year 2000 when Montgomery Gentry became the first and only duo since 1992 to win the Duo award instead of Brooks & Dunn). As far as the song "Believe" is concerned, that song, and Ronnie Dunn’s performance are so good, most people admit it deserves the awards it has earned from both the ACM and CMA awards.

Q: Is George Strait's mother still living? He mentioned his dad in his acceptance speech for being inducted in the Hall Of Fame, but not his mom.
(Janice, Bolivar, TN)

A: Janice, as far as we know, his mother is still living. But George Strait has been estranged from her for most of his life. George doesn’t talk about it, but once, very early in his career, he told me that his mother had deserted the family when he was young, taking his sister with her and leaving George’s father to raise two young sons alone. That may explain why he acknowledges his father and not his mother.

Q: Why can the same artist be nominated for the Horizon award and the "big" award for their category? For example, Carrie Underwood won both Horizon and Female vocalist of the Year. It seems to me that if the person or group is nominated for the big award, they should not be eligible for the Horizon award, as it is supposed to be for new/aspiring artists. Are there not enough talented singers to be nominated?
(Chrissy, Milwaukee, WI)

A: Chrissy, the plain truth is, it’s not unprecedented that a new act can win the Horizon award and their category as Carrie Underwood did this year. For instance, in 1998 The Dixie Chicks won Horizon and Vocal Group of the year, their first year out. So there are no rules against an artist having such a great year that they can take newcomer and win their category as well.

Q: Miranda Lambert chose to basically smash her microphone and guitar to the ground at the CMA awards recently. I was appalled at her actions, and would like to know if it's acceptable in country music to do that. I recall Garth Brooks doing that at his concerts a long time ago.
(Athena, Elsmere, KY)

A: Athena, Miranda Lambert does not smash guitars and microphones on a regular basis. She did it on the CMA for dramatic effect, that’s all. Interesting thing is, Garth Brooks never broke guitars on stage on a regular basis. He and Ty England did it on his first TV special, but that was pretty much it.

Q: I've been a steady Chris LeDoux fan since I was a kid and I was wondering if there were any plans for a complete box set spanning his entire singing career or maybe even a tribute album?
(Ron, Worley, ID)

A: Ron, from the beginning when Chris and his folks started a cottage industry of making albums to sell at rodeos because rodeo stars never have made big dollars, Chris LeDoux recorded some 30 albums. So a box set of that many albums would be a little too much to do. In his later years, with his music career going big time, Chris recorded his best work. Last month Capitol Nashville released a new compilation called Chris LeDoux: The Ultimate Collection. That one should still be available in record stores. Plus, you can order it from his website, as well as another terrific collection called Anthology Vol. 1.