For Black History Month, here's another look at significant black Country singers that have graced the airwaves to some degree over the years. Unfortunately, as we update the post today, we find there are no more Afro-American female singers (that I know of) than there were at this time last year.
What do you get when you cross one country-singing Australian beauty and a pop/rock music legend? Well, on paper, you should get a smash duet. And Dave Spencer and I, back in 2005, were both convinced that "Where We Both Say Goodbye" was going to be just that. Catherine Britt was having chart success back home in the Land Down Under and, with her move to Nashville, she was primed for a run at the U.S. charts. Armed with the legendary pipes of Elton John and what seemed to be the right song, Britt seemed poised to break onto the scene in a big way. Only it didn't happen . . . at all.
I had the pleasure of spending time with Jo Dee Messina last August at the Big O Music Fest. She was such a nice, genuine person and it really made my respect for her as an artist and an individual grow. Since then, I've been following her on Twitter. This past week, I noticed that she was really excited about a project she was working on alongside of Alyssa Bonagura. She was asking her Twitter followers to take photos of themselves with words such as "Dig Deep", "Stronger" and "Unbreakable", just to name a few.
Well, the waiting is over and the finished project is here! She and Alyssa wrote a great song, "Unbreakable", made an inspiring video and put the fan pictures in it.
Be one of the first to take a look at this uplifting project!
This is unbelievably exciting. 17-year-old Jenny Beth Willis of Owensboro has made the Top 40 of American Idol! Last night, the Top 20 guys and the Top 20 girls were revealed and Jenny Beth is still in the mix. I had a chance to chat with her about her whirlwind Idol experience and what's next for the remaining Idol hopefuls. Check out my exclusive interview with Jenny Beth arranged courtesy of Fox and WEVV Fox 44!
Last week, the boys stepped to the plate during Hollywood Week on American Idol. When the smoke cleared, just 28 of them remained, including former WBKR Battle for the Big O finalist Paul Jolley. Now, tonight, all the girls who made it through Idol's initial audition rounds arrive for the dreaded Hollywood week. Among them, Owensboro's Jenny Beth Willis. Can she survive the drama and make the Top 40?
It's music's biggest night of the year! The 55th Annual Grammy Awards air tonight on CBS and lots of country stars will be on hand for the big event. Earlier this week, rumors were floating around that Grammy staffers were told to try and keep country divas Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift apart. They, allegedly, don't get along at all and producers are wanting to ease the tension at the show. Well, Kizzy has caught wind of the situation and has some advice for the ladies. LISTEN!
Typically when I choose a song for my Shoulda Been a Hit column, I pick a song that actually had a chance at becoming one. But, for the first time in the history of this feature, I am choosing a song that was never officially released as a single. Martina McBride churned 4 big hits off her 1999 release Emotion. The lead-off single "I Love You" reached #1 on the Billboard Country Chart. It was a HUGE hit. So was the follow-up, "Love's the Only House," which peaked at #3. "There You Are" reached the 10 spot and "It's My Time" peaked at #11. But, if you ask me, Emotion contained a little hidden gem that had all the makings of a McBride chartbuster. LISTEN!
For the boys, Hollywood week is over. And 28 male contestants are still left in the hunt for the Idol Top 40. WBKR's American Idol expert Steve Thompson has chosen some favorites and explains who he thinks is in it to win it.
Ok, ok...maybe not in real life, but lools like the fun duo will portray siblings on the small screen! Reba announced via Twitter that Blake Shelton will guest star on her sitcom, "Malibu Country".
Hundreds survived American Idol's auditions and made it to Hollywood. Now, only a handful will survive to compete for a chance to perform on the live shows. American Idol is on tonight and two contestants with WBKR ties are in the hunt! Can they survive the drama that is Hollywood week?
Owensboro singer Jenny Beth Willis has made it the Hollywood rounds of American Idol and is already learning what kind of fame and notoriety that show can bring. When the Baton Rouge auditions aired on WEVV Fox 44, Jenny Beth's audition wasn't even broadcast. However, she has already earned the adoration of a couple of guys from YouTube (i.e. the really creepy guy staring in the bottom right-hand corner of the video still). Check this out! Here are a couple of reviews of Jenny Beth's performance that absolutely no one in America saw. And, no. I can't explain how you review a contestant you didn't really see. We'll need to call in Dr. Drew for that. LOL! Check this out.
Now it's hard to imagine a time when Eric Church wasn't having hits. But, in the beginning of his career, he struggled . . . really struggled . . . to reach the Top 10. Truly, I thought (and Dave Spencer thought as well) that Eric was destined for greatness way back in 2006 when he released his first single, "How Bout You." While its showing was respectable, the song fell short of expectations and reached #14 on the Billboard Country Chart. However, I thought then . . . and still think to this day . . . it SHOULDA been a hit! Check out this live version.
