The Wayne County Fair begins this weekend, and they always have great acts in the Main Grandstand!  This year it's two favorites from the 1990's and beyond.  Both shows at 8PM on respective days, and I will be emceeing both of them.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Wayne County Fair  (Buy Tickets Here) 

Here are my Country Music Memory Lane articles on each of them! 

Lonestar September 11

Sara Evans September 13

  This Sunday the Browns do play football in Carolina.

As Browns fans with strictly football we should be focused on, and worried about head Coach Stefanski as he is the key to the season, especially early on.  The focus is on him because, he has some real issues on the field that will make his decisions very important. More important than many other coaches because of the Browns current situation.  And worried because for the most part, he seems to only know one way to win a game.  This year he needs to do whatever it takes THAT day to win THAT game, or the season will be lost.

I know players win or lose games for the most part.  But Stefanski has to be more than good this year. In fact, he has to be different than any year.  He has to adapt to what has transpired.  Not generally his strength.

I was not a Baker fan, but it didn't take a genius to see he was not at all the same after the injury.  Should be noted he had some lingering issues on the field before thie injury.  But last year asking a clearly compromised QB to win you games was both amateurish and silly at best.  And at the same time concerning, eyebrow raising and puzzling at worst.  Many times with the best play makers on the bench at crunch time.  It appeared that he mismanaged the entire season. He was the head coach, and he needed to do what was right for his team and the fans. This year, he better figure out early that chucking the ball over the yard will more than likely NOT get it done.  And I do think, he's not getting a pass this year from the boss.  That was last year. 

The owner mortgaged the teams future and spent a quarter of a billion dollars on a single player that can't play for good while on who knows whose recommendation.  Stefanski needs to win.  A playoff birth, or nearly so is a must.  If the Browns win 6 games or so, like many "experts" think, there could be big trouble.  And of course, it does depend sometimes on how you lose, or win.  The over under I think is 8 and a half.  I wouldn't take either.  It's too close to call.  

If you need to win 7-6 every week, so be it. Just win the game. There is also huge pressure to win early this season.  Many say the schedule is "favorable" early, but it's still the NFL, and NO one is going to roll over for you.  I'll believe "favorable"  when we beat the Panthers, Jets, Steelers and Falcons. All games you should, and could win.  And I'll still believe the Steelers will be bad when the actually are.  We are not going anywhere till we start beating them two times a year.  They beat us twice last year and went to the playoffs. We win those, and we are in the playoffs.

It's a big season for him.  If he somehow navigates the Browns through the waters they need to survive with success then hats off to him. But if nothing has been learned, then things may get interesting up the road.

We will learn a whole lot in week one.

Today is a strange food day, as it is Coffee Ice Cream Day.  Love both, and I love pretty much any kind of ice cream there is.  SO, I found this article that helps you (and me) find the best store bought coffee ice cream there is!

Best Coffee Ice Cream

Box Office Results -  The Invitation  -  (7 million)

Slowest Weekend – Of the entire year last weekend at the movies  (Story)

New This Week - Spiderman No Way Home (Back in Theaters this weekend) Honk For Jesus- Save Your Soul

House of the Dragon - Has been renewed for season 2  (Story)

New Trailer This Week  - The full trailer for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

September 2 - This weekend - Jaws will be in IMAX theaters for the weekend!   (Story)

Just A Heads Up! - September 8 — Pinocchio on Disney+ with Tom Hanks 

  Maybe you've seen this before, I have a time or two, but I'm not sure this is going to happen.  There seems to be a new white paint that some say could possible replace air conditioning in the near future. Sound great, but to you really think this is going to happen?

Yeah, me either, BUT I do think that stuff like this is really cool (No pun intended) but, it sure would be nice to lower that bill a few buck, and I do think we can all agree with that.  I can't imagine telling people at your house, "No AC today, I just painted the walls with new white paint, I know it's 90, but it's the future."    Now knows, it may be possible someday to do many things that sound impossible, then world always amazes.

And it is fun to learn new things. 

This Paint Could Replace Air Conditioning Someday

Many have asked when I was going to feature Dolly Parton, well, today is the day.  But as I write and as you read this, it will feel a bit different than others.  With Dolly, it's not just about hit songs, number ones, top tens, or any other number.  It's about the sum of everything she did, does, will do, and the trail she blazed for many others to follow.  When you add it up, it becomes clear, we may never see anyone with her resume ever again.  I have proudly played her music on great radio stations all around the country.

Early Solo Success

Recording artist, actor of stage and screen, businessperson, songwriter, entrepreneur, performer, TV star, cultural icon, incredible supporter of charity and good causes, and immensely likable.  She is all of these things.  In short, Dolly is a national treasure.  She has recorded about every kind of music there is, with about everyone that you can record with. She began recording very young with no success at all. Then at last, it all changed with then country superstar, Porter Wagoner on this TV show and with his traveling concerts in 1968. Wagoner was a very big star in the 1960's and this was quite a gig.  She replaced a popular co-star named Norma Jean who left the show, and Dolly was not received well at first.  Things changed.

This Song Changed Many Things  (Not The Original   -  But Fun To See Her Sing It)

Dolly recorded many duets with Wagoner and was gaining great favor within country music. Her duets were doing well, but her singles were not.  So in 1973 it was decided she would branch out on her own, and leave Wagoner's show.  Many people don't know her written song, I Will Always Love You, (Yes, that song) was written about leaving Wagoner as a thank you to him.  That song was a huge hit for her and of course Whitney Houston and others.  Elvis wanted to record it before Dolly, but Parton refused and kept it for herself.  That song has paid so many dividends in so many ways over many decades, it's almost immeasurable. Her run on the country charts going forward was huge, with big songs like Jolene, and dozens of others.  I call that 1970's Dolly. Her music and image were of the era.

This Brought Her Mainstream

As popular as she was, 1977 and 1978 were very big years for her.  Her album, Here You Come Again, introduced her to the pop audience and she was received very well.  The title song and many others propelled her to a whole new level of stardom by a mile.  I firmly believe that Here You Come Again, Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue by Crystal Gayle and Barbara Mandrell's, If Lovin' You Is Wrong, all released in that small window of time to country and pop radio was a major factor in spawning the Urban Cowboy  phase. Country music was now newly seen as "cool"  as were the people singing it thanks in part to those songs.  (Read  - Three Big Songs, Three Great Women) .  They really helped introduce us to a whole new audience.  Over the next few years, Dolly would find great pop and country success, and made her way to the stage and movies. Dolly was mainstream now.

Movie Success - BIG!

Her success continued through the 1980's in every way possible.  The incredible Trio album with Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris was a huge favorite and restarted her musical career in a newer direction. Trio is one of the greatest albums and musical events of the 1980's as those three put together an sensational album.  Dolly went on to record countless duets and projects with about every kind of singer there is.  I call that 1980's Dolly.

Huge, Huge Song  - Working with The Bee Gees And Kenny Rogers

She was in the movies as well, with 9 To 5, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, and countless Hallmark type of movies and TV specials.  She had her own TV show on ABC for a couple of years as they rebooted the classic TV variety show.  The debut ratings set all-time TV records, but over time declined and the show was cancelled.  

Example Of 80's Pop - Country #1

She bought a small park called Silver Dollar City in 1986, and renamed it Dollywood amusement park, when many people said that was a bad idea, turned out she was right again.  Dollywood is still going strong today, near the place of her raising in Tennessee. Dolly Parton is tough to label.  She has literally done everything that can be done, and she has done it all very well.  She is an amazing woman in every realm of her life and career.

The Trio Album - Was An Incredible Project And Success

But to me, Dolly as a performer her strength was her songwriting. I feel, she is one of the best country songwriters of the 20th century.  I feel she's in the same breath as Hank Williams Sr., and many of the other giants of our format. The amount of incredible songs she wrote is simply mind blowing.  Also her absolute willingness to be 100% vulnerable and brutally honest in her songs and music without question endeared her to millions of fans.  Many of her songs are sung from the underdog perspective, and I always felt that was a great move, as it made her very real.  Her music has been used in every way possible.  She also has been a beyond amazing role model and major influence to hundreds of country star women, and men. Keith Urban has stated many times she was his introduction to country music growing up in Australia.

A Very Underrated Dolly Song

She also has been incredibly benevolent to meaningful causes for many years. She is a giant in that regard.  She is also the kind of star that just doesn't exist much anymore and that's too bad.  Much like say, Willie Nelson, they are far beyond country stars. Dolly, like Willie, is just a part of our lives, our society, our nation. They are icons, and we take for granted they will always be here, and each generation seems to love her more for new and different reasons. Many today have never heard, Jolene, or Coat Of Many Colors, or seen 9 to 5, but they know who Dolly is.  Dolly over the decades has remained relevant by changing with the times and adapting to newer societal environments.  She has done it as well as anyone ever.   In short, she paid attention and has never gotten old.

This Is So Fun  -  Dolly And Porter - Breeze Detergent TV Commercial

They know Whitney Houston's, I Will Always Love You, but don't know that was a Dolly song that went number one a few times before Whitney ever recorded it.  But they know Dolly.  Dolly Parton is a gem of a performer in our format, in other formats and many different types of media.  But she is an even better person, and most of us are better people for having her in our lives. We should be proud of Dolly, she is a true American success story.

Always LOVED This Song

Dolly Rebecca Parton. She is as big and as good as Mega Stars can get.

I am a fan of Guy Fieri on the Food Network, but he DOES NOT LIKE EGGS!  I have no idea what is wrong with him! Is he the only person on earth?  I love eggs for many reasons.  They are delicious, and are good about any way you prepare them.

Poached are my favorite but eggs  -  are eggs, so let's go! 

Here are ways to elevate your egg game!

How To Make Your Eggs The Best Ever

Box Office Results -  Dragon Ball:Superhero -  (20 million)

Beast –  (11 million)

New This Week - The Invitation / Samaritan  (Stallone) / 3000 Years Of Longing  (Idris Elba) 

House Of Dragons – Biggest HBO debut ever – Close to 10 million watched  (Story) 

HBO Max – Has cancelled 6 new animtaed series and more  (Story)

September 2 - Jaws will be in IMAX theaters for the weekend!  (Story) 

Halloween Ends - Jamie Lee Curtis's last star turn in the franchise, will premiere October 14th in theaters and on Peacock 

Netflix - Has released the new trailer for their reboot of The Addams Family - things have changed - sheesh! (Tim Burton)

Good  - The sequels to Aquaman and Shazam! will hit theaters later than expected  (Story)  

Disney Plus - She Hulk is now streaming

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

Truth be told, money is a bit tight for most these days, and we are always looking for ways to save a buck!   At the risk of sounding like adulting is hard, there is little doubt that learning how to cook is one of the best ways to save a ton of cash.

It's great to eat out and support local biz, but if you're eating out every meal, it's as expensive as eating gets.  So learning how to cook is a big deal, and it can be very fun.

Look, I get it, it's not cool, or many other things in many peoples eyes. But I would disagree.  Windy and I love cooking together and having some wine and talking while we make a good meal.

Give it a try.....save HUGE money. 

Learn To Cook, Save A Ton Of Money

  Amber asked since I featured Lonestar last week as they are going to be at the Wayne County Fair, could I also feature Sara Evans since she will be there too.  Yes!  Sara Evans is a very interesting story that proves that dreams do come true in many different ways.

Early On  - Amazing Song From An Amazing Debut Album

Sara Evans is from Boonville, Missouri, which is 56 miles from Jefferson City, Missouri.  It is the epitome of Mid-Missouri.  A very, very rural area not really near any major city at all. Where she lived is truly middle America, in fact she grew up on a 400 acre ranch, not unusual there.  I worked in Jefferson City from 1988-1992 doing mornings at KLIK The Big 950. Sara Evans was 17 or so then singing with her family band, The Evans Family Band, that traveled that area. Sara is one of those exceptionally lucky humans that was born to sing.  Her natural singing voice is extraordinary.  Much like the amazing Suzy Bogguss, it is just born into them.

Her First Big Hit  #1

Sara moved to Nashville in 1991 with one of her brothers to give it a go.  She then got married, moved to the Pacific Northwest for a time, but ended up back in Nashville a few years later, where she became a demo singer, much like Trisha Yearwood, Sylvia too, Faith Hill and others.  She got a break and the right people heard her powerful voice and she got a seven album deal the same day she sang a live 3 song audition with RCA Records.  That kind of deal was unheard of then for an unknown.  And now.

Another #1

She was and is a fantastic traditional country singer, and her first album, Three Chords And The Truth is simply incredible when it dropped in 1997. To me, that album is a work of art.  It was very critically acclaimed and reviewed exceedingly well, but did not produce a big chart hit, but if you love traditional country, download it - TODAY.  She's terrific on it.  For me, it is my favorite Evans album as it is pure and straight forward. But things would change rapidly, as her next five albums were all very successful and produced a bunch of big hits including six number one songs.

Big Song - #2

It was the late 1990's and she was being slowly and steadily guided in a more mainstream or slightly pop-country direction and it worked out perfectly. But the genius part was, she ever really lost that wonderful traditional part of her voice and style.  That was the fine line that Evans walked very well. The songs in written form were not quite as traditional, or were the arrangements, but she still sounded like Sara Evans and that was a great move.  She competed with many great acts of the late 1990's and early 2000's and did very well.  She never achieved what would be called superstar status, but sold about eight million albums and had a real nice fan base.

"I Just Love That Sudszy Bucket Song" -  Alan Jackson

I did a huge interview with her as I was doing mornings on WPCV in Lakeland, Florida when she first came out. She was a a very interesting person to talk with, and she sounded as good in person singing  - as on her first album.  At WPCV, we were an early supporter of her,  I was a believer in her first album and her.  I felt she was the best pure vocalist since Suzy Bogguss, and we were lucky to have her.  Her music was great and the camera loved her as her videos were very popular as well.

Perfect - Underrated Song From Her  #2

Evans as you may know has had many challenges in her personal life, being honest too many to really mention. She survived a terrible car accident as a child. She has had some very contentious divorces, and legal issues within, and much of it for us to see through the media.  She survived a small plane crash, and has personal battles with panic attacks and anxiety for many years that is not only well known and documented, but self-documented. She has been activist for causes close to her over the years.  But through it all she has been a star in music, on TV, and as a record producer. 

Fans Loved This Song

The one thing that has never changed about Sara Evans is that voice.  That remarkable, God-given beautiful voice that sounds so effortless. Over the past 40 plus consecutive years I have played country music on the radio, she is one of the best pure singers we have ever had. She's in the conversation with Suzy Bogguss, Faith Hill, Ronnie Milsap, Trisha Yearwood and select others with voices that are just incredible, and sound good singing about anything that can be sung.

Her Biggest Hit #1 - Look At The Views - Read Comments - Powerful

Sara Evans - A pure singing talent.