OPRY LEGEND

PASSES AT AGE 80

By Ron Keessar

            Fans of country music all over the world are mourning the loss of one of the greatest country music legends to have ever graced the Grand Ole Opry stage. Porter Wagoner passed away Sunday, October 28th at Alive Hospice care in Nashville of lung cancer.

He was 80.

The superstar had enjoyed a remarkable 53 years in the business with many career accolades that included joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1957, starring in his own weekly syndicated television program that ran an impressive 2 decades. The beloved entertainer was also responsible for spawning the exciting career of a then young 20 year old named, Dolly Parton. Together, Porter & Dolly went on to enjoy 7 hit filled years as a recording duet team which won them multiple awards and 14 top ten hits.

Wagoner will be forever remembered for his thin lanky frame and tall blonde pompadoured hairstyle, but most of all it was his wise cracking jokes & gut busting, knee slapping laughter that brought out his loveable infectious smile. He was arguably the king of the rhinestone nudie suits (rumored to have owned over 60) and would constantly mug for photographs on stage from willing fans and surprising them by pulling open his flashy trademark jackets that greeted them with the sparkle studded ‘HI’ stitched inside.

              Porter was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of fame in 2002 and made a comeback this past June with a new project that was produced by Nashville singer/songwriter Marty Stuart titled, ‘Wagonmaster’. The recording has earned Wagoner some of the best reviews of his career which also brought on a whole new legion of fans. He last performed at the opry September 29^th, a stage he held as hallowed ground for so many years.

             The musical icon has earned and paid a huge debt to country music with classic story telling gems he either wrote or co-wrote such as, ‘Misery Loves Company’, ‘Sorrow On The Rocks’, ‘ Skid Row Joe’, ‘Company’s Comin’ ‘Ole Slew Foot’ and ‘The Carroll County Accident’. But, one of his greatest hits that come to mind and possibly one of the best written weepers to have ever been recorded in the history of music is the heart tugging classic, ‘Green Green Grass Of Home’. I am sure this memorable tune found that special place within the hearts of country music fans overtime.

            As we say goodbye to this purest of traditionalist, we must realize that our country music heritage is fast coming to an end and it won’t be long before all we have is the memories of the legendary past. For our upcoming rising stars, learn from this legacy and from all that have gone before them. Respect and loyalty to their craft was never compromised, but built upon with many sustaining 4 to 5 decades within the industry.

            Funeral services for the late Porter Wagoner will be held November 1^st at 11: am in the Nashville Grand Ole Opry House with interment following at the Wood Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday October 31^st 2-8 pm at Wood Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral and visitation is open to the general public.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Alive Hospice or the Opry trust fund.

The McGraws could possibly be

considered the king and queen of

country music today, the June and

Johnny of our generation.  But wherever

we find fame and notoriety, gossip

and criticism are lurking close behind.

This country music love story has been

followed by just about every country

music fan in the United States, including

a wedding in October of 1996.  

Some may still remember a very

smitten McGraw leaping

from his front row seat, at the end

of a country music award show in the 90s,

and running up on stage to embrace his

future bride after her performance.

Since then, McGraw has delivered

hit after hit, ruling the Billboard country

charts for the past decade.  Tim and

Faith started a family and began

touring together.  Over the course

of their marriage and successful

careers, Faith has been criticized at

just about every turn.  There was the

Carrie Underwood CMA Win in 2006,

which landed Faith in the hot seat

for her reaction on camera.  Then more

recently Hill made headlines again

for reprimanding a fan on stage after

a very "out-of-line" female concert-goer

got a little touchy with her husband,

grabbing McGraw's crotch during a

meet and greet in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Now come on folks, what one of you wives

wouldn't be ticked off at that?  Most

anyone in her shoes would have reacted

exactly the same way.  In fact, some might

even have to admit that Hill showed more

restraint than they would have in her situation.

Well, whether you are a lover or a

hater, a Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, or

"Faith and Tim" fan, one thing

is for sure.  They've accomplished

something many couples couldn't;

successful careers, fame, fortune,

family, and they've survived the media!

Editorial By: Sherrod Travis

" I Need You "

 Get Ready For a

Tim McGraw Cologne !

Several news publications

including "The Scented Life"

are reporting that Coty Inc.

is coming out with a new

fragrance personally inspired

by McGraw himself.

performing “Firecracker”

New Country Star

Writer and Graphic

Artist Awarded

Meet Sarah Goodman Laughter

and see why

Being Clay Walker's

Biggest Fan

Pays Off !

Sarah Goodman Laughter was

Named Clay Walker's Biggest Fan

By New Country Star

Hi, I am the mom of, I believe CLAY WALKERS biggest fan. Her name is Sarah Goodman Laughter.

It all started in 1993, Sarah's brother Jon came home from work and burst through the door asking where Sarah was.   He got her and ran out to his truck just in time for the start of "What's it to you".  Sarah was 11 yrs old at the time.  Sight unseen she was already his fan.  Any casette, picture, magazine.....she had to have it.

The first concert though, would not be until 1996, she went with a friend. The following
year we were very short on money but we knew we had to let Sarah go see CLAY since this was all she wanted for her 14th birthday. I went and talked to security about walking her to her seat, (middle 3rd row) and keeping an eye on her , and then walking her back out to me. The next year at the Woodlands Pavillion she convinced me to go with her
by telling me, "he sings ELVIS as his encore!"   I went,  and now The whole
family goes to many shows either together, or not. We have a family of CLAY fams!   We've been to over 37 shows since and plan to make many more, GOD willing.

Sarah's bedroom walls started out with one corner of one wall CLAY.   When Sarah left home for University, she was cleaning her room out so we could use it as a guest room, (by this time she had all 4 walls covered with CLAY), anyway, I went to check on her
because I thought it was awfully quiet in there.   I knocked on her door and then opened it to find her crying on her bed with CLAY stuff all around her.   I asked what was wrong and she said,  "This is me and
most of my life and  all of my CLAY won't be able to come to the dorm with me."   I said just put it back up and this will still be your room until your ready.  Friends and family will just have to sleep with CLAY if they stay overnight.  And so, Sarah started dating Chad Laughter in 2001, although he knew he was 3rd on her list.  Clay concerts were #1,
events with her horse Apache #2, and then Chad.   But he was okay with that. When Chad asked Sarah to marry him he knew that he would have to share her with CLAY.  In fact, the day she was married 7-7-07, Sarah's room was still all CLAY WALKER.   I will attach pictures. Please choose Sarah for Clay Walkers Biggest Fam!!!   We are even in the CLAY WALKER fam clubs, and Sarah had her graphics man make vinyl stickers for her truck 4 years ago.   Even our personalized license tags are ALL4CW and 2CCLAY.