RIP Jimmy Dean

Jimmy Dean, a legend in the country music world and just as well known for his sausage, passed away last night. He was 81. He will be missed.







And for William :)

Adam is MY American Idol

Ok, I know I'm a little late in posting about the outcome of this year's American Idol and I'm sorry about that...it's not my fault LOL

Anyway...

Even though I'm late, I have quite a bit to say. I know, I know; when DON'T I have quite a bit to say...

So about a week before the finale, my sister and I were driving down the road and we heard a "spot" on the radio station that was set to the tune of The Clash song Should I Stay or Should I Go (I'm actually NOT sure that's the name of the song but I'm pretty sure you know which song I'm talking about). The part of the song that went "So come on and let me know; should I come in or should I go?" was changed to "Adam Lambert let us know; which way do you go?". We were both appalled.

I mean, I know that people are obsessed with other people's personal lives. All you have to do is turn on the radio or TV or pick up a People magazine and that sad fact is proven. Regardless of that knowledge it still shocked us. Here was a major radio station (K-Hits out of Houston) and they were encouraging the gossip that spread throughout the final shows of American Idol concerning Adam's sexuality. They were continuing it. I think that's crap.

Since when is American Idol a MORAL competition? I was under the impression that it was a SINGING competition. I'm really disappointed that so many people used the singers personal lives as a deciding factor. I was born in the 60's. I grew up on great (in my opinion) music performed by people that I had no idea what their personal lives were about. I didn't care if Freddie Mercury was gay. I didn't care what David Bowie did when he was off stage. All I cared about was their music. The music was the point not any of that other stuff.

I am so proud of the way Adam has handled all of this. He is a true winner in my eyes. In a People magazine interview he said "It's a really, really cool thing, to be able to show people that you can be yourself, and you should be proud of yourself, and you should own who you are and what you're about, and never make apologies for it." So to those who speculate about his sexuality, he has a message. "Calm down," he says, and "keep speculating." I think that's cool.

I am NOT trying to say bad things about Kris Allen. Not one bit. I think he did alright. I wasn't blown away by him but he didn't make me cringe either. There is some controversy now over AT&T giving out free phones with text packages at Kris Allen A.I. parties. If that really happened then I'm upset about that too. I think it should be a FAIR competition no matter who the winner is.

But like I said, he didn't make me cringe. I think he'll do fairly well in the country music business (which means I'll probably never hear him. I like old country but this new stuff isn't my cup of tea) or in the style of Jack Johnson (which means I may hear him because Jack Johnson is one of the flavors of tea I enjoy...sorry about the tea analogy lol I'm not sure where that came from...) But I don't believe Kris will be even close to the star that Adam will become. I just think he's easily forgettable and quite honestly I can't even remember what his voice sounds like at this moment. That's not a good way to become famous.

So, I believe Kris needed to win to be able to just get his foot in the music business door. I did hear a rumor that he already had an album (from 2007) but I can't find anything about it online so I'm treating that as it is...a rumor. I don't put much effort into believing rumors.

Back to my point (yes, I have one)... I believe Adam will be around for a long time. I saw him on The Early Show this morning and he was as amazing as ever. I'm just really proud of him. As soon as his album comes out I'm buying it!!

So congratulations to Kris Allen for winning American Idol and congratulations to Adam Lambert for winning my heart. I think they both did well but as I've said many, many times before today: Adam Lambert is already a superstar in my world!! Keep on rockin!

Billy Powell dead at 56

Billy Powell, keyboardist for the legendary Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd died this morning. He was one of the only two surviving members of the original band.

In 1977, a plane crash killed singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup vocalist Cassie Gaines. Founding guitarist Gary Rossington is now the sole survivor.

The Yahoo story said that Powell called 911 at five minutes before 1:00 a.m. He said he was having trouble breathing. By the time the paramedics arrived he was already dead.

I'm a big Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. This is a sad day. Lynyrd Skynyrd is almost no more. It's feels fitting to end this post with the lyrics from the song Billy Powell helped make famous.

If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on, now,
cause there's too many places I've got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.

Bye, bye, it's been a sweet love.
Though this feeling I can't change.
But please don't take it badly,
cause Lord knows I'm to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you'll never change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.
Lord help me, I can't change.

It HAS been a sweet love. Be free and fly. God speed.

Singing together makes everything better

Most of the news I share with you is from somewhere far far away from me. A lot of times it’s from all the way across the world from me. But the story I’d like to tell you about today is from right around the corner from me. Houston.

We’re 52 miles west of Houston. We rarely go into the city though. It’s so big and so many people everywhere. And a few of the places are a little on the scary side if I’m to be completely honest.

When my oldest daughter was just an infant we had quite the medical scare. We ended up driving like maniacs in the middle of the night into Houston to Texas Children’s Hospital. Christina was three months old and very sick. I was 23 and very scared.

The doctors there were extremely nice. They did everything they could to make both of us comfortable. Christina ended up having to have a spinal tap. If you’ve never witnessed that, I can tell you it’s frightening. They use the biggest needle I’ve ever personally seen. They have to get it just right, exactly in between the disks in your spine to remove some of the fluid to test. They thought she had meningitis. Thankfully she didn’t but I’ll never forget how the doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital did everything they could to solve and fix her issues.

And I’ll never forget their kindness. Everyone associated with the hospital was so caring and so gentle. I appreciated that so much. Now the hospital is in the news for their caring, kind ways.

The story was specifically about the Cancer Center at the hospital. It’s the number one pediatric cancer center in Texas and number three in the entire country. That makes me proud.

Now, thanks to donations and Anita Kruse, the Cancer Center offers the chance for terminally ill children to forget about their illnesses for a little while. Anita started a recording studio in the hospital where she and other staff members and volunteers help the children to write and record songs about important things in their lives.

One young lady named Jalen Huckabay wrote about her dog Jasmine or Jaz for short. Shy and unsure of herself, she quickly gained confidence once she realized she was actually writing the song just by talking about her much loved pup.

Anita is a Houston resident who sings and writes music professionally. After speaking a few minutes with Jalen, she hears the song in the young girls loving words and writes it in her notebook as they talk.

Jalen smiles as the first verse is read back to her. “MYD is my yippin’ dog. Got her last Christmas on the 23rd. We call her Jaz. She’s the Yorkie we chose. We dress her up in Build-A-Bear clothes.”

The project is named Purple Songs Can Fly and relies heavily on donations. All donations are tax deductable. I have a feeling a lot of people would donate even if they weren’t tax deductable. I know I will. It’s definetly worth it.

Read more about Jalen Huckabay

Read more about Purple Songs Can Fly

Read more about Texas Children’s Hospital

Read more about Texas Children’s Cancer Center & Hematology Service

The songs will carry on

I wrote today about the comedians we lost in 2008 on my Happy At Home site. I said there were two things I could not live without and they were laughter and music.

Here I am honoring the musicians we lost in 2008. They will be missed.

January 20th - John Stewart
He was a member of the Kingston Trio and wrote many songs including the Monkees’ hit “Daydream Believer”. He was 68.

February 5th - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
He wasn’t really a musician but he influenced the music scene intensely when he taught transcendentalist meditation to the Beatles. He was 96.

February 28th - Mike Smith
He was the lead vocalist for The Dave Clark Five. He was 64.

May 5th - Jerry Wallace
Country singer from the 50’s. He had a #1 hit in 1972 for “To Get To You”. He was 79.

May 8th - Eddy Arnold
Said to be the baritone voice that helped to create the Nashville sound. He was 89.

June 2nd - Bo Diddley
He was known as one of the founding fathers of rock and roll. And known for calling his guitar Lucille. He was 79.

August 10th - Isaac Hayes
Soul singer who was most famous for writing the theme song to Shaft. He was 65.

August 18th - Pervis Jackson
The bass voice for the Spinners. He was 70.

September 2nd - Jerry Reed
Country and western singer. Best known for his slapstick songs such as “She got the goldmine and I got the shaft”. He was 71.

September 15th - Richard Wright
Pianist with Pink Floyd. He wrote the song “Wish you were here”. He was 65.

October 17th - Levi Stubbs
Singing front man for the Four Tops. He was 72.

October 24th - Merl Saunders
Musician and keyboardist for The Grateful Dead. He was 74.

December 25th - Eartha Kitt
Singer who was best known for her song “Santa Baby”. She was also an actress, best known for portraying Catwoman in the Batman series.