“Hurt” – Johnny Cash

“It’s A Great Day to Be Alive” – Travis Tritt

“Alcohol” – Brad Paisley

“Undo It” – Carrie Underwood

“High Five” – Big and Rich

“Keep You” – Sugarland

“White Line Casanova” – Brooks and Dunn

“I’ll Know When I Get There” – Keith Anderson

“The Hard Way” – Faith Hill

“If I Had One” – Toby Keith

“The Beaches of Cheyenne” – Garth Brooks

“Baby Doll” – Pat Green

“My Heaven” – Trace Adkins

“I Wanna Die” – Miranda Lambert

“If You Could Touch Her At All” – Willie Nelson

“When Love Is Gone” – Martina McBride

“In The Mountains to Forget” – Merle Haggard

“Gone Country” – Alan Jackson

“Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under” – Shania Twain

The shining artist of the week would HAVE to be the amazing duo of Brooks and Dunn.

I OF COURSE had to choose those two as my outstanding artists of the week, because, well, they’re wrapping up their last tour of their careers together.

Brooks and Dunn have been around for 20-some-odd years, and have managed to maintain themselves as a household name.

I obviously was lucky enough to see them perform in concert a few years back, and they put on a wonderful show. It’s sad to see them leave, knowing that they are splitting up, but from what was said in many publications, it’s a mutual, amicable split. They both feel like they have done what they needed, accomplished everything they could, and now need to move past and forge on with their own, separate lives.

Here’s to y’all, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn…One Last Rodeo.

“Desperado” – Clint Black

“Fiddle” – Bomshel

“Rodeo” – Garth Brooks

“No More Protecting My Heart” – Jamie O’Neal

“Hicktown” – Jason Aldean

“Independence Day” – Martina McBride

“Sweet Revenge” – Pat Green

“Read My Mind” – Reba McEntire

“I Like It, I Love It” – Tim McGraw

“Strawberry Wine” – The Wreckers

“The Bottle” – Trent Tomlinson

“Sugarland” – Sugarland

“Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” – Travis Tritt

“Picture to Burn” – Taylor Swift

“Southern Hallelujah” – Trace Adkins

“Getting Ready” – Miranda Lambert

“I Got Stripes” – Johnny Cash

“Bring On the Rain” – Jo Dee Messina

“How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls” – George Strait

“Jolene” – Dolly Parton

“I Wanna Be A Hillbilly” – Billy Currington

“Last Name” – Carrie Underwood

“Peggy Sue” – Buddy Holly

“She’s Country” – Jason Aldean

“Like It’s a Bad Thing” – Gary Allan

Okay, y’all all know how I do this…I go through this week’s playlist and find one artist that just stood out above all others. So, here we go…drum-roll please…

…and the standout artist of the week is…

BUDDY HOLLY!

Yes, the late, the incredible, the legendary Buddy Holly.

Buddy Holly was a good ole Texas boy with a small band, named the Crickets. He died at the young age of 23, leaving behind his wife and unborn child. Soon after Buddy passed away, his wife miscarried their only child.

The record label he worked with, Coral Records, was able to release singles and albums with new songs 10 years after Holly’s death, from previously recorded songs.

Buddy was an inspiration to many artists and a trailblazer in the music industry. There was no other like him, nor has there been since him. Don McLean couldn’t have said it better in his song “American Pie,” that Buddy Holly’s death was “the day the music died.”

Here’s to you Buddy Holly, the ORIGINAL rockabilly.

“The Bargain Store”—Dolly Parton

“Fast”—Jason Aldean

“I Can’t Stop Loving You”—Conway Twitty

“Wreck You”—Heidi Newfield

“C’mon Sixty-Five”—Merle Haggard

“Easy From Now On”—Miranda Lambert

“Rollin’”—Big and Rich

“Tender Side”—Crystal Shawanda

“Burn One Down”—Clint Black

“Friends in Low Places”—Garth Brooks

“Chattahoochie”—Alan Jackson

“Yee Haw”—Jake Owen

“Man to Man”—Gary Allan

“Punishment”—SHeDaisy

“I Play Chicken With the Train”—Cowboy Troy

“If I Knew Then”—Lady Antebellum

“Look Heart, No Hands”—Randy Travis

“Steve Earle”—Sugarland

“If I Had One”—Toby Keith

“Put Some Dive in Your Country”—Travis Tritt

“One Wing In the Fire”—Trent Tomlinson

“Folsom Prison Blues”—Johnny Cash

“Wanted Dead or Alive”—Chris Cagle

…and the standout artist is…

SUGARLAND!

Now. I’ve seen Sugarland a couple times in concert, and I have to say, the last time was probably one of the best concerts I have ever been to. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are so energetic and make you want to jump out of your seats, yell and scream, and just have a rockin’ party. At one point, they actually brought on stage two of those giant, “sphereing,” Zorb,” or as I like to call them, “industrial sized hamster balls.” Next thing you know, Nettles and Bush went crowd surfing in the Zorb balls! It was fantastically insane!

Sugarland is DEFINITELY one band that everyone needs to go see, even if you’re in the nosebleeds, you’ll still have a great time, from bubbles to glow sticks, crowd surfing to appearing in the upper levels (playing for those who couldn’t afford the front row tickets), Sugarland does it all to entertain and please their audiences. They set the standards that have yet to be matched in my eyes and experiences.

“This Uncivil War” – Martina McBride

“My Wife Thinks You’re Dead” – Junior Brown

“I’m Gonna Getcha Good!” – Shania Twain

“Being Drunk’s A Lot Like Loving You” – Kenny Chesney

“Anytime” – Patsy Cline

“Watching Airplanes” – Gary Allan

“Dry Town” – Miranda Lambert

“Who Said Whiskey” – Jake Owen

“Somebody’s Hero” – Jamie O’Neal

“Loaded” – Toby Keith

“Pot of Gold” – Julie Roberts

“Dark As The Dungeon” – Johnny Cash

“Momma’s Night Out” – Sara Evans

“Just to See You Smile” – Tim McGraw

“It Happens” – Sugarland

“Hey Batter Batter” – Trent Tomlinson

“Rebel Child” – Gretchen Wilson

“Shade Tree Fix-It Man” – Merle Haggard

“All I Wanna Do” – Heidi Newfield

“You Show Me Yours (and I’ll Show You Mine)” – Willie Nelson

“Bring On the Rain” – Jo Dee Messina, feat. Tim McGraw

“Whatever It Is” – Zac Brown Band

“Breathe” – Faith Hill

“Living and Living Well” – George Strait

“Freebird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Islands In The Stream” – Dolly Parton, feat. Kenny Rogers

“Pickin’ Wildflowers” – Keith Anderson

The standout artist of the week is…drum roll please…

Lynyrd Skynyrd

…and the crowd goes wild!

Okay, so Lynyrd Skynyrd is the standout artist, or band, of the week because, well, it’s Lynyrd Skynyrd. Majority of the sane public has had a moment in their life, or at least heard of one, where someone screams “Freebird” to whoever is on stage. That is all thanks to Lynyrd Skynyrd. OR if you’ve ever caught yourself rockin’ out to “Sweet Home Alabama”…you can thank Skynyrd for that.

Incredible band.

End of discussion.

“Gone Crazy” – Alan Jackson

“Love in Everything” – Mica Roberts

“I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)” – Alabama

“More Like Her” – Miranda Lambert

“Hot Mama” – Trace Adkins

“Ashes” – Martina McBride

“Hello Darlin’” – Conway Twitty

“So Wrong” – Patsy Cline

“Roll the Dice” – Confederate Railroad

“Come On Over” – Shania Twain

“Baby’s Gotten Good at Goodbye” – George Strait

“’Cause I Like it That Way” – SheDaisy

“Lovin’ You against My Will” – Gary Allan

“Love” – Sugarland

“Cocaine Blues” – Johnny Cash

“When I Think About Cheatin’” – Gretchen Wilson

“Baby Doll” – Pat Green

“Nothing Bout Love Makes Sense” – Leann Rimes

“Smile” – Lonestar

“Should’ve Said No” – Taylor Swift

“Stormy New Orleans” – Merle Haggard

“Johnny and June” – Heidi Newfield

“Eight Second Ride” – Jake Owen

“History in the Making” – Darius Rucker

“Before You Kill Us All” – Randy Travis

“That Song in My Head” – Julianne Hough

“My Next Thirty Years” – Tim McGraw

“Downtime” – JoDee Messina

“Crazy Over You” – Keith Anderson

“This Kiss” – Faith Hill

“Two of a Kind Workin’ On a Full House” – Garth Brooks

“Cheatin’” – Sara Evans

“It’s a Great Day to be Alive” – Travis Tritt

Anyone that knows me knows that I am in love with The Man in Black, so my standout artist of the week HAS to be Johnny Cash.

Now, I don’t condone violence, whatsoever, BUT his song “Cocaine Blues” is just one of those that you can’t help but love. Johnny performed “Cocaine Blues” at Folsom Prison in May 1968, which was actually portrayed in the movie “Walk the Line.”

For those of y’all who have NOT seen “Walk the Line”…Shame. On. You.

Go rent it, now. OR better yet…go buy it! Trust me, it’s DEFINITELY worth the money…in my COMPLETELY biased opinion…

1. The Devil Went Down to Georgia- Charlie Daniels

2. Fightin’ Words- Trace Adkins

3. No Way Out- Julie Roberts

4. Tropical Depression- Alan Jackson

5. Party For Two- Shania Twain, featuring Billy Currington

6. Ring of Fire- Johnny Cash

7. When God-Fearin’ Women Get the Blues- Martina McBride

8. Country Star- Pat Green

9. Picture to Burn- Taylor Swift

10. I Like It, I Love It- Tim McGraw

11. Sweet Love- Trisha Yearwood

12. Loaded- Toby Keith

13. We’re Young and Beautiful- Carrie Underwood

14. I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)- Alabama

15. Findin’ a Good Man- Danielle Peck

16. Nothin’ but the Taillights- Clint Black

17. My Roots Are Showing- Crystal Shawanda

18. My Maria- Brooks & Dunn

19. Dumb Blonde- Dolly Parton

20. I’d Surrender All- Randy Travis

21. Sweet Home Alabama- Lynyrd Skynyrd

22. I Will Rise and Shine Again- Gail Davies

23. The Bad In Me- Jake Owen

24. There is No Arizona- Jamie O’Neal

25. Good Ride Cowboy- Garth Brooks

26. I Want to With You- Leann Rimes

27. Like a Train Left the Tramp- Merle Haggard

28. Three Chord Country and American Rock and Roll- Keith Anderson

The woman of the hour was Mrs. Dolly Parton.

She’s talented and beautiful; truly an icon and someone that ALL aspiring female artists should strive to be like (career-wise, no plastic necessary).

There’s a wild, wild whisper
Blowin’ in the wind
Callin’ out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothing’s sweeter than summertime
And American honey

Get caught in the race
Of this crazy life
Tryin’ to be everything can make you lose your mind
I just wanna go back in time
To American honey

And, it hit me. I’m ready for summer again. I’m ready for the sunshine beaming down on my skin. I’m ready for the warmth. I love seeing the bright green leaves in full bloom and trees everywhere. I’m ready to be on the lake; swimming, tubing and having fun with family and friends. I love being on Jackson Lake. I grew up in Jackson and have spent 23 great summers splashing through that dirty water. Many memories spiral through my mind.

On July Fourth the lake is more packed with people and boats than any other day of the year. You can smell BBQ, hamburgers, and hotdogs as soon as you step out your front door. People are having cook-outs and gatherings everywhere. At night all of the boats head towards the Martin’s Marina. Martin’s is the most popular marina on Jackson Lake. Around ten at night the fireworks begin. Martin, the owner spends loads of money on fireworks for those on the lake to enjoy. The show lasts about 30 minutes and then boat loads of people begin traveling down the lake to enjoy more fireworks as property owners shoot them off from their front lawn. Fourth of July day and night is magnification on the lake.

Even when there isn’t a holiday to celebrate the lake is always full of life and fun during the summertime. I’m ready to enjoy those days again. I’m ready for my muscles to ache from trying not to be slung of the tube dragging from the back of the boat at 30mph. I’m ready to laugh and and forget about the worries of life if only for a little while.

Hope you’ll join Kimbo and me for a taste of Southern Comfort on Monday’s from 12-2pm!!!

Thanks, Kaybee

I’ve found it extremely interesting discovering how everything works at a radio station. When I was younger I wondered how the dj’s managed to play songs, one after the other, without skipping a beat. As I grew older I realized they made playlists but actually seeing everything come together is pretty neat. I also enjoy being able to chat with everyone and know what they’re thinking as we play certain songs. I’ve noticed many of us seem to appreciate the same artists and find ourselves liking the same songs. Perhaps we’re more alike than we realize.

I spoke this past week about the movie, A Perfect Getaway. At first, I did not want to see the movie but my mom convinced me to watch it. It was not as I had expected. On the contrary, it was awesome. No, I’m not going to give you all the details and risk spoiling the movie. However, I do want to say actress, Kiele Sanchez, does a fantastic job of portraying a county girl from Savannah, Georgia. I love the fact she is capable of taking care of herself and others, skinning and cleaning animals, and isn’t cast as a weak female. The star of Hitman, Timothy Olyphant, is marvalous and not to forget easy on the eyes. So, I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys action. I’m almost positive you’ll find yourself engulfed in whatever is taking place.

Well, I’m thinking I’ve said enough for my first blog. Hope you found it mesmerizing. Be sure to listen every Monday from 12-2pm for a taste of Southern Comfort with Sugar & Spice, Kimberly Helms and myself.

“A taste of Southern Comfort” is Kimbo’s catch-phrase, but I’m hoping she won’t mind me borrowing it.  And, just figured I’d let you know my favorite song for the week is probably Need You Now by Lady Antebellum.

*Kaybee

For Christmas, my mom and sister were so sweet to bless me with the gift of music, and one of the CDs I received was of course Big Kenny’s new album, “Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy.”

Now, I’ve listened to this album backwards and forwards already, and I have to say it has quickly climbed to the top of my favorite albums. Not only was the packaging made to help the environment, but it is also going to be available on vinyl, if not already.

But let’s get back to the matter at hand, the music…

His debut single, “Long After I’m Gone,” is a feel-good song that speaks of what he will leave behind when he’s gone one day. It makes you think about what you’re doing with your life, and will make you, well, at least it makes me, want to be a better person and love everyone.

The rest of the songs on this album do not disappoint. It seems in Big Kenny’s writing and in the songs he chooses to sing, he speaks from the heart. He lets people know that you need to be there for others, help others, and “Love Everybody.” This is an album that I think EVERYONE should listen to, whether you like Country music, or not. Big Kenny is one of those people that you would love to have in your life, because while he may wear a top hap, and seem slightly crazy, he is a remarkable man and a phenomenal artist who does not get credit where credit is due.

What better way to start the break and the holiday season, than with Christmas music?! I have compiled a list of Christmas songs, and divided them into three separate sections. We have classic Christmas songs in list one, novelty songs in list two, and Christmas carols in list three.

I hope everyone enjoys my lists, has a wonderful break, and a happy holiday!

Classic Christmas Songs

1. Santa Baby
2. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
4. Blue Christmas
5. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
6. Winter Wonderland
7. Joy To The World
8. Jingle Bell Rock
9. Away In A Manger
10. Oh Holy Night
11. White Christmas
12. The Little Drummer Boy
13. Silent Night
14. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
15. Christmas Shoes
16. Bells Will Be Ringing
17. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
18. Do You Hear What I Hear
19. O Come, All Ye Faithful
20. Sleigh Ride
21. Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire
22. Go Tell It On The Mountain
23. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
24. O Christmas Tree
25. All I Want For Christmas Is You
26. Auld Lang Syne
27. Christmas Island
28. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
29. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
30. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
31. Silver Bells
32. The Christmas Song
33. The First Noel
34. What Child Is This?

Novelty Christmas Songs

1. Mr. Grinch
2. Nuttin’ For Christmas
3. Snoopy’s Christmas (Snoopy vs. The Red Baron)
4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
5. The Chipmunk Song
6. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
7. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
8. Feliz Navidad
9. Christmas Time is Here
10. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
11. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
12. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
13. Linus and Lucy
14. Here Comes Santa Claus

Christmas Carols

1. Deck the Halls
2. Frosty the Snowman
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
4. Up On the Housetop
5. Jingle Bells
6. The Twelve Days of Christmas
7. We Wish You a Merry Christmas