Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 17 September 2025
REMEMBERING MARTY ROBBINS
Martin David Robinson was born at 9:55 PM on Saturday, September 26, 1925, five minutes before his twin sister, Mamie Ellen. They joined the family of Jack and Emma Robinson and five children. The Robinson family lived a nomadic existence. Jack’s attempts to provide for his growing family were hampered by his alcoholism, his temper, and his thievery. His skills were carpentry, mechanics, and smooth talk. Emma’s relatives often found jobs for him or offered his family a place to stay. But he would get in an argument or steal something, and the family would have to move again. The birthplace of Martin and Mamie was a typical Robinson home. Jack had dismantled an empty house in the desert and hauled the pieces in his old pickup to an unclaimed spot of desert land near a bridge along the main road, then called Lateral 18 and later renamed 59th Avenue. Emma and son Pat helped him build one main room that served as the parents’ bedroom and the dining room. They added a smaller adjoining room for the children’s bedroom and a lean-to for the kitchen.
With his father’s charm and his mother’s work ethic and integrity, that little boy grew up to be Marty Robbins. He was a drifter, in the sense of always searching for something and never finding it. That “something” was security. His drifter mentality kept him aloof, searching for acceptance and approval but never getting too close to or trustful of others. He was always the little boy wandering the desert, longing for a stable home and a father who loved him. We can hear the drifter singing and searching in the timeless songs of Marty Robbins. We remember Marty on the upcoming 100th anniversary of his birth.
NEWS
Steel guitar legend Robby Turner, 63, died September 4. He grew up in a musical family. His father played steel guitar and his mother played rhythm guitar. According to American Songwriter: “His parents, Doyle and Bernice Turner, played in Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys band from 1946 to 1948. Robby was born in 1962. At age 6, he was playing drums in his father’s band. By 9, he was playing with the Wilburn brothers. The next year, he learned how to play the pedal steel guitar. When he was 12, Shot Jackson of the Sho-Bud steel guitar company sponsored him by giving him his own rig. He was the youngest musician ever selected to endorse and represent the band.” In his career, he played, recorded, and toured with a number of artists. In 1989, he recorded and toured with The Highwaymen (Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson). In 2003, he traveled with the Dixie Chicks on their “Top of the World” tour.
One of my favorite movie actors has died. And he starred in one of my favorite movies: Robert Redford in The Electric Horseman. The Santa Monica, California, native, born in 1936, is perhaps best known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men. He died September 16 at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah. He was 89 years old. In The Electric Horseman, he starred as former championship rodeo rider Sonny Steele, who rescues a thoroughbred racehorse that has been injured and drugged. Jane Fonda plays a TV news reporter who follows him to get his exclusive story. Willie Nelson played a cowboy friend of Steele’s. His famous songs from the soundtrack are “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” “Midnight Rider,” “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “So You Think You’re a Cowboy,” and “Hands on the Wheel.” Director Sydney Pollack was so impressed with Willie Nelson that he produced Willie’s first starring vehicle, Honeysuckle Rose.
“I actually recorded the opening song for my television series Walker, Texas Ranger,” Chuck Norris, 85, recently told US Weekly. “I wanted Randy Travis to sing the theme song, ‘The Eyes of a Ranger,’ but CBS insisted that I had to sing it.” Following his recording, he explains, “CBS was so excited that they booked me at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, Texas, on New Year’s Eve to perform it live. There is an old saying that every singer wants to act and every actor wants to sing. Famous last words, because I’ve never been so nervous in my life.”
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced the late JJ Cale to be inducted in its Legacy category during the 55th Anniversary gala at Nashville’s Music City Center on October 6. According to MusicRow, the Legacy category is designed to honor Hall of Fame-worthy candidates who are deceased. The previously announced members of the Class of 2025 are Steve Bogard, Don Cook, Emmylou Harris, Jim Lauderdale, Tony Martin, and Brad Paisley. These seven new electees will join the 247 existing members of the Hall. Oklahoma native JJ Cale moved to Nashville in 1959 and first worked as a guitarist with touring Grand Ole Opry troupes. In 1970, he recorded his debut album; two years later, he built his own studio in Nashville. As an artist, he released 16 albums. Eric Clapton had international hits of Cale’s “After Midnight” and “Cocaine.” JJ Cale (John Weldon Cale) died from a heart attack at age 74 in San Diego, California, in 2013.
A Charley Pride album recorded in the mid-1980s, Endlessly: A Tribute to Brook Benton, is finally being released. According to the Dallas Morning News, when Charley recorded the 10-song album of Benton songs, the timing to release it was wrong. While he was recording the album, Glen Campbell hit the top ten with “It’s Just a Matter of Time.” Four years later, Randy Travis’s version went to No. 1. Charlie released “It’s Just a Matter of Time” as a B-side in 1992 but did not release the album because of the abundance of Benton tributes at the time. Charley died of complications from COVID-19 in 2020. The new album will be released later this month.
Phil Sperbeck, 90, of Lecompte, Louisiana, died July 18 in his residence with his wife, Cynthia, and his family by his side. Phil was a renowned musician who played with Bob Wills for three years and performed alongside famous artists across the country. His greatest musical passion was the pedal steel guitar, which he fell in love with at age fifteen.
As part of its 100th year celebration, the Grand Ole Opry will headline its first-ever live international broadcast from London’s Royal Albert Hall, reports MusicRow. WSM Radio will broadcast the September 26 performance in its entirety. The show will be co-hosted by BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay and WSM Radio host Kelly Sutton. Opry members Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, and Marty Stuart will perform. Special UK guest artists will be Mumford & Sons and Breabach.
The Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Lower Broadway in Nashville recently posted on Facebook: “Neon’s on. Doors coming soon. The Record Shop lives!” ET’s grandson Ernest Dale Tubb III is one of the owners. He’d told me in January that the target date for opening was August 1 “but always chance of delay.” No opening date has been announced.
The Country Music Association has announced nominees for the 59th annual CMA Awards, which will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 19. According to MusicRow, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen are nominated for Entertainer of the Year. Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson have six nominations each, Zach Top has five, and Riley Green and Cody Johnson have four each.
Reba McEntire, 70, and Rex Linn, 68, are officially engaged to be married, confirms PEOPLE. When an E! News correspondent referred to Rex as Reba’s fiancé while interviewing them on the Emmy Awards red carpet on Sunday, Reba concurred. They first met in the 1990s but didn’t begin dating until they reconnected in 2020, after the death of her mother. Reba was previously married to Charlie Battles from 1976-1987 and to Narvel Blackstock from 1989-2015. About Rex, Reba said last year, “He’s never been married before. So, if he wants to experience that, I’m OK with that.”
Three albums from The Charlie Daniels Band are now available digitally for the first time, reports MusicRow. Country Stars N’ Stripes (originally released in 2005 as a Cracker Barrel exclusive), Scioto County Fair LIVE 2005 (recorded live in August in Lucasville, Ohio) and Live From Gilley’s (recorded earlier in Charlie’s career) have been released by Blue Hat Records.
LETTERS
Steve Dorff writes from Nashville, “Thank you for the wonderful write up. Really appreciate you including it in your newsletter.”
Gary Busselman in Sioux Falls says, “I noticed I didn’t get the September Newsletter by e-mail. I just want you to know I enjoy reading it. If my e-mail is not on the list, please add it. We are trying to listen to some younger artists and sort out those closest to our traditional tastes. Many of our favorites come from Texas. Brady Texas is a hot spot right now.”
Mary Mitchell says, “Wow, what a newsletter. Always great. Some time you mentioned that I had a large amount of Country CDs I was giving away as they were made from the many LPs I converted. One of your Fans-Don’t remember his full name, seems it was Glenn. I sent him a box and he was so happy. In fact, we actually had phone conversations. You mentioned he had passed away. I am wondering if you would like to mention in your Newsletter that I have some available. My sons are not into Country Music and I hate to just throw them in the trash. I also have some original CDs I purchased and am going to a used Record Store and see if they are interested. If I get $2 for each. I would be happy. Also, I have 250 LPs to sell. Thanks for reading. So sad about J Seely. My email address is tr********@*ol.com.”
Brenda Thomas writes from the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, “You were previously sending your Music Newsletter to our former Print and Reference Collection, Archivist, Kathleen Campbell. We would love to continue receiving it, but could you update the contact information to me?”
Diane: I didn’t know Kathleen was “former.” She was of great assistance during my visits. Welcome, Brenda; I’ll add your address.
Bobby Fischer says, “Thanks for posting Margo Price’s grand ole opry 90th birthday wish to me. She’s such a good and talented niece. Your newsletter means a lot to a lot around the world. Fans wait to read it to keep up with the happenings. You’re a doll.”
Nobuhiko Ogino checks in from Kobe, Japan, “Thank you, Diane!! I always enjoy your blog.”
Ronald St Pierre says, “I’d like to sign up for your newsletter.”
Diane Jordan writes from Nashville, “Thank you so much for including Pat’s photo and death information in your newsletter. I forwarded it to her husband, Mike, and he was pleased to have her remembered.”
Eric Calhoun in Los Angeles says, “Happy Birthday to Shania Twain. I met her, almost 10 years ago, in Beverly Hills, California, at the Beverly Center. She was so interested in the fact that I visited Toronto. This news was passed to me on LeAnne Rimes: She will have a new Greatest Hits Christmas album, slated to be out this November. I’m hoping to buy it; I bought the You Light Up My Life album, K-Frog gave me the Blue album.”
James Akenson writes, “I always learn from your newsletter. Sunny, but cooler than normal here in Middle Tennessee. Fall semester is up and running. Have a grand Wednesday!”
Bill Blough says, “Just a short note to let you know I’m still out here and enjoying each report. I think they’re getting better (if that’s possible). I’ll be 92 in a couple of weeks. Slowing down but still getting along on my own (with 2 cats).”
Jackie Allen Thomas writes from Arizona, “Love your newsletter. Some uplifting news, some sad news but always enlightening. So glad to see Ray Stevens and Vince Gill were inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022. I thought they would have been inducted many years ago as they were surely well deserving of that honor. Thanks again for all the work you do to keep us informed.”
Diane: This was the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2022. Vince has been in the Country Music Hall of Fame since 2007 and Ray since 2019.
