Chris Stapleton's next single will be "Joy Of My Life" from his album Starting Over. It was written by John Fogerty to his wife Julie, and appeared on his solo album Blue Moon Swamp. It's easy to hear why Chris would cover this song when you listen to it!

Chris will be singing this one at Blossom Music Center on Thursday, July 7th with special guests Elle King and Madeline Edwards, click here for tickets!

I wish I could sleep like Juneau The Husky!  In fact, I think we all do. Why is it our dogs can sleep anywhere, anytime and get far more comfortable than we can.

It does make me jealous sometimes.

OR - simply find the total joy of laying out in the sun, on what we would consider a nice but chilly day.

Man, dogs have the life!

We have all bought, and for some of us, lived on Ramen Noodles at some point in our lives.  But the stuff we buy in the store for seemingly pennies, is an actual dish.

Click here to see and make the real thing at the house. These look very tasty!

Try This At Home!

Last week, Carrie Underwood posted a picture of herself in the studio to social media, which could only mean one thing, right? New music was coming! 

So, I did a thing… pic.twitter.com/2SnECo5IkA

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) March 10, 2022

Then on Monday, after a weekend of celebrating her birthday, she gave us the gift of the official announcement that she would be releasing a new song on Friday. That song is "Ghost Story", which Carrie describes as "a different take on a revenge song" in a press release. "Instead of smashing headlights, this scorned lover is letting her ex know that she will continue to haunt him no matter how hard he tries to forget her.”

Box Office Results - The Batman (66 million)

The BTS – Concert in theaters brought in about 7 million

New This Week - (Slow Week)  Umma / The Outfit / X / Cheaper By The Dozen (Disney Plus)

Amazon - Has closed its $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM. Amazon says, more than 4,000 film titles, 17,000 TV episodes, 180 Academy Awards, and 100 Emmy Awards  (Story) 

200K - The Oil can from the Tin Man in the Wizard Of Oz is going on the auction block!  (Story)

Nicolas Cage - Wants to play Egghead in the sequel to The Batman  (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

A few weeks ago, Windy's daughter Laney had a very unfortunate thing happen to her new car.  She as a Ford Eco-Sport and during one of our bad snow storms someone hit her parked car while she was at work.  No one hurt except the drivers side.

Took A Pretty Good Shot

She discovered it a number of hours later, She also found out that there WAS a police report and that was good news. So we took our wounded hearts and the wounded car to Klaben Collision Center, part of the Klaben Auto Stores.  What a GREAT job they did in every regard, Car looks great and the service and experience was simply perfect. They kept us up to date on the progress, were honest and handled the entire thing so we didn't have to.

They did the same thing for me a few years ago, when my Escape from Klaben was hit from behind as I was pulling into Country Fest a few years ago.  Very impressive place.

Beautiful - Again!

If you have an issue like this, consider Klaben's Body Shop. Professional, honest, and kind. And after any accident, that is EXACTLY what you want and need!

VERY proud to have my name next to Klabens!

Thanks Klaben!!

Jenny asked me recently about her favorite growing up, because in essence they grew up together as they are about the same age, LeAnn Rimes.  This will probably be the only time we honor someone in a "memory lane" article that is not yet 40 years old. Rimes is 39, and that in itself is hard enough to swallow.

Blue - How We All Met LeAnn

She has an interesting story.  She had a memorable appearance on the old TV talent show, Star Search where she made friends with host, the late Ed McMahon.  LAR then became one of those singers that is just a great  - singer.  She has sung every kind of music imaginable and done it well.  She's hard to define for a lot of reasons, but one thing is sure, fans love to hear her.  I absolutely remember the first time I played her first hit, Blue on the radio doing the morning show at WPCV in Lakeland, Florida in 1996.  The phones lit up and everyone wanted to know who that was.  Blue charted fine, but it's a very good example of a song that was way beyond the chart success of its top 10 position, fans loved it, and her. And when they found out she was only 13, they loved it more.  We really hadn't had someone this age since Tanya Tucker.

Her First Number One

When you look back at the country charts, you will see her success was decent.  She did well of course, and there was also a place for her on the pop charts as time went on.  But LAR was far more during that time. She was incredibly blessed with talent and the entire music scene seemed to love her.  She, at a young age was dealing with a lot. You may remember she "divorced" her parents legally as far as her business affairs were concerned and that was a strange situation. She was in big demand and her rise to the top was quick for anyone, let alone someone as young was she was.

Great Song - Top Five

After a short while, her musical direction switched and it was clear her sights were more set on a crossover or pop sound. Even with this, much of her music continued to be played on country radio, as I feel for some reason we didn't seem to mind her new direction as much as others who had tried this.  I think fans were rooting for her because of her age and remarkable talent.  You see, then, successful singers that young were not common like today.  Tanya had great success two decades earlier and it was tried again later with a singer named Kippy Brannon.  Kippy was out in the early 80's at age 14 with a lot of fanfare, even won an ACM, but her long term success was not great.  She's now about 55 years old.

Fantastic Performance Here

But at first, LAR was a big country success story. Blue was a fantastic song and One Way Ticket was a big number one. Her first album, Blue, sold a ridiculous amount of copies, over 6 million. In fact, her albums have always sold a ton, as over the course of her career in various genres, she has sold about 40 million albums. Few sold more music in the 1990's.  She is also a rarity, as her albums routinely charted better than many of her singles.  A sure sign of love, when fans are willing to drive to the store (in those days) and spend money on their favorite.

A Little Different For Her

But LAR was also a big success story outside of the country charts.  She acted, did some TV, and recorded lots of albums that were various types of music, all very successful. She did Christmas albums, tribute albums, patriotic albums, she recorded songs for movie soundtracks like Coyote Ugly which was a huge hit. She has sung National Anthems everywhere and performed in countless venues.  It's very hard to say what kind of music she did best, or that had the most success. She weaved in and out of country, and in the end, you would have to say people liked hearing LAR sing no matter what it was.

A Much Loved Song

No one can argue with her total success, but I have always believed this in my heart.  I saw the reaction to her at her start and this I believe to be true.  If the decision would have been to have LAR dedicate herself strictly to country, stuck by it, and evolved with it she may have been a country star to have success few others have.  I felt there were times she was asked to record songs that she was too young to tackle and that put her believe-ability in question.  But she was loved, and her voice was pure and was a traditional talent.  But things generally work out the way they should I guess, and her career is undeniably great.

Big, Big Song - Coyote Ugly

She brought a lot of very young fans to us at first and I will always be thankful for that. Young fans grow up too and become adult fans, who have kids -  and so on.  LeAnn Rimes can sing anything well, she was blessed with that gene. She broke in as a young girl and competed in an era that was very competitive and held her own.

She Sounds GREAT Singing About Any Song

The amazing LeAnn Rimes.

Last week Browns fans got a dose of reality that many didn't like.  I think most of them saw it coming, but denial is a funny thing.  We, as Browns fans don't like many of our realities, but that's exactly what they are.  Realities.

Seems the Browns DID make a move to get WR Amari Cooper from the Cowboys, and that's great news.  But what is very real about that is, the Cowboys didn't think he was worth his 20 million dollar price tag and we did.  Let's hope for the best there.

You saw that Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz all got new homes or new deals keeping them put.  I wrote a few times here that Rodgers and Wilson were never coming here for 20 reasons, and that proved to be right. We were never even considered I'm sure. Rodgers got about 200 million over 4 years. For the Browns to have gotten him, it would have been that price, plus the price tag of a few vetereans, and an endless array of high draft picks over a number years to get him.  Did you REALLY want to do that?  Plus, do you REALLY think Aaron Rodgers wanted to come here? Leave Lambeau Field and his legacy for here?

For Wilson, I think Seattle got the best end of that.  What?  I feel Wilson DIDN'T want to be there anymore , and that's reason enough for a trade. Seattle got a few really nice players and a ton of high draft picks to reload. Denver now HAS to win it, or it will be a mess, as they have mortgaged the entire future.  It's not like the Browns organization to risk the next decade, and that goes for pretty much any other team. (Think now about cost for Rodgers, if that was Wilson's price)

And Wentz?  - Please... Now there are small rumblings about us getting Deshaun Watson from the Texans. Browns rumored to be preparing a big offer for his services.  Plenty of legal issues there, AND Watson has a no-trade clause and he can veto any place he doesn't want to go. (BTW Wilson has one too, and vetoed two teams before going to Denver.)  We will see if we get the "no thanks" on Cleveland.  My gut feeling is keep an eye on that Darn Mike Tomlin and the Steelers AND the Saints for Watson.

You see, there are only a tiny few of these guys in the NFL, and the truth is many don't want to play here for the same reason they don't want to play in 25 other cities either.  The modern guy want what he wants, and most of the time gets it in sports.  We have to understand that, and many times we don't, and none of us like it.  And much of this has NOTHING to do with the actual Browns.  It's the city, geography, the prestige and the head coach many times.  Being mad about that is energy wasted.

If you don't like Baker Mayfield you are entitled to that, but that to me is wasted energy.  These Browns didn't draft him. Dorsey did, and he's here more than likely one more year. Scream all you want on social media that they should have drafted Josh Allen 5 years ago. You're right, but again energy wasted. And scream that the Bengals got Joe Burrow, and that's just flat out silly.  If the Browns had the first pick that year, they would have drafted him.  Again, wasted energy.

So really take a look around and let's see what's really going on. If Baker is NOT our QB this season, I would be stunned. I mean who else is there?  Teddy Bridgewater? Marcus Mariotta? Jameis Winston? Mitchell Tribisky?  Isn't the idea to get BETTER?  Okay, Derek Carr? Jimmy G, Matt Ryan?  I like Carr, but in 8 years no playoff wins, just fact.  And Jimmy G has a GREAT record, but no one knows if he can lift his throwing arm above his head right now after surgery. Matt Ryan is 38.  

This wasted energy is just like many other aspects our lives. There are a lot of people that spend their time screaming about this or that for this or that sake.  They offer NO solutions, just negativity. It's everywhere, sports, politics, pop culture, and honestly it's fatiguing.  Unless something absolutely stunning happens, Mayfield is our guy next year, and it's a big one for him and the Browns. Honestly, who else is there that you really want? 

This is lining up for Bakers DNA.  He'll be healthy, it's a contract year, a respect year, and he has been told his entire career at every level, he's NOT the guy and always steps up as the guy.  And he knows what's riding on this season.  Play well, get a new deal, play not so well, and it's a new team next year with a very, very uncertain future.  Oh, and by the way he's a bargain in NFL QB terms.

I have no real idea if he's going to be great this year or not.  He was great in 2020, and hurt in 2021.  So this is it. So my feeling is this.  I'm spending my energy on cheering for the Browns and not against Mayfield, or GM's and coaches that aren't here anymore, or that we have not been good much in 20 years, that "same ol Browns" nonsense is the ultimate energy wasted. That horribly contagious karma is exactly what the Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, local sports media and ESPN want from us, and I'm not giving it to them. The Browns have built a nice team that needs to stay healthy, have a GREAT draft and a good off season   -  and they will be right there at seasons end next year.

Consider our realities and consider the idea of energy well spent and not energy wasted.

I know, Chicken is boring.  But this is NOT!

How about some Creamy, French, Mustard Chicken?

EAT THIS!!

Jimmie Allen shared a little bit of his new single "Down Home" to Instagram last week and just that much was just enough to tell you how moving and beautiful this song is. Jimmie performed it last night for the first time at the ACM Awards, which he also co-hosted. "Down Home" is a tribute to his late father and is the lead single from his upcoming third album. In the song, Jimmie reminiscences, but also tells his father about everything that has been going on with him.