ELLA CASTRONUOVO is first with the news that former EMERSON DRIVE lead singer BRAD MATES, who founded Lewiston, Maine-based Band & Crew Wealth Management in 2023 after 25 years in the music business, to cater exclusively to the money accumulation and preservation  needs of his music industry peers, is expanding his role as a financial advisor.  Brad now strives to meet the economic needs of entertainment professionals ranging from his current clientèle' to those of other creatives such as "Broadway singers."



Years ago when I was told that an ALAN JACKSON fan obtained an autographed photo for $5 the fan was happy, but I was appalled.  Now, the sale of merch at shows has never bothered me.  I've always understood that part of the economics of the business, but the autographed Jackson photo marked the first I'd heard of what had to that time always been given away (unless maybe it was part of a fan club membership package) being sold.

Hollywood had a hand in that cultural change- movie stars who were happy to oblige an autograph-seeker gratis were miffed when they were asked for several signatures from the same person who had no interest in the celeb being approached - only the resale $$$.

Which brings me to ask if you wish you'd secured that autograph/autographed photo, letterhead et al from your country or country/pop or country/rock favorite(s) before s/he/they got away or passed away as the case may be?

Well, now you can do so (if you're able to afford it), as a offshoot of the Williamsburg Nostalgia Fest. (BTW,  didja know RONNIE MILSAP signs autographs?)  Here are the offerings and their prices:
                                      

EDDY ARNOLD  $16.95 

SUZY BOGGUSS $19.95

ROSANNE CASH $19.95 

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER (was $19.95 but sold out) 

DONNA FARGO $19.95

MICKEY GILLEY $19.95 

GEORGE HAMILTON IV $19.95

LOUISE MANDRELL $19.95        

K.T. OSLIN $19.95           

TOMMY OVERSTREET  $19.95 

MINNIE PEARL $19.95      

BILLY JOE ROYAL $19.95

DAN SEALS $19.95 

RICKY VAN SHELTON  $19.95 

RICKY SKAGGS $19.95 

HANK SNOW $19.95         

CARLENE CARTER $24.95 

HOLLY DUNN  $24.95 

FERLIN HUSKEY  $24.95 

RONNIE MILSAP  $24.95 

JOHNNY PAYCHECK $24.95                   

HANK THOMPSON  (was $24.95 but sold out)

PORTER WAGONER $24.95  

SHEB WOOLEY  $24.95 

BILLY RAY CYRUS $34.95  

BARBARA MANDRELL $34.95 

RONNIE MILSAP  $34.95

TANYA TUCKER $34.95 

FARON YOUNG  $34.95 

MARIA OSMOND $39.95 

RICOCHET  $39.95

TEX RITTER $49.95  

EARL SCRUGGS (was $49.95 but sold out)

THE STATLER BROTHERS $49.59  

THE MANDRELL SISTERS $74.95 

DUANE EDDY $99.99  

THE  BROWNS $74.95

BOB NOLAN $79.95

ERNEST TUBB $124.95 

PAT DAISY update courtesy of Pat's widower, MIKE DEASY, clarifying information he provided to DIANE JORDAN that Diane emailed me re: Pat's passing August 11, 2025 passing, just a couple of months before what would have been her 81st birthday on October 10, 2025.  Diane is correct that, after running tests that were inconclusive, Daisy's medical team "suspected that her illness was caused by a tick bite."

However, following the aggressive antibiotic treatment additional tests were required.  As Mike explains, 'They needed to do a spinal tap to analyze the fluid' in order to determine what was causing Pat's deteriorating condition, "but they were unable to get a good sample. The results of the blood test indicated that all the components of the blood were unexpectedly low, including the white cell count they would have expected to be high." The result was the inability of  Daisy's immune system to give Pat "ability to fight whatever was going on."

Mike confirms that "nothing explained' how rapidly Pat succumbed to her illness, but, after all the tests were reviewed, they said she had MS (spasmodically), sepsis and GI bleeding.                                          


Contentious gray divorce has hit Music Row and, as always, you're reading about it here first.  Country Music Hall of Fame member BRENDA LEE who, at age 80, began the process of ending her marriage to CHARLES RONALD (RONNIE) SHACKLETT with a January 28, 2025 filing a little less than three months to the day of the couple's 62nd wedding anniversary.   (Shacklett is contesting the divorce.)

I'm laying out the specifics as I understand them as of June 2, 2025 with exclusive updates and, if need be, corrections to come as necessary  (I am not an attorney), which you'll probably see in greater detail once the tabloids and respected news organizations (which are averse to crediting me for breaking stories) catch on, but the litigation apparently began with Brenda's petition which was sealed the same day it was filed, thanks to her request of Judge STEPHANIE WILLIAMS.  (Judge Williams could have suggested just redacting certain portions of the public record had she not felt that Brenda showed cause.)

Just as in the BILL IVEY scandal, sealing records limits public access. (Journalists, as well as other citizens, can petition courts to unseal records.)  In Tennessee, divorce records are generally confidential but they become public after 50 years.

That same day, January 28, 2025, a temporary injunction and restraining order were granted (the latter is often merely procedural and in those instances should be free of inference), followed a summons and, the following day yet another summons and a show cause Order.

Ronnie was apparently served with a summons on January 31, 2025 and by February 3, 2025 he had lawyered up with a Notice of Appearance submitted that day.

On February 4, 2025 an Agreed Order was submitted to the court re: an ex parte Temporary Restraining Order.  Judge Williams had the TRO stricken and an Agreed Order was submitted to reset the hearing for the TRO.

On February 5, 2025 the parties (Brenda, through her attorneys ROSE PALERMO and JASON TALLEY, Ronnie through his attorneys JAMES WEATHERLY, JR. and JACQUELINE DIXON), submitted another Agreed Order which Judge Williams granted as well as a Motion for Continuance of the trial.

On February 21, 2025 the proceedings apparently resumed with the first witness subpoenaed, along with Ronnie's response, answer & countercomplaint.  That same day exhibits and an affidavit were filed along with an "emergency" Motion for a temporary restraining order with an order to appear and show cause while NHC Healthcare of Franklin was issued a subpoena for medical records.

On February 24, 2025 Judge Williams denied the Motion for a temporary restraining order and order to appear and show cause submitted three days earlier.

On February 27, 2025 a Motion was filed re: approval of the sale of real property with apparently another Motion the following day re: approval of the sale of Brenda's real property to be heard on March 14, 2025.

On March 4, 2025 Brenda's answer to Ronnie's countercomplaint was filed.

On March 11, 2025 NHC Place Cool Springs was issued a subpoena. That same date Ronnie filed a response in opposition to the sale of Brenda's real property.  An amendment to the Motion to approve the sale was also filed along with exhibits.

On  March 13, Ascension St. Thomas West was issued a medical records subpoena and an Agreed Order was submitted re: resetting the hearing of a Motion to sell the "marital residence" to March 21, 2025 at 9 a.m.  Another Agreed Order was submitted that would continue the hearing on the ex parte Motion for a temporary restraining order until a hearing on May 15, 2025 at 9 a.m.  The "emergency" continuance was granted.

On March 14, Motions for continuance of the Motions re: approval of the sale of real property and the amendment to the sale of Brenda's real property were submitted that would set each for hearing on March 21, 2025.

On March 17, 2025 the court approved the two Agreed Orders of three days earlier.

The March 21, 2025 proceedings were highlighted by "TRIAL EXHIBIT  AS 1 EXHIBIT IN 1 BROWN ENVELOPE."

On March 25, 2025 Brenda apparently filed an Response in the form of an objection to Ronnie's issuing a duces tecum subpoena.  That same day Ronnie responded with a Motion to Quash "subpoena duces tecum and/or Motion for Protective Order" to be heard on April 25, 2025.

On March 27, 2025, as transcripts and exhibits were filed, Ronnie filed his Response in opposition to Brenda's Motion to approve the sale of her real property.

An April 1, 2025 the Court agreed to hear Ronnie's Motion to Quash  on April 25,  2025 as Ronnie submitted his Response in the form of an objection to Brenda's subpoena duces tecum.

On April 7, 2025 Judge Williams apparently issued an Order indicating she would soon rule on the Motion to approve the sale of real property.

On April 16, 2025 Brenda filed a Motion to "allow testimony by contemporaneous audio-visual transmission" to be heard on
May 2, 2025.

On April 22, 2025 Ronnie filed his Response to Brenda's "Motion to Quash and/or Motion for Protective Order."

On April 24, 2025 An Agreed Order in the form of a Protective Order was submitted.   Brenda also submitted an Agreed Order re: her "objections and Motions to Quash.''

On April 25, 2025 Judge Williams signed the Agreed Protective Order and an Agreed Order was submitted re: Ascension St. Thomas and NHC producing medical records.

On April 29, 2025 Ronnie submitted a Motion in opposition to Brenda's Motion to allow testimony by contemporaneous A/V transmission.

On May 1, 2025 an Agreed Order was submitted to continue Ronnie's Motion of two days earlier until May 30, 2025.

On May 2, 2025 Judge Williams signed the Agreed Order submitted for her approval the day before and a Notice of Hearing was set.

On May 7, 2025 an Agreed Order was submitted to continue the hearing set for May 15, 2025 and Judge Williams agreed to a continuance setting the hearing for August 7, 2025 at 9 a.m. at which time Ronnie's "emergency" TRO Motion will also be heard.

On May 30, 2025 Ronnie submitted a Notice of filing St.Thomas West medical records.

On June 10, 2025 An Order was issued granting Brenda's Motion to testify via Zoom.

On June 20, 2025 Ronnie's attorneys issued a subpoena for TODD MOORE.

On July 3, 2025 Brenda's attorneys issued a subpoena for Moore.

On August 1, 2025  An Agreed Order was submitted re: Ronnie's "emergency" TRO Motion.  

On August 6, 2025 An Agreed Order to resolve the ex-parte temporary restraining order entered on January 29, 2025 was issued.

On September 3, 2025 a perhaps impatient Judge Williams initiated a Domestic Case Management Order and scheduled an October 2, 2025 status hearing.

On September 4,  2025 Ronnie's legal team filed an "Emergency Motion calling for an "examination of wife," scheduled to be heard on September 26, 2025.

On September 11, 2025 Ronnie filed an Affidavit (apparently in support of his September 4, 2025 Motion). That same day one of the Shackletts' children (whose name I am withholding for reasons I will explain in due course) also filed an Affidavit that, unlike Ronnie's, is under seal.