Archive for November, 2015

Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 18 November 2015

Wednesday, November 18th, 2015

NEWS
Tommy Overstreet (1937-2015)
Tommy Overstreet, 78, died November 2 at home in Hillsboro, Oregon, of complications related to emphysema. His wife, Diane, said he suffered from heart and lung disease. Born in Oklahoma City and raised in Texas, he moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. His biggest hits were “Ann (Don’t Go Runnin),” “Heaven is My Woman’s Love,” and “(Jeannie Marie) You Were a Lady.” He was an Army veteran and avid fundraiser and volunteer. Diane told The Oregonian her husband’s death was peaceful. She said he spoke with family and friends earlier in the day, ate soup for dinner, laid his head down to sleep, and died. Tommy was one of my first featured artists.
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Diane’s Country Music Newsletter – 4 November 2015

Wednesday, November 4th, 2015

FEATURED ARTIST – JAN HOWARD 
“If it sounds like fun, I’ll do it. If it doesn’t, I won’t.” That is the philosophy of Jan Howard, 83, who lives contentedly in her Nashville condo. “I’m thankful for every morning I wake up,” she told me when I called her the other day. “I’ve lost so many friends. I cherish every day.” She still appears on the Grand Ole Opry, about twice a month, and she’ll be back to playing golf once her sprained wrist heals. She twisted it while positioning an ill relative in her tiny sports car.

Jan’s current focus is on her writing. She has a collection of poetry, short stories, personal memories, and three unfinished novels. “I write all the time and don’t do anything with it,” she says. “I want to put it together in a project.” She doesn’t know what form this “work in progress” will take, except that it will be “a collage of my life.” It’s been almost thirty years since her autobiography, Sunshine and Shadow: My Story, so I’d say it’s time for another book. (more…)