The Real Thing

April 14th, 1932, the birthday of Loretta Webb ... She would marry "Doo" Lynn. She turned 85 on the 14th, celebrating with her fans with a weekend of concerts at the Ryman. Does it get any more Country than that?

Loretta Lynn is as real as real gets. What you see is what you get. Even with those years slowing her down some that wit and twinkle in her eye still has fire. When she starts singing 30 years come off that calendar. She is so at home and at peace singing her songs. If you don't love Loretta, then something is wrong with you!

Another real person made the news this week. Country Music Hall of Fame member Jeff Cook announced he was stepping off the Alabama concert stage due to Parkinson's disease. Been battling the disorder for four years ... privately until now.

The reality of the announcement teared up bassist Teddy Gentry. He could hardly talk as he tried to explain what Jeff meant to the group, "We could hire 10 people to play guitar but no one can replace Jeff Cook in Alabama."

Jeff is 67 and was strong, reading the announcement to the public. The other two appeared distraught. These guys have been playing music together since the '70s professionally. Jeff, Teddy and Randy have lived life together and like brothersm seen good times and bad. Jeff said thanks for all the prayers received and is now getting more. Michael J Fox has Parkinson's and seems better these days. Prayers and good thoughts to a man who was often the front PR man for the group. He was the most outgoing and playful. They will continue as a duo.

The ACMs are still ringing in my ears ... The current flavors in Country are shining and personable. They are fluid and their music is more Nelly than ET. (That's Ernest Tubb, for those of you...) They reflect their generation. The old folks may not like it but it is 2017m which has been proven in so many ways recently. Country music is more than today's polarizing top figures.

Just in the last few days, great public reaction to Alan Jackson described by a reviewer at Tortuga Music Festival in Florida as aged fine whiskey. Alan's in the newest Hall of Fame class.

The salute to Merle at Nashville's Bridgestone got all ages off their seats. The new Patsy Cline museum ... so many examples that Country Music is more than Taylor Swift clones ... though even those seem to have a spot.

When all is said and done, Taylor Swift is going to be recognized as one of the most powerful game changers in the history of Country music.

Taylor brought that demographic down almost by herself. She is working on her next album and you would think Country is nowhere near it, but you never know.

You never know who will be the next Taylor Swift and try to bring all the pieces together.