While you may know that last year JOHNNY CASH was the first musicians to ever be honored with with statue in the U.S. Capitol, you're likely reading the following here first:  At the time of the dedication, attended by more than 100 Cash family members (including the Man in Black's only surviving  sibling, JOANNE CASH YATES- who was determined to ignore her failing health in order to attend), Speaker of the House MIKE JOHNSON could not contain his excitement- and for good reason: "I want to tell you something I'm very excited about.  I recently learned, as fate would have it, I count myself among the Cash family."

The speaker quickly added, with words that warmed this genealogist and trivia expert's heart, "This is not a joke: My staff ran a genealogy report and, in technical terms- okay?- it counts... I am the half-fifth cousin four times removed to Johnny Cash!"

Johnson elaborated about his maternal Cash connection: "My great-great-grandmother LIZZIE was a Cash... so I'm really, really proud to be among the family today."


Now it can be told: The Thursday before former President JOSEPH ROBINETTE BIDEN JR.'s Tuesday, January 20, 2021 inauguration the country-music star who had been invited to perform bowed out or was otherwise uninvited in much the same way someone who knows s/he is about to be fired resigns.

The reason you're not aware of this as the appearance was rescinded before it was announced.  The no-show was not GEORGE JONES (Jones died nearly seven years before) but rather MORGAN WALLEN.

As the timeline of Wallen's troubled past reveals, Wallen's shaming was not precipitated by his arrest and being charged with three felony counts (and the his subsequent acceptance of a plea bargain- an eventuality I predicted when I witnessed the proceedings in which Wallen's attorney wore a tie while his client did not feel it necessary to do so in order to impress the apparently already star-struck judge).  Nor did it have anything to do with famous unauthorized gotcha video (it didn't surface until a couple of weeks later).

To that point, Wallen's only major publicized transgressions (unless you want to include some lesser-publicized implosions thereafter) had been his arrest after being kicked out of KID ROCK's bar and being uninvited from a scheduled appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live after being caught at the height of the COVID pandemic in downtown Nashville partying without a mask during a citywide lockdown. 

But a Biden's inauguration neared, nervousness about Wallen and he prospect of his antics upstaging the incoming presidents was apparently the order of the day; worries possibly shared by the singer himself- or not.

In any event, Wallen's appearance at the Biden inaugural was axed and a last-minute replacement was confirmed only the day before what ED SULLIVAN would have called "the big shoe." 

Following a "very sweet ask" during a phone call from the president-elect's future First Lady Dr. JILL BIDEN, GARTH BROOKS stepped in to represent country music in the festivities. 

PARKER McCOLLUM credits his brother-in-law, JOHN ADAMS with Parker's snagging an invitation to perform at President DONALD TRUMP's January 20, 2025 Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball.  (Did anyone bat an eye at the irony of the "influencer" bearing our second president's name?)

Meanwhile, The Donald's occasional golfing buddy, JASON ALDEAN, rewarded for his public support with a 30-minute same-day set at the Liberty Ball, tells GAYLE KING that one of the downsides, in a politically divided country, of being a Trump supporter is being branded "a racist."



In case you missed it, I was pleased to be interviewed by my fellow author, WESLEY HYATT for Wes' most recently published book, I'd Like To Buy A Vowel: Spinning 50 Years of Wheel of Fortune.


MAREN MORRIS is featured in the debut edition of Notable.


A Report reader knowing of TOM T. HALL'S relationship with PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, and Tom's closeness with me, asks if the wake of President Carter's passing, if I ever met the late president (who, by the way, was JUNE CARTER' s seventh cousin once-removed),

The answer is yes, though my first meeting with our 39th president might well have been my last:  It happened when candidate Carter was campaigning in Nashville as I was attempting to photograph him at a rally.

At the precise moment I got my snapshot the flash cube (Remember flash cubes?) exploded!

The future president and I were both alarmed and it was a miracle that I was not tackled (or worse!) by the Secret Service!!!

Years later, (then former) President Carter and I reunited at a Nashville book signing.



Only now that I have a copy of GARTH BROOKS' Amended Complaint am I able to confirm the degree to which a number of "internet sleuths" have been taken in, and the seriousness of the false accusation, leveled either by EMILY BOWIE or someone assuming Bowie's identity; all courtesy of an October 3, 2024 X post (see reference in my earlier item posted below).

The Fair Air Music "professional audio engineer and home studio educator" or her imposter has publicly named as Brooks' accuser a hair stylist and makeup artist who is not the woman Garth identified as his accuser in Brooks' Amended Complaint!

This begs the question of why the falsely accused has not gone public to clear her name; one I will mention should she end up suing either Emily Bowie or, if Emily is being impersonated, Bowie's imposter as the conversation turns to an accomplice who, in the process of failing to retract libelous comments, is allowing someone who had, and presumably continues to have, a good working relationship with Brooks, to proverbially "twist in the wind."

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TRISHA YEARWOOD, identified by the Federal Election Commission as "self-employed" and a "singer,"joins MIKE CURB ("Chairman, Curb Records") as contributors to MEGAN BARRY's (losing) 7th District (Nashville) congressional campaign.  (Trisha contributed $1700,  Mike and Mike's FEC-designated "not employed" wife, LINDA- $3,300).


BOB TITLEY, remembered among we Music Row political junkies as a cofounder of the Music Row Democrats, and among fans for his work with TERRI CLARK, CLAY WALKER, KATHY MATTEA and BROOKS & DUNN, ran as an Independent candidate in an unsuccessful attempt to challenge Nashville's 5th district Congressman ANDY OGLES during the most House of Representatives election.  

GARTH BROOKS is the only entertainer I've ever interviewed who voluntarily extended an apology to me following a news conference Q & A; a request for forgiveness that I thought was totally unnecessary as no offense was taken. 

Lately, every time I sit down to write about what, of late, Brooks acknowledges as "the elephant in the room" another shoe drops.

I will be writing about the circumstances surrounding Garth's reaching out to me in further detail, along with the substance of the conversation I had with Brooks at the time I last spoke with him, as well as BOB DOYLE's unwarranted response to a message I left Doyle at 4:16 p.m. on October 7, 2024 when these newest, unrelated matters come into sharper focus and I am not simply repeating what partisans- many of whom know little or nothing about how the country-music industry nor the legal system work-  have opined. 

For now, I will only say this: All of the "factual reporting," gossip, speculation and chatter I've seen so far is missing one of the essential points I refuse to overlook and that is this:  Before Garth amended his initial filing, following his accuser's response to that filing, an unrelated name was already circulating on the internet, courtesy of either EMILY BOWIE or someone assuming Bowie's identity, courtesy of an October 3, 2024 X post, apparently since deleted.

The profane-laced defense (?) of Garth purportedly read: "Garth Brooks didn't rape anyone!  This 'Jane Roe' is hiding her name but releasing graphic 'details'?  Her name is [redacted by STACY HARRIS] and she has been with him since the '80s.

"Garth never travels without Trisha or his team and most of the time films the trips.

"Get lost [expletive deleted by STACY HARRIS]! " 

If the Fair Air Music "professional audio engineer and home studio educator" is being defamed by an impersonator I need to know that so that I may inform my readers as she presumably pursues appropriate legal action.

If not, I would suggest Ms. Bowie has publicly raised questions about her own motives for comments that go well beyond the emotional responses of Brooks' staunchest defenders- and targets the unintended (i.e., someone who is not a party to the litigation).

 

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Thanks to JUSTIN CICCONE for extending a media invite to THE WILD FEATHERS' November 20, 2023 performance at the Basement East

...to ROMY BAYHACK for the invitations to MOODY JOODY's November 8, 2014 debut EP release show at Row One, SABRINA SONG's November 16, 2024 appearance at The End

...to DOUG HALL for the "save the date" reminder of YOLA's November 13, 2024 performance at the Big Apple's SOB's

...to FIA KAMINSKI for inviting me to OH HE DEAD's November 15, 2024 performance at The Vinyl Lounge,  DAWES' November 10, 2024 performance at the Ryman, extending an offer of "limited press tickets" with which to enjoy TYCHO's November 8, 2024 performance at The Caverns (in Pelham, Tennessee)  DAVID SHAW's November 6, 2024 performance at the Basement East, for extending an invitation for one of "the limited press list spots available" to see HANSON at Cannery Hall on October 31, 2024 and for the opportunity witness ODIE LEIGH in performance October 13, 2024 at 3rd & Lindsley

...to KENZIE DAVIS for offering to add me to the guest list for FARMER'S WIFE's October 23, 2024 performance at The Blue Room and suite93's October 21, 2024 performance at the Exit/In

... to JESSICA PUCHLI for inviting me to check out DAFFO's October 22, 2024 performance at The End and any of PINK MARTINI's performances on October 24-26, 2024 at (KENNETH) SCHERMERHORN Symphony Center 

... to SAMANTHA TILLMAN and VIC RYCKAERT for extending an offer of media credentials for the unveiling and dedication of the JOHN MELLENCAMP statue at Indiana University's Bloomington campus on October 18, 2024  

.... and to ERIN RYAN for the invite to THE HEAD AND THE HEART's October 17, 2024 "intimate acoustic performance" at the Cannery Hall Row One Stage

 

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How does a free KELSEA BALLERINI concert sound? Get your ticket here.

How about a  gratis  KEITH URBAN concert sound?  Get your ticket here.

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KRIS KRISTOFFERSON's passing brings back a several happy memories of the college student I was when I met him.

As I noted in my Legacy guest book entry, I'd known Kris since we met in June, 1970 at the Cellar Door where Kristofferson was IAN & SYLVIA's opening act "and not many in the audience knew he was (becoming)."

As I wrote, I knew because I'd seen Kris on ABC-TV's The Johnny Cash Show.

I noted that the day of Kris' debut album's release (mine featured the first of two album cover designs, the latter coincided with a retitling and reissue of the debut LP several months later) "I hit the record store.  (Remember record stores?)," asking a clerk if the store had Kris' album.

"'Who?'

"Well, after some digging he found it for me, but before making my purchase and heading merrily along my way I couldn't resist telling the salesman 'Six months from now you won't be asking me 'Who.'"  (I first reported this memorable exchange at ERIC ALPER's suggestion when I contributed to Alper's hand-picked music critics' list of the best-loved music of all time.)

By the time I reunited with Kris (memorialized by the photo accompanying the aforementioned guest book entry) backstage at the Shady Grove Music Fair in Rockville, Maryland I had been right!  My first interview with Kris (for the University of Maryland Diamondback) occurred backstage following his sold-out performance at the JOHN F. KENNEDY Center for the Performing Arts on October 10, 1971.

Our paths didn't cross again until Kris taught a songwriting class at a NARAS-sponsored seminar at Monument Recording Studios on August 7, 1972.  Sporting a (GEORGE) McGOVERN for President button Kris queried "Are you not having the best time of your life?"

I certainly was- and especially grateful when Kris took the time, as a favor to me, to offer some words of encouragement to LARRY, my then-boyfriend who was a would-be songwriter.   

Kris and I saw less of each other once Kristofferson moved from Nashville.  We, along with JOHNNY CASH would star (OK, that terminology is a bit of an exaggeration as it pertains to me) in the 1980 production of HANK WILLIAMS: The Man and His Music and there would subsequent, sporadic Nashville meetings throughout the next four decades.

As noted, it was always fun to interview Kris.  I take pride in being one of his early biographers and have been mentioned STEPHEN MILLER"s 2010 Kristofferson biography..