Cat Country 98.7

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum tells the story of soulful singer Keith Whitley in its exhibition Still Rings True: The Enduring Voice of Keith Whitley. The exhibit opens May 3, 2019, and runs through April 5, 2020.

Whitley completed only four solo studio albums before his death in 1989, at age 33. But despite the brevity of his career, he produced many significant country hits, and his music continues to exert tremendous influence on subsequent generations of country singers. Many of the groundbreaking artists who expanded country music’s audience in the 1990s—including Country Music Hall of Fame member ­Garth Brooks, Country Music Hall of Fame member Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss and Tim McGraw­—cite Whitley as a primary influence. His impact continues into the new century, through the work of acolytes Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Chris Young and others.

“Whitley’s haunting and emotional voice represented the resurgence of the traditional sound on mainstream country radio,” said Kyle Young, CEO, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “His bluegrass roots and love for honky-tonk music led to his unique, drawling style that continues to inspire and influence today’s country music artists. We are honored to examine the indelible impact of Whitley’s brief but significant career.”

Born July 1, 1955, Whitley was raised in Sandy Hook, a tiny Appalachian coal-mining town in northeastern Kentucky. He made his radio debut at age eight, performing “You Win Again,” a 1952 Hank Williams hit, on WCHS in Charleston, West Virginia. At age 13, the singer began his professional career in earnest, forming a band with his older brother Dwight and friend and future Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs. Just two years later, Whitley and Skaggs joined the Clinch Mountain Boys, led by their musical hero Ralph Stanley. Whitley’s warm baritone appears on several Clinch Mountain Boys albums and on the records of J.D. Crowe & the New South.

In 1982, Whitley signed with the Nashville division of RCA to great acclaim from fans of traditional country music. After some initial misfires and minor hits, Whitley convinced RCA to scrap an entire album and allow him to produce his own work, a decision that led to his commercial breakthrough. Teaming with co-producer Garth Fundis, Whitley delivered a successful and critically lauded album, Don’t Close Your Eyes. Singles from the album included Whitley’s first #1 hits: “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” “When You Say Nothing at All” and “I’m No Stranger to the Rain,” named CMA Single of the Year in 1989.

Whitley’s mounting career success was mirrored by newfound happiness in his personal life. In 1989, Whitley was thriving, raising a family with second wife Lorrie Morgan. Then, on May 9, 1989, shortly after finishing work on his next studio album, I Wonder Do You Think of Me, Whitley passed away from alcohol poisoning.

I Wonder Do You Think of Me was released three months later, on August 1, 1989, and it yielded two more #1 hits, with the title track and “It Ain’t Nothin’.” “I’m Over You” also reached #3, in early 1990.

On the announcement of the exhibition, Morgan said: “I cannot express what an honor it is for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to recognize the late, great Keith Whitley as such an important part of country music history. He was not only instrumental in giving me the confidence I needed as an artist, but through the years, he has given many other up-and-coming stars the confidence and true grit they have acquired by loving and listening to the music of Keith Whitley. This exhibit is not just Keith’s life in music, but also depicts his love for country as well as bluegrass music. Keith always felt inadequate of the recognition he deserved. Keith was the most humble, generous, and truly the most talented man I have ever known. Before Keith’s death, he was three weeks away from his lifelong dream of being made a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a surprise that he never knew about. Speaking for myself, his daughter Morgan, son-in-law Justin, his son Jesse Keith, daughter-in-law Kristen, his grandchildren Preston, Parker, and Tuff, his unborn granddaughter, and all of the Whitleys and all of the Morgans, this is an honor we have longed to show the world. This exhibit is the life and times of Keith Whitley.”

—
Photo Credit: Tancha / Shutterstock.com

On Sunday night, April 7th, Jason Aldean will be in the position to make history at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony.

The country crooner is nominated for entertainer of the year, which is the same exact award he has won for the past three years running. Jason’s also the recipient of the ACM’s artist of the decade honor, which is named in memory of the show’s longtime producer, Dick Clark.

If all goes well in his favor, Aldean will become the second person to take home entertainer of the year and artist of the decade on the same night. Garth Brooks achieved this double play 21 years ago. George Strait, who won artist of the decade for the 2000s in 2009, lost entertainer of the year that year to Carrie Underwood.

Aldean has amassed 14 ACM Awards and two CMA Awards. In 2011, he took CMA’s album of the year for My Kinda Party and musical event of the year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” a collaboration with Kelly Clarkson.

Aldean was the first person to win the ACM Award for entertainer of the year three times before even once winning the equivalent CMA Award. Underwood and Toby Keith have each won the ACM entertainer of the year prize twice but have yet to win the equivalent CMA Award.

The ACMs will air live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

—
Photo Credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

On Tuesday, March 14th, the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards will return to Las Vegas on April 7 and with the first round of performances with the promise to be a memorable evening. Reba McEntire, George Strait and Miranda Lambert are expected to take the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Sin City among countless other superstars within the world of country music.

Previously announced ACM dick clark artist of the decade award winner Jason Aldean will also perform during the telecast. Additional performers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton will also serve as fellow nominees and performers throughout the awards show.

Brothers Osborne garnered four nominations including duo, video and music event of the year. Stapleton, who leads with Dan + Shay with six nominations at the awards show, is recognized in the male artist, album, song and entertainer of the year categories.

McEntire will return as the telecast’s host for the 16th year. She hosted the show 14 times between 1986 and 2012 and returned in 2018 after a five-year hiatus.

The ACM Awards show airs on April 7 from 8-11 p.m. ET on CBS.

—
Photo Credit: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

Brad Paisley honors his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, with a heartfelt new single titled “My Miracle.” The track has the country singer thanking God for the most important woman in his life.

The chorus goes: “My miracle is five foot five/ No doubt in my mind, she’s the reason I’m alive/ And I wasn’t always spiritual/ Only one thing’s for sure/ How could I not have faith in the God that created her?”

The soaring ballad features delicate pedal steel, Paisley’s impressive guitar licks and light percussion. “My Miracle” was written by Paisley and Gary Nicholson. “I can be a little ornery when it comes to writing love songs,” Paisley says in a statement. “I don’t typically put it all out there, but in this one I did. This is the most powerful statement I think I can make. The one I wrote it for, she is my worst critic typically, but in this case I think I got it right.”

Paisley and his wife have been married for 16 years, after first meeting on the set of his music video “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song).”

Photo Credit: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

Ply Gem, a leading brand of exterior residential building products in North America for more than 75 years, will proudly lead the Home for Good project in 2019 for a fourth consecutive year.

Two of country music’s hottest rising stars, Jon Pardi and Lauren Alaina, will serve as the 2019 ambassadors for the Ply Gem Home for Good project to help build homes across the United States with Habitat for Humanity. Ply Gem’s commitment to the belief that everyone deserves a place to call home aligns with these artists’ core values and desire to give back.

“I grew up in a community where neighbors helping each other is just how it’s done,” says Pardi. “So, when the opportunity came up to work with Ply Gem and Habitat for Humanity families, it was an easy decision—Absolutely! Let’s go help build some houses!”

Since 2016, Ply Gem, through the Home for Good project, has provided a total donation, in value, of more $2.3 million of exterior building products and funds to Habitat for Humanity to help families throughout the nation build homes. The company will support the project with advertising and social media initiatives to encourage its employees, the building industry—including distributors, builders and remodelers—as well as consumers to support its effort to bring solutions and raise awareness of the need for affordable housing in communities across the country. Pardi and Alaina continue a tradition of support and participation in Home for Good project efforts that started with Alan Jackson in 2016 and extended to Darius Rucker in 2017-2018.

“I partnered with Ply Gem and Habitat for Humanity last year on several homes in Cleveland, Ohio and I was able to be there to help welcome the families into their new homes,” shares Alaina. “I think I was just as excited as they were! It was so special and I’m looking forward to doing even more this year.”

“By donating the quality products we manufacture – like windows and vinyl siding to Habitat for Humanity – we’ve helped to build nearly 500 homes in 90 neighborhoods,” says Jim Metcalf, the company’s Chairman and CEO. “We are committed to helping to make home ownership a reality for those in need of affordable housing and we are passionate about contributing to communities where people live, work and play.”

—
Photo Credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Pop music icon Lionel Richie has revealed that he’s planning a return to country music, nearly seven years after his last country project became a huge hit.

Richie was on hand to present the trophy for Entertainer of the Year at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville during the 2018 CMA Awards on Wednesday night, November 14th, and in a red carpet interview, he told Nashville’s Tennessean newspaper that he’s “about to make that move right now.”

Richie says he’s had many questions since as to whether he might be interested in doing more.
“They keep asking me over and over again … A lot of times, people try to make up something to make it happen,” he shares. “But I’m getting it from country radio: ‘When are you gonna do it?’ So let’s not play around. Keep your ears open. It’s gonna be something surprising.”

Photo Credit: yakub88 / Shutterstock.com

CMT have announced their list nine new female acts named to its Next Women of Country 2019 class; Ingrid Andress, Lauren Duski, Emily Hackett, Stephanie Quayle, Tenille Townes, Leah Turner, Anna Vaus, Rachel Wammack and Lainey Wilson have all been selected for the program that’s supportive of up-and-coming female artists in the genre.

Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild announced the newest group of artists on November 13th, during an annual showcase at City Winery in Nashville. The 2019 class is a diverse mix of artists, some whom are signed to record deals, while others are working independently. Duski competed on Season 12 of The Voice and is now an independent artist, while Townes spent the summer of 2018 opening for Miranda Lambert and LBT on their collaborative Bandwagon Tour. Her new single “Somebody’s Daughter” has been making waves on the charts, and the same can be said for Wammack’s debut single, “Damage.”

“Everyone says, ‘Let the best songs win,’ and we truly believe that, male or female, let the best songs win, but we do need that equal playing field,” Next Women of Country founder Leslie Fram said during the event. “We need that to enact fairness on the charts, playlists and not to have to hear there’s only one slot for a female.”

CMT’s Next Women of Country began back in 2013. In the years since, powerhouse acts including Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde and more have been part of it. The yearly program culminates with the CMT Next Women of Country Tour, and Cassadee Pope will serve as the headliner for 2019, with Clare Dunn and Hannah Ellis joining her on the tour.

Photo Credit: Tancha / Shutterstock.com

Her parents were such 70s music fans they actually named her after James Taylor their favorite artist.

Taylor needed 3 tries to get her driver’s license, and considers herself a very good driver.

Although Taylor is a prolific songwriter, she’s an accomplished musician as well, playing four instruments; the ukulele, the guitar, piano and banjo.

One of her 1st jobs as a teenager was working as an intern at the CMA Music Festival one year, as a 14 old. We don’t think she’s hurting for money these days, as her estimated net worth is north of $320 million.

Finally, she’s earned 8 ACM’s, 19 AMA’s, over 20 Billboard Awards, 4 Billboard Touring Awards, over 30 BNI Awards, 12 Country Music Association Awards, and 6 CMT’s, her 10 Grammy Awards may be the most impressive. In fact, she’s a record holder for becoming the youngest artist ever to win a Grammy Award for ‘Album of The Year.’

—
Photo credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com