Waking Up Pa Ingalls’ Fiddle
Pa Ingalls’ fiddle was sitting on the table of the museum archive room. Still in its case.
The curator, Tana Redman, smiled at me.
“You’ll need to wash your hands before you play it,” she said.
Music
Bless Their Hearts (And Their Caps Lock)
Sean answers his mail, more graciously than should be expected.
A Grand Ole Night
I’m backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, in my dressing room. Tuning my guitar. They tell me Dolly Parton used this dressing room once. What sacred visions this mirror must have seen. My cups runneth over.
The Righteous Hunter: Because Protecting Children Is a Holy Calling
America has officially reached the point where a country singer has to remind a billionaire music mogul that he does not, in fact, own the souls of America’s children.
Christmas With The Guys
Tonight, I am playing with Three On a String for our annual Christmas tour. We will perform four times throughout the state of Alabama, singing Christmas songs, telling stories, and presenting our show to admiring crowds of dozens. Next week is Albertville. The week after that is—I don’t remember.
A Musical Christmas
George wanted to be a musician. He was born to a working-class family. His mom was the daughter of a minister. His dad was a barber. His mom supported her son’s passion, but his dad was deadset against it.
The creepy songs of our youth
While today’s kids twerk to songs featuring men calling women bitches and ho’s and stuffy to nasty to post here, we baby boomers smugly tune in the oldies stations to listen to the wholesome, romantic songs of our youth.
Open Letter to the NFL Owners: Give Boomers the Super Bowl Halftime Show We Deserve
We want an American rock band that’s still performing. No more overproduced, auto-tuned pop acts. No more weird choreographed nonsense with people dressed as futuristic space demons. Just pure, unfiltered rock ‘n’ roll.
Attention Deficit Device
I am playing the fiddle near the swimming pool at my hotel in Dothan. I always play in the mornings. Routine. I’ve been on the road for 14 days, playing music and performing my one-man spasm in different states.