Looking Out My Back Door

A Very Cool Thing

Last Tuesday night, around 7:15, my phone rang. It was my aunt, P. "Guess where I am!" I had absolutely no clue. "Madison Square Garden -- Ned got us tickets to the CMAs! We've already been to one of the pre-show parties!"

Now, remember, this is the first time that the CMAs (Country Music Awards) have been held in NYC. For an obscene amount of money, the public could buy packages that got them great tickets for the show, the pre-party, AND a lavish post-party at the Marriott Hotel, with a special performance by Wynonna! As it turns out, New Yorkers are one of the largest purchasers of country music, in the top three or five nationwide (yet NYC has no country music station...go figure), so it kinda made sense to have the show in town. The city did its part, as did local television networks, promoting the event and the music. The musicians played concerts all over the city, and Garth Brooks and fiancee Trisha Yearwood performed for free in Times Square. (Remember, Garth's Central Park concert was the biggest one ever held there!)

Well, P and Ned had a fantastic evening. The show (some of which I watched) was great and the parties were fabulous. Now Ned wants to do things like this more often, and P suggest that he get a ticket for me in the future, as I'd be able to point out most of the celebrities. Fine by me! (I even figured out who one of the country singers P didn't recognize by her description over the phone...Lorrie Morgan. Guess that cemented that thought!)

My friend Katy has been trying to get me to listen to more country music, and between her efforts, Oprah's, and P and Ned's, it's been happening. Some years ago, I proudly announced to Katy that I'd bought a Trisha Yearwood CD. I'd heard her (and also Wynonna) on a "Tribute to West Side Story" CD, and was blown away by their beautiful voices. Last year, I saw Wynonna on Oprah, and was moved to tears by her rendition of "I Want To Know What Love Is," which, in my opinion, now belongs to her, not Foreigner. Not only did I buy her new CD, I went to see her in concert! And I bought her new CD and DVD last month. Then just a few weeks ago, I went with P and Ned and a bunch of friends to Delaware for the 20th annual Punkin' Chunkin' competition. As a special treat (and a fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital), The Charlie Daniels Band performed on the first night of the competition. I went in there knowing only one song ("The Devil Went Down To Georgia") and walked out a fan. Charlie Daniels kicks butt. So does his band. (Full disclosure: I now have a wicked crush on his amazingly talented drummer, Pat Mc Donald, and lead guitarist Chris Wormer...great musicians and VERY cute!) I now have a Charlie Daniels CD and the DVD they recently released of a concert this past July 4th in Nashville.

While I will probably never be a fan of traditional country music, I am certainly liking the more contemporary stuff. You may soon be able to call me an Urban Cowgirl! But, please...don't ask me to explain Punkin' Chunkin' to you. It's a whole 'nother world.

posted by Hopster @ 12:12 PM