Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 21 January 2026

NEWS

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jim McBride died January 6 at age 78, reports Country Insider. Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, he got his first guitar at 21; some of his earliest songs were performed on Hee Haw. His first hit song was Conway Twitty’s “A Bridge That Just Won’t Burn,” followed by # 1s with Johnny Lee’s “Bet Your Heart On Me” and Waylon Jennings’s “Rose in Paradise.” Johnny Cash, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Randy Travis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Toby Keith, and Dwight Yoakam also recorded his songs. He and Alan Jackson co-wrote four of Alan’s No. 1 singles: “Chattahoochee,” “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” “Someday,” and “(Who Says) You Can’t Have It All.” He served as president of Nashville Songwriters Association International and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1995. I didn’t find a cause of death.

Classic Country Music reports Crystal Gayle canceled a show in Belfast, Ireland, because she tore the meniscus in her knee and couldn’t travel overseas. She’d been scheduled to perform January 13 during the FOLK IN FUSION: Nashville to Belfast opening concert at the Your Roots Are Showing conference. The event brings together dozens of performers from across the globe for nearly a week of activities in the Northern Irish capital. A press release on January 10, the day after her 75^th birthday, quoted Crystal as saying, “I was truly looking forward to coming to Belfast—singing a few songs, sharing some stories, and spending time with everyone.” She later told PEOPLE that she is consulting a handful of specialists to decide how best to manage her recovery and that “different doctors have different ideas of how to deal with it.” She says, “I can go and sit and sing, but it does put you in a different place mentally … it is harder to get around, but hopefully in the near future, it won’t be.”

Vince Gill recently released Brown’s Diner Bar, the third installment of his yearlong EP series, titled 50 Years from Home, a project that commemorates his 50-year career since leaving his Oklahoma hometown. Each EP cover showcases instruments from Vince’s personal collection. The first two installments were I Gave You Everything I Had in October and Secondhand Smoke in November. Each collection features six brand-new songs and one previous hit. “Young Again” delivers Vince’s message that aging is a journey to embrace. “I just love the sentiment in that song,” he says. “‘There’s still a fire but no desire to be young again.’ That feels right on time for me; I’m 68, and that mirror doesn’t lie. It’s not the kindest thing in the world, but I would never go back. I don’t think I would undo the mistakes I made, either, because you learn more from your mistakes than you do from your successes.” Country Now reports that Vince kicks off a summer tour on June 18 in Orlando, Florida. It ends with a six-night residency at the Ryman Auditorium in late July and early August.

Oklahoma State Senator Lisa Standridge from Norman has filed Senate Bill 1475 to name the bridge over Interstate 35 and Indian Hills Road in Norman the Toby Keith Memorial Bridge. KSWO-TV in Oklahoma City reports the bill would change the name to Toby Keith Memorial Interchange should a new bridge or interchange be built there. The bill seeks to authorize private citizens to contribute funds to create artwork on any new bridge or interchange on the potential Toby Keith Parkway. Toby died February 5, 2024, following a more than two-year battle with stomach cancer.

According to a report from PEOPLE, the divorce of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban was finalized January 6. Their co-parenting agreement reflects a shared commitment to their family. The court-approved settlement indicates they agreed to forgo any child or spousal support and will both handle their own legal costs. Their daughters Faith, 15, and Sunday, 17, will live primarily with their mother, who will have them for 306 days of the year. Keith will spend 59 days with them, including every other weekend. Both parents intend to equally share the important decisions affecting their daughters’ lives.

An update on the Neal McCoy story in my latest newsletter comes from Country Now. At 7 a.m. on January 7, Neal stood on the White House North Lawn and announced, “Today is a big milestone for me and for all the followers that tune in each day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with me. I am honored to be in the nation’s capital and especially the White House. It is such a historical building and one of the most worldly known buildings, so to be welcomed inside the gates and to honor our flag and America here is really something.” He thanked everyone who has joined him on his ten-year journey and admitted there were days he might have slept in if he didn’t have the videos to hold him accountable. With their support he has upheld this ritual every day. “It’s just something I’m extremely proud of,” he said.

Dolly Parton celebrated her 80th birthday on Monday, January 19, two days after being honored by the Grand Ole Opry. She sent a video message that said, “Well, hey there, Grand Ole Opry family. I just wanted to say how much it means to me that you’re all coming together again this year to celebrate my big ol’ birthday with some of my songs.” She told her fans to “have the best night ever.” According to PEOPLE, the Grand Ole Opry party included birthday cupcakes, a “larger-than-life birthday card for fans to sign,” photo ops with a Parton impersonator, “Dolly-themed drinks” and tributes. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee proclaimed Dolly Parton Day to be officially observed on January 19. The proclamation highlighted her professional and philanthropic accomplishments and how she’s affected the lives of Tennesseans. Governor Lee’s tribute honored “her lifetime of achievement, service, and positive impact” on her 80th birthday.

As a recent guest on the Big D and Bubba radio show, Tracy Lawrence talked about being robbed and shot in downtown Nashville in 1991. He had just finished the vocals for his debut album, Sticks and Stones, and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was a totally random shooting. “I got shot through the joint of my left knee, and so I had it scoped three times and ended up having to have a total replacement in 2016,” he says. As he gets older, he has ankle problems and hip problems. It also affects his mental health, even 35 years later. “I never really got help until much later on in life, and it caused me a lot of problems in my relationships,” he explains. “It gave me a real bad attitude for a while because I survived something that I didn’t know if I should have. It gave me some mental problems.” He offers this advice: “Anytime you go through something traumatic like that, my best advice is to go get help, talk to somebody because the longer you push that stuff down, the more difficult it is.”

As part of NASCAR’s 2026 Daytona 500 festivities, Miranda Lambert will perform at the pre-race concert on February 15. NASCAR kicks off every season with the Daytona 500 in Daytona, Florida. This will be its 68th year.

The Rock the Country Tour will be coming to Sioux Falls for its second year, as one of eight cities in 2026. Celebrating America’s 250th birthday, the tour begins in Texas in May and ends in New York in September. According to Taste of Country, these two-day events are built around massive rotating lineups and a renewed focus on small-town America. Kid Rock, Treaty Oak Revival, and Brantley Gilbert will be headliners in Sioux Falls on June 27-28. “Rock The Country was built to honor the communities that don’t always get the spotlight, but show up with heart every single time,” says the promoter.

Sarah Trahern, Chief Executive Officer of the Country Music Association, sent an email to all CMA members (more than 7,000) to say she is retiring at the end of 2026. She has led the CMA since 2014. CMA’s Board of Directors has formed a search committee and hired an executive to identify her successor. The 60th anniversary of the CMA Awards will occur in November.Country Now reports that Wynonna Judd posted a photo on social media to commemorate her mother, Naomi Judd, on what would have been her 80th birthday. Naomi died at age 76 in 2022. Her daughters announced her death in a social media statement: “Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness.” Naomi took her life one day before The Judds were officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Wynonna and her sister Ashley accepted the award. “I didn’t prepare anything tonight because I knew Mom would probably talk the most,” Wynonna said.

InsureAndGo, a company that sells travel insurance, has created an Authenticity Index that ranks popular cities where visitors are most likely to feel they’ve had a genuine experience, reports Whiskey Riff. Nashville received an authenticity score of 3.8 out of 100. It ranks No. 4 on the list of the world’s Top 15 Tourist Trap Cities, following Chicago, Venice, and Las Vegas. (Seven U.S. cities made that list, while none were on the list of the world’s top 20 most authentic cities.) The report stated, “The famous Broadway strip has lost a bit of its shine the more it curates for visitors. Branded bars and polished venues overshadow the more organic local music scene, contributing to its lower authenticity score according to those who’ve been there.” Nashville had 16.9 million visitors in 2024. The city’s astronomical growth has resulted in Davidson County property values rising over 40%. That increases property taxes, forcing smaller “authentic” bars and restaurants on Broadway and elsewhere to pay taxes they can’t afford. As they close down or move out, only the big corporations can afford to locate downtown.

Clay Walker begins his 2026 headlining Doin’ What I Love Tour on January 23 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It ends August 15 at Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, Iowa (next door to Sioux Falls.) Tickets are available at claywalker.com. His songs include “If I Could Make A Living” and “She Won’t Be Lonely Long.” In 1996, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). He has since established the Clay Walker Foundation to support those affected by the disease, and he hosts the annual Clay Walker Charity Classic at Pebble Beach to raise funds and awareness.

The Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Lower Broadway in Nashville is closed again. Saving Country Music reports all gigs were canceled the afternoon of January 15 when musicians received a text message that said the record shop “is undergoing a switch in management groups, and during this transition we will be closed effective today. We are sorry for the last-minute notice.” The newly renovated location had opened October 13, after having been closed since the spring of 2022. The record shop moved to the second floor, with front and back stages on the first floor, as well as food service. A grand reopening was held November 13, with Marty Stuart, Vince Gill, and Wynonna as some of the performers. There is no confirmation of who the new management is or what the future holds for the historic business at 417 Broadway.

My Google alert for Faron Young send me to a Sunday World (Ireland) article about Brendan Quinn, “one of the legends of Irish coun­try music.” A nat­ive of Magherafelt, he now lives on the Fanad pen­in­sula in Donegal. More than fifty years ago, he was sitting in a pub when a record shop owner came in. “He was a big coun­try fan and a big fan of mine,” Brendan recalls. “I was young, I was new to the scene, and he liked my voice. He said, ‘I have a great song for you, it’s num­ber one in Amer­ica for a guy called Faron Young.’ So I recor­ded it and it became a num­ber one hit for me and changed my life.” He went on to have a string of hits that included “Bandy the Rodeo Clown,” “Daddy’s Little Girl,” and “Angeline Would You Like to Dance Again.” In 1975, he started his own band, The Blue­birds, named after a Dat­sun Blue­bird car he was driv­ing at the time. Now 79, Brendan lives by the motto of one of his movie idols, Clint East­wood. He remembers hear­ing about Toby Keith asking Clint how he remained driven to make movies at his age, and Clint said, “I just wake up every morn­ing and I go out­side. And I don’t let the old man in.” Toby wrote and released the song “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” Brendan’s upcom­ing shows with his six-piece band include Strule Arts Centre in Omagh on Feb­ru­ary 7 and Burnavon Theatre in Cook­stown on March 7.

LETTERS

Brittany Allyn writes from Nashville, “I caught up with my friend and co-writer Bobby Fischer the other day. Our conversation led to many things, one of them being your newsletter. He shared your December 24^th edition. I enjoyed it very much. Please add me to your email list for future newsletters. I’ve written with Bobby and Freddy Weller quite a bit – both great talents and creative minds. It was Austin Roberts – another amazing writer and my first publisher – who introduced us. Though I enjoyed writing, I found most of my success as a background vocalist, touring and singing on recordings for Lorrie Morgan and touring with Toby Keith and George Jones. When not on tour, I worked as a demo singer and doing background vocalist sessions in Nashville studios. Being from South Dakota, I have a feeling you may know my father-in-law, Sherwin Linton. I was in Sherwin’s band while still in high school and moved to Nashville in 1989. Sherwin was among the first to recognize my passion for music. Congratulations on your successful newsletter and books.”

Diane: Yes, I know Sherwin. And I know both Sherwin and Bobby will be thrilled to read your letter here. 

Charley Hill asks, “Can you sign me up for the newsletter? Lloyd Green turned me on to your newsletter. As a former Navy Master-at-Arms, I enjoy conversations with prior Navy. I’m at Clemson University. 62 and still learning. Go Navy.”

Diane: Welcome, Chief. Best wishes on getting that degree.

Donald Ewert says, “I just got done reading your book on Randy Travis. I had asked Central Library in Milwaukee to order it. I understand they ordered for a couple for other libraries in the city. I’m glad you honored Randy with a book that explains his ups & downs of his life. My favorite Randy Travis songs are ‘I Told You So,’ ‘Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart,’ ‘Better Class of Losers,’ and ‘Deeper Than the Holler.’ I saw Randy in Milwaukee at Summerfest (world’s largest music festival) when he was just starting out and knew he would be a big star in country music.”

Bob Jennings writes, “I remembered Lem Hawkins while reading Ron Wood and your additions on him (Lem Hawkins). I would spend my summers on my uncle’s farm in Northern Minnesota between Karlstad and Green Bush learning the Hardships and Rewards of Farm Life. I’d listen to Lem Hawkins radio show on KFGO Fargo when I’d come back from the field to fix lunch for my two uncles–I remember Lem had a Lucky Bucks contest or something like that when he’d read a serial number from a one dollar bill and if you had it, you won something–I don’t remember what the prize was. This was in 1950s–’53/’54–1954 being my last summer there since I graduated high school in 1955 and started working. I’m trying to remember and I think he played for dances in the area around there–If my memory is correct, he played A Gibson 4-string Guitar–I think they were called a Tenor guitar. I went to a couple of his Dances–he’d pack ’em in. I brought my Gibson L50 the last year I stayed on my uncle’s farm. My uncle let me drive his 1946 Plymouth to Thief River Falls and I auditioned to go on KTRF Radio Station on the Farmers Union Hour–I got to know the disc jockey well and he put me on at least two times–the last time, I got to sing several songs of the day. I remember singing ‘Sparkling Brown Eyes’ in G–WOW! It was high but I got the yodel in OK. I never got discovered but wound up in a rewarding career in the Department of Defense for the Army and Navy. Maybe some of our readers will remember more about Lem Hawkins. I think his sponsor was Wonder Bread and he would say something about Wonder Bread, but I can’t remember what it was. Lem Hawkins had another sponsor, and he would sing the commercial–with no musical accompaniment or guitar rhythm—’There’s a Car for You and a Truck there too, at W. W, Walwork–and the price is fair and you’re welcome there–at W.W Walwork.’”

Mike Johnson says, “Thanks for another informative issue. Interesting that you mentioned Stu Phillips because just a day or two ago my friend Dave of Hillbilly Music was telling me how he was wrapping up some last-minute info on him for inclusion on the website. A lot of weight was lifted when I finally addressed Terry Smith’s passing in the December 2025 Top-Rail News Flash issue. If anyone wants a copy of that issue they can email me at bl***********@*ol.com. Was contacted by Terry L. Campbell, son of June Campbell, about me possibly singing a duet with his late mom in a play they’re producing. Told ’em I’d have to mull that over and needed more info on how they planned to do that. Anyway, thanks for connecting us.”

Dominique ‘Imperial’ Anglares writes from France, “Thank you very much for that Country Music Newsletter. A nice way to start that new year. My friend Hayden Thompson, born March 5, 1938, in Booneville, Mississippi, has passed on December 31, 2025. Hayden was a gifted singer and a real cool great-looking cat who deserved better recognition in the ‘50s. In the great days of rock-a-billy, Hayden shared the stage with Jim Ed and Maxine Brown, Lloyd Arnold, Eddie Bond, Warren Smith, and Slim Rhodes, to name a few. Sam Phillips, Sun records owner, who sometime made some strange choices, held his bright rockin’ side ‘Love My Baby’ for too long before editing it on Phillips International 3517 in November 1957 and never put real force behind him. In my opinion, The Barbat Brothers and Henri Ferrero did more to give him his share of glory when they put out the Sun 605 (1976) and Sun 623 (1978). These unissued sides became quickly hot favorites in the European rockabilly circles. ‘Fairlane Rock’ is a real killer that stands among the best rockabilly tunes cut in Memphis. We’re lucky to have been able to see Hayden onstage in Europe and to have met him face to face. A real gentleman. He will be missed and remembered. Sincere condolences are sent to his family and friends. I’m gonna dress myself up and ride in style tonight.”

Marty and Kate Davis say, “Oh my gosh, Diane. This was a really full newsletter! Thank you again for all you do to keep us updated. Happy 2026 to you!”

Nelda Buchanan reports, “I recently heard from a high school classmate that Claude King’s son Jay King died. I graduated high school with him in Shreveport in 1972. I had kind of a crush on him, he was cute.”

Diane: Thanks for sending me his obituary. It says: “Jerome ‘Jay’ King, affectionately known as ‘Jay Bird,’ passed away on December 3, 2024, at the age of 70.” His father, Claude, died March 7, 2013, at age 90, in Shreveport after a lengthy illness. Jerome Jay King was the youngest of Claude’s three sons.

Nelda Buchanan also sends this correction, “Randy’s More Life tour started in 2005? You said “Randy’s 2005 More Life Tour included more than 50 shows …”

Diane: Oops, that computer gremlin again. It changes what I’ve written. That’s the only explanation I have.

Bobby Fischer says, “Can’t believe I forgot I had this song cut years ago by Crash Craddock. Great story song I wrote with Christopher Blake: ‘I Love To Do What I Love To.’ It shows up on his site along with many. Hope you like it.”

Shelley Reid writes, “I’m enjoying your newsletters. Wanted to let you know, the western movie I wrote the original screenplay for, LONG SHADOWS, is now available on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango. We’ve had a few great critic reviews, but most critics hated it. However, we have an 87% ‘Fresh’ audience score on Rotten Tomatoes! I hope you’ll give it a watch.”

COUNTRY MUSIC DISC JOCKEY HALL OF FAME – 1989 and 1990

1989
Walter Ralph Emery, born in McEwen, Tennessee, in 1933, began his radio career in 1951 when he graduated from high school. His career break came in 1957 when he joined WSM Radio at age 24 to host Opry Star Spotlight, an all-night show that brought many of country’s biggest stars to make impromptu appearances. He became a Grand Ole Opry announcer in 1961. The Ralph Emery Show was an early morning program on WSMV-TV (1972-1991) that featured a live band and numerous guests. Ralph hosted the nationally syndicated weekly TV series Pop Goes the Country (1974-1980) and the prime-time TNN weeknight show, Nashville Now (1983-1993). Ralph was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2010. He died at age 88 in 2022, at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, after a brief illness. Ralph encouraged me to write Faron Young’s biography—when I knew nothing about writing biographies—and gave me tapes of his radio shows with Faron. He later provided tapes from his Marty Robbins radio shows. Those two sets of recordings brought Faron and Marty to life in the books, through their many quotes.

Washington D.C.-based Don Owens was born in1930 and began his radio career at age 14. In 1954, he joined WARL Arlington, Virginia, where he became acquainted with fellow employee Connie B. Gay, whom he later replaced as the go-to local impresario. He managed such District of Columbia acts as Roy Clark and Patsy Cline. On an early Sunday morning on April 21, 1963, he died when his automobile crashed into a tree. He was 32 years old. 

1990
Tom “Cat” Reeder, born James Thomas Reeder in 1934 in Blue Springs, Alabama, joined the Air Force and was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, outside Washington DC. When discharged, he went to work at WARL in Arlington, Virginia and became good friends with Don Owens who was known as “Mr. Country Music” in the Washington, Virginia, Maryland area until killed in a car accident. The crown was then passed to Tom Reeder. Since 1964, he closed his show with a line from the song called “Tomcattin,” written by Tom Brumley and recorded for Reeder by Buck Owens: “May the good Lord take a liking to you; May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live. Bye-bye darlin’.” He had his own record (Kash) and publishing company (Tom-Kat Music) and managed several country music artists in Nashville. He was a radio personality in the Washington DC area for 50 years at several stations including WARL in Arlington VA, WKCW in Warrenton VA, WDON in Wheaton MD, and a bluegrass overnight show on WAMU Washington DC. He died in 2012 at the age of 77.

Texas Bill Strength made the transition as one of country radio’s first important dee jays when live music on the radio was replaced by records. Born in 1928, he started at KTHKT Houston TX in 1944 and moved to KSOO Sioux Falls SD. By 1951 he had a daily disc jockey show on KTAL Houston TX. Strength appeared on KWKH’s Louisiana Hayride and five times on the Grand Ole Opry with his friend Ernest Tubb (during the time he was recording for Capitol). He worked at WAGA-TV Atlanta and KWEM Memphis, before moving to KFOX Long Beach CA in 1958 and KTCR Minneapolis MN in 1962. He died October 1, 1973, at age 45, from injuries received in a car accident two months earlier while on a promotional tour.