TALKIN' COUNTRY

with Sharon Pisinski


    Attention all you country music fans, The Big Night will soon be upon us.
 I’m talking about the CMA Awards.  The show will be hosted for the 10th year
by Vince Gill on Nov. 7 at 7pm on CBS.

     Here are my picks – Entertainer of The Year:  Tim McGraw;  Female
Vocalist of the Year: Martina McBride; Male Vocalist of the Year: Toby Keith;
 Vocal Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn; Vocal Event of the Year: “Alright I'm
Wrong”; Vocal Group of the Year: Lonestar; Single of the Year: “One More
Day”; Album of the Year: Steers & Stripes;  Song of the Year: “How Do You
Like Me Now?” Horizon Award: Keith Urban; Music Video of the Year: “Born To
Fly” by Sara Evans. 

    The Hall of Fame Award is a hard one to call, mainly because all of the
nominees are richly deserving of the honor. My favorites (ok I couldn’t just
pick one) are: Waylon Jennings, The Jordanaires, The Everly Brothers and Sam
Phillips. So be sure to tune in and see how right (or wrong?) I am!

      I got a chance to meet up with Trace Adkins at The Walmart in Orland
Hills last month.  His new album Chrome is out and the first single “I’m
Tryin’” is steadily climbing the charts.

     Garth Brooks has decided to change the first single from his upcoming
album from “Beer Run” (a duet with George Jones) to “Wrapped Up in You.”

     Joe Diffie released In Another World on Oct. 30.  It contains as Joe
says, “One of the most personal and emotional songs I’ve ever recorded, ‘The
Grandpa That I Know,’ a song that pretty much describes my grandpa.”

    The 2001 Christian Country Music Awards will air Nov. 1 on various cable
outlets and be hosted by Crystal Gayle and John Berry.  Merle Haggard will
perform, as will Jeff Carson, Tammy Cochran, and Stella Parton.

FARM AID HIGHLIGHTS...

    Like most events taking place since the horrific events of September 11,
Farm-Aid President Willie Nelson questioned whether to cancel the show.  As
they searched for the right decision, they decided it best thing not to give
in to fear and terror.

     Farmers are always among the first to do whatever they can to help a
neighbor in need.  When a farmer becomes ill, the entire community comes to
his aid to help with the harvest.  At the press conference before the show,
Roger Allison, a Missouri crop/livestock farmer with Patchwork Family Farms
presented a truckload of pork to Harold Schaitberger (The International
Association of Firefighters General President) to take to New York to help
feed those in need.

      The real stars of this show were the Family Farmers – people who are
fighting an uphill battle for their livelihood.  The stars that came out to
play for the audience were quick to remind that they were there because
family farming was something that they believed in.  All egos were left
behind.  The event opened with Arlo Guthrie, John Mellencamp, Neil Young,
Willie Nelson, The Doobie Brothers and Martina McBride leading the other
performers in the Woody Guthrie anthem – “This Land is Your Land.”  The
number of American flags waving in the audience was incredible.

      America’s #1 endangered species is – The Family Farm.  Everyone can do
something to help these people, and it doesn’t necessarily have to cost you
money (but donations are always needed and accepted).  You can email or write
your congressman to “Vote NO to Bill # HR2646.” By doing this, you let
Washington know that it’s high time to give Family Farmers fair and
competitive pricing for their crops.  As one North Carolina farmer aptly put
it, “Washington works on the golden rule – Those that have the gold rule!”

   A strong America needs family farmers more so now the ever before.