Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 24 June 2026
NEWS
This photo didn’t arrive in time to include it in my trip report about the BIO (Biographers International Organization) conference. So here I am, reading my three-minute excerpt of Randy Travis: Storms of Life on the stage of the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan.
WSM announcer Bill Cody, 67, died June 9 after being placed on life support for heart and kidney failure. The longtime Grand Ole Opry announcer and host of WSM Radio’s flagship morning program, Coffee, Country & Cody, was a native of Lebanon, Kentucky. He began his professional radio career in his hometown in 1971 and then joined WVLK in Lexington, Kentucky, six years later, at the age of 17. According to MusicRow, his boss at WVLK requested he drop his birth name, Trent Clutts, and he became Bill Cody in honor of his childhood hero “Buffalo Bill” Cody. After working at other stations, he moved to Nashville in 1994 and joined WSM Radio. His credits over the decades include numerous television and radio shows, as well as syndication, voice-over, and film. He was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2008. The Grand Ole Opry House hosted a public visitation and funeral service for Bill Cody on June 15.
When I reported in my last newsletter that the estranged children of David Allan Coe were not present at his burial, I didn’t mean to suggest they were all estranged or that none of them were present; I didn’t do the research. Here’s a photo at the gravesite, posted on Facebook by David’s daughter, Carla Coe, with the caption: “Me, Tanya, Shane, Shelli, Debra Ann, Josh, Tammy, Jax.”
The 44th Annual Sunday Mornin’ Country took place June 7, marking the end of the week of CMA Music Fest with a memorable lineup of Country and Gospel favorites. Cowboy Joe Babcock, the event’s co-founder, presented Charlie McCoy with the Candlelight Award for demonstrating Christian values in the music industry. Sunday Mornin’ Country is the longest-running Country/Gospel event during the music festival, according to a press release.
Co-founder of Arista Nashville and former president of Columbia Records Clive Davis, 94, died June 22 at his home in Manhattan, reports MusicRow. The Brooklyn, New York, native graduated from Harvard Law School in 1956 and rose from house lawyer at Columbia Records to president in 1967. He moved to Arista in 1974, where he would sign Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, among many others. In 1989, he and Tim DuBois founded Arista Nashville, with Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Pam Tillis, and Brad Paisley as some of their artists. Davis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, as a nonperformer. In 2002, he endowed the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, an undergraduate music industry program at N.Y.U.’s Tisch School of the Arts with a $5 million donation.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Kenny Chesney for the upcoming year with an exhibit, Kenny Chesney: Living in Fast Forward, that opens July 23. The wide range of artifacts will include his Gibbs High School football jersey and varsity jacket, as well as the Fender Concord acoustic guitar he played while attending East Tennessee State University and after moving to Nashville. Dean Dillon, Harlan Howard, and Porter Wagoner are a few of those who autographed the guitar.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has declared its support of this year’s NO FAKES (Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe) Act of 2026. “RIAA applauds the steadfast leadership of Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and US Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-1), Becca Balint (D-VT) and Laurel Lee (R-FL-15), alongside a growing number of bipartisan colleagues in both Houses of Congress driving the NO FAKES Act,” says RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier. MusicRow reports that Congressional offices can be reached here to support the bill (S. 4591/H.R.8915).
At the recent Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala in New York City, John Fogerty (a 2005 inductee) was given the organization’s highest honor. The Johnny Mercer Award recognizes a songwriter “whose body of work has had a profound and enduring impact on American music,” according to a press release. Previous Mercer Award recipients include Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Carole King, Dolly Parton, Stephen Sondheim, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, and Frank Sinatra.
Former General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry Robert “Bob” Fred Whittaker died June 5 at age 85, reports MusicRow. Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1941, he grew up in Baxter, Tennessee, and later returned there. He spent most of his career with Opryland USA before serving nine years at the Opry and retiring there. His family held a funeral service earlier this month.
Lee Greenwood will co-headline the Countdown 250 Ball on July 3 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., reports MusicRow. He will be joined by a host of performers, special guests, and tributes celebrating America’s history, heroes, achievements, and future. The celebration will culminate in the 1,000 Bells of Freedom midnight countdown. The evening will include presentation of All-American Hero Awards to Senator Elizabeth Dole, Captain Luis Avila, Claudia Avila, and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Deborah Snyder. All-American Icon Awards will be presented to Lee Greenwood; Tony Orlando, Bob Anderson, Jordan Burroughs, and Mike Moyer.
MusicRow reports that this year’s Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th will feature Brothers Osborne, Clint Black, Boyz II Men, Nick Jonas, and more. The expanded America 250 Celebration will cover two days and five stages and will feature more than thirty Nashville artists. A three-hour national TV special, Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash, will air live on July 4 from 7-10 p.m. and will include performances from Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, and Tim McGraw. The concert culminates with the largest fireworks and aerial drone light display in Nashville history. The show will feature 1,000 drones over the Cumberland River. The fireworks display will feature 12-inch shells that weigh more than 20 pounds and will soar 1,200 feet before bursting into a display more than 1,000 feet across.
The Grand Ole Opry celebrated Don Williams with an “Opry 100 Honors Don Williams” show, reports MusicRow. Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Rodney Crowell, The Isaacs, and Jamey Johnson were some of the performers. Don Williams became an Opry member 50 years ago, and Keith Urban included former band members John Gardner, Dave Pomeroy, Mike Noble, and Chris Nole in his band for performances of “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend,” “Love Me Over Again,” and “I Can’t Get To You From Here.”
Taylor Swift has made Billboard Country Airplay chart history with her latest release, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” reports Billboard. Written for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack, the song debuted at No. 8. This made her the first woman to debut in the Country Airplay top 10 since the chart originated in 1990. The only other song to do so was “More Than a Memory” by Garth Brooks in 2007; it debuted at No. 1. Taylor has had seven songs reach number one on Billboard Country Airplay in her career.
Country Now reports that Brad Paisley is urging his fans to sign a petition opposing the construction of a massive data center next to the Nashville Zoo. The petition has over 358,000 signatures. The Nashville Zoo has uncovered information suggesting the proposed data center will be much larger than initially revealed. A zoning appeal has been submitted to challenge and overturn the permits that were approved for the project. The Nashville Zoo is the 9th largest zoo in the United States by land area and is one of Tennessee’s top tourist destinations.
Vince Gill has released the eighth installment in his year-long EP series titled 50 Years From Home. According to MusicRow, this EP is titled A Mother’s Prayer and features seven songs. Vince says, “I like the theme of these songs, what they’re about. Where they came from. There are definitely some very personal ones on A Mother’s Prayer.”
Farm Aid will be in Virginia Beach this year, for the first time ever. Farm Aid 2026 will be held September 26 at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater. MusicRow reports the lineup as including Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Turnpike Troubadours, Lukas Nelson, Sierra Ferrell, and more. Willie says, “The challenges farmers face threaten their livelihoods and put all of us at risk. We’re bringing Farm Aid to Virginia to stand with the farmers and fishers who feed Hampton Roads and beyond – and to grow a food system that works for everyone.”
Steve Wariner will have 60 of his paintings showcased in a new solo exhibit, The Flip Side: Paintings by Steve Wariner, at the Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center in Hendersonville, Tennessee, reports MusicRow. The exhibit runs June 21-July 26 and will feature his works in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. “For me, painting has always been a kind of therapy,” Steve says. “I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I’ve been making music. They both go back to the beginning.”
LETTERS
Bobby Fischer writes from Nashville, “Sorry to hear Larry Shell passed. A great talent and person. Got to co-write with him and Dan Mitchell several times. He left the music world some treasures.”
Diane: I couldn’t find an obituary. He and Larry Cordle wrote “Murder on Music Row.” He also co-wrote “Rumor Has It” for Reba McEntire, “Mama Don’t Forget to Pray for Me” for Diamond Rio, and “It’s All Going to Pot” for Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard.
Jackie Allen Thomas writes from Arizona, “Another great newsletter. Thanks for the interesting post about your biography conference. And good for Terry Burford to be still bringing music to people at age 88.”
Terry Burford says, “Thanks for the mention in your newsletter. Always look forward to it.”
Dominique ‘Imperial’ Anglares writes from France, “Thank you very much for that cool newsletter and for the care given to my ramblings about Smokey Stover. Very nice from you. Great to read about Terry Burford who joined KCIJ radio where he replaced Tommy Sands as the afternoon DJ. In 1960, the staff for KCIJ also included Bob Neal, Dean Evans, Buddy Paul, and Rev. Billy Franks. Let’s remember them all.”
Sherwin Linton writes from Minneapolis, Minnesota, “Thank you for this very interesting newsletter. Seeing the Specialty label with a country artist was a surprise. I have several records on that label with R and B artists. I hope you will join us at the SD State Fair again. Have a wonderful summer.”
Diane: Pam says I’m on the calendar for 1:30 and 3:30 on Thursday, September 3. I’ll be there!
Chris Belle says, “Good stuff as always. I’m glad some artists could put their politics aside long enough to join the party and bring the fun. especially for the sake of the cause and what it represents, America, I was never a Vanilla Ice fan, but darned if I don’t like his music a bit more now, and danged if I’m not a little sour on some long-time country favorites.”
Eric Calhoun asks from Los Angeles, “Where will the Chicks be touring in Hollywood? I just want to meet these ladies.”
Diane: They’ll be at The Dolby Theatre November 1-2.
Bob Jennings says, “Them Dakota Ramblers that Ron Wood wrote about are my kind of Musicians–too bad we’re not close together so we could do some good ‘ol Country Music from the Golden Age.”
Mike Johnson writes, “Thanks for sharing the Smokey Stover photo with your readers. And as for my buddy Donald Ewert, I have to give a call and cheerful reprimand for the erroneous birthday date, considering the many times he’s mailed me a card. Country Music’s No.1 Black Yodeler’s 80th Birthday is 13 June 2026 and that other guy is the 14th. I served in the US Navy from 1965 to 1971.”
Kate and Marty Davis say, “Oh, my! You certainly had an adventure at the Biography Conference. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us all.”
Doug Lippert writes from Greater Indianapolis, Indiana, “While your newsletters are always welcome, informative and entertaining, I found your last one especially enjoyable as you shared more of your personal goings-on. Thank you for telling us about your trip the conference. I’m sorry there was a mix-up with your books; that had to be frustrating. While now retired, I used to travel extensively for work and always found the best way to learn a city was to walk it, so I was right there with you when you described your trek in Manhattan. NYC was always one of my favorites and I’ve trod the path you took many times. And thank you for referring to Grand Central Terminal (vs. station). While not within the genre of Country Music, I just finished a trip from Indianapolis to Winnipeg, Manitoba, then Saskatoon, SK and back, 3100 miles, to catch The Guess Who in concert in their hometown (Winnipeg) and in a city mentioned in one of their songs (Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon). I’ve followed them since 1969 and Randy (82) and Burton (78) did not disappoint. Like catching an act at The Ryman, it was special to see them in their home country and in those two cities where the crowds were mostly Canadian. In keeping with my comment above, I walked from my AirBnb in The Winnipeg French Quarter to the city center and back a couple of times, and I was able to walk to the concert venue. I tracked down, and found, the Bannatyne apartment building shown on the cover of their album So Long Bannatyne and grabbed a photo from the same angle. The great thing about music and favorite songs is that we associate them with certain events or times in our life. If we are blessed to be able to live a long life, hearing those songs takes us back and evokes emotional reactions; I think that’s a pretty powerful thing.”
COUNTRY MUSIC DISC JOCKEY HALL OF FAME – 2001 (second half)
Country Joe Flint began his career in radio in 1968 when he attended a San Francisco broadcasting school. After working at several stations, he was hired in May 197l by KSOP in Salt Lake City. That’s where “Country Joe” was born. In his first year, he was voted the most popular Country DJ and won a trip to the DJ convention in Nashville. Joe has served as Program Director, Music Director, and Production Director along with his regular air shift. He’s co-authored The Almanac of Country Music and The Insider’s Country Music Hand Book, fact-finding books used by country DJs and fans worldwide. He and his family have operated Country Joe’s All Country Music and Karaoke Store in Salt Lake City since 1981. From 1996, he’s produced and hosted “CJ’s Karaoke Cafe,” a local TV show that showcases local karaoke singers of all ages. Sporting his trademark hat with the hatband that reads, “Made In the USA,” Country Joe Flint says he “believes in promoting country music in every aspect that I possibly can. As long as I can get up and around, I’ll be involved in country music.”
Warren “Rhubarb” Jones was born in Miami, Florida, in 1951 and grew up in Tallapoosa, Georgia. He got into country music radio at WSKY in Asheville, North Carolina, moving in 1978 to WLWI in Montgomery, Alabama. He joined WYAY “Eagle 106.7” in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1985 and became the longest running morning radio personality in the Atlanta radio market, staying at the 106.7 spot on the FM dial until 2008. Rhubarb was named Radio Personality of the Year by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music. He was voted one of Country Music’s Top Radio Personalities of the Century by Radio and Records Magazine. Rhubarb Jones died in 2017, at the age of 65, in Haralson County, Georgia, following a heart attack.
I could find nothing on Chris Lane except this photo. Can someone help?
