Eric Church has really created quite a stir with his Rollingstone Comments about reality TV. Well, Jimmy Wayne took to his Facebook page to share his thoughts on the subject and his friend Blake Shelton.

When I moved to Nashville it didn’t take me long to realize I was one of millions who visit this town searching for that once chance to be heard and then hope and pray it’s leads to a record deal; The chances of winning the KY lottery are better.
I went to a writers night at the Douglas Corner where I saw a young man performing in the round. He sang a song about prison and a dog. It was titled ole Red. That slim young man was named Blake Shelton. I introduced myself and complemented the song. He said- yeah, I hope the label let’s me record that song. I pondered his response on my way home that evening driving towards Mt. Juliet TN where I lived in the basement of the Kelso’s home. “I hope the label let’s me record it? This went around and around inside my head. I couldn’t believe that someone as talented as this guy was had to ask anyone if he could record a great song. It really helped put things in perspective.

Many years went by, Blake and I both were on the radio. It was surreal! I shared my opinion with someone who’d moved to town just like I did and trying to figure out where to go and what to do. It’s like this: you’re a pie baker. You supply all the ingredients and you bake the pie. You slice and you slice. You serve and you serve. Although you bought all the supplies and worked so hard in the hot kitchen you only ended up with what was left on the knife. That’s all the pie you’re gonna get and if you’re ok with that then you may have a chance in this business.

Today’s climate is much different than it was 10 years ago and not for the better. It’s harder now than it’s ever been. Illegally downloading has severly crippled the entertainment business. Record labels have closed & song writers have been forced to move on and find other ways to provide for their families. Artist are one song away from losing their record deal. Creating and recreating yourself seems to be one route to take in order to stay ahead of the plague. Reality tv may not be the best tv we’ve ever seen however it’s generates lots of traffic. Blake Shelton was asked to be on The Voice. Anyone in their right mind would have taken that opportunity and would have done so at half the price. This not only generates traffic for Blake Shelton but it helps the entire Country Music genre. That’s our guy representing us on National TV. Our spokesperson. Our ambassador.
When I look back and think of that tall skinny young man sittin’ behind that microphone in a round at Douglas Corner and see him now in that big red chair on THE VOICE helping others live their dream it’s make me proud to know him and call him a friend. Blake Shelton is one of the best singers Country Music has heard in a very long time. He’s funny and whitty. He’s married to a wonderful woman who took care of my dogs foot once while we were on the road doing a show.
The point is: there’s no formula. There’s no particular “way”. There’s many ways to breaking into this business. A reality tv show is just one of many. A parent who has two million dollars to give the label is obviously another way. Luck is last but not least and as we all know one out if a gazillion wins the lottery!

Rock on Blake Shelton!

Nicely said Jimmy!!! It doesn’t really matter how someone gets to the top…Only talent keeps them there!! And national platforms like TV and movies only bring more people to our genre!!

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10. @CarrieUnderwood took a break from watching the Preds in the playoffs to do a shoot for Olay. “Getting ready for a fun day with my @OlayUS friends!

9.  After weeks of climbing the charts, @LeeBrice made it to the top. “Cheers y’all… My first number one single.. Can’t believe it, hope y’all are having one with me tonight..”

8. Just a year ago @Lauren_Alaina was on TVs nation wide.  Now she has become a party crasher: “I crashed a prom tonight after my set. So glad I still got to go to prom haha (:”

7. You know you’ve made it when people recognize you in public. @JimmyWayne had that experience this week. “A lady just made a dramatic “aren’t you” scene in the Southwest line & began singN my songs loud & sayN do y’all know him? It was killer!”

6. Friday @HunterHayes was on the Opry stage when Little Jimmy asked himm to return.  Hunter posted this about his time in the circle: “You know what the coolest part about last night @opry was? Knowing I get to go back tonight!! Seriously stoked!”

5. @Miranda_Lambert is known for her love of animals, but I think the animals find her – I’ve never seen someone find so many strays! “And I Found this on the side of the road this morning. Dah-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Batman! (The theme song ):)”

4. With a tour and TV show @BlakeShelton still has to make difficult decisions like this one:  “Damn it!!! I can’t handle the pressure anymore and I don’t know what to do!!! Will it be Coco or Fruity Pebbles?!!!”

3. Although people can only post 140 characters, @MartinaMcBride learned just how fast twitter moves this week. “I leave twitter for a few hours and what happens? @KeithUrban gets invited to join the Opry and @merlehaggard is on twitter! What a night!”

2. I’m pretty sure @JakeOwen stayed as far away from the mountains as he could on Friday the 13th. “Last time there was a Friday the 13th I broke my collarbone. Can’t wait to see what today has in store for me.”

1. Although Jake Owen doesn’t like Friday the 13th, @TaylorSwift13 finds the day lucky.  Maybe this is her next number 1! “Recording the next album. So happy.”

New Twitter Alert!  The legendary @MerleHaggard has now joined the twitterverse.

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Scotty B. – cmttreviewer@yahoo.com
Twitter @stupidkid2150

When foster kids turn 18, they age out of the system and many become homeless. Jimmy Wayne is on a mission make that transition easier. He worked with Tennessee lawmakers to pass a bill to continue the Transitioning Youth Act. It’s a program that provides support to foster children between the ages of 18 and 21.

Wayne was in foster care until age 16 when an elderly couple adopted him. He says those two were “absolutely integral” in helping him become a successful adult. But most foster kids aren’t as lucky. Wayne says he is grateful to lawmakers for recognizing the critical need for the program.  You can find our more at: http://projectmmh.org

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! We want to hear what you have to say about country music and your favorite artists. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com.   Don’t miss a country music beat! Sign up to receive free email updates or subscribe to CMTT via RSS today!

10. This week the parts of the country, including Nashville, experienced winter storms. This is what @CanaanSmith found when he walked outside “God went golfing”

9. With his love for dogs, @JimmyWayne has found a solution to getting white teeth “Why isn’t toothpaste made from whatever it is that makes dogs teeth so white?”

8. The overly talented @HunterHayes should get used to hearing his songs on the radio more often! Request “Wanted” from your local radio stations now. “Hearing my song for the first time on the radio… IN CANADA-wicked!!!!”

7. @JakeOwen has had a crazy year, but his body still isn’t used to the hectic schedule “Damn my hours are screwed. Flew on red eye all last night, got home this morning and fell asleep. Slept all day. Im now wide awake. What now”

6. Due to the storms, @BrettEldredge has developed a plan for the next tornado scare “They need to open a huge tornado basement bar….Everyone could go down there to party and be safe from the storm”

5. This week we saw a little more of @TraceAdkins than expected “@Vanderbilt having kidney stones busted. No big deal”

4. The weather has had a mind of its own this year. @MartinaMcBride experienced that this week “Ok.Love this weather. BUT. Kinda strange. My flowers are blooming. And I for sure, straight up, just saw a fly outside. #weirdweathersoweird”

3. The joys of being married and musicians – mass loads of laundry. @BlakeShelton tweeted “Folding the third pile of laundry Miranda has handed me tonight… This is bullshit!! Clothes should be disposable like toilet paper!!!”

2. As I said last week, @CarrieUnderwood is now on twitter. Of course @BradPaisley had something to say about that! “I guess the Mayans are right. It is the end of the world. @carrieunderwood is on twitter.”

1. With the start of @CarrieUnderwood we already are getting a look at what she has been up to! “Had so much fun tonight surprising @BradPaisley – Thanks Knoxville!!”

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Jimmy Wayne was stuck in the woods when the massive storms rolled across the south on late Friday afternoon. He and his two dogs were enjoying a hike on what appeared to be a beautiful sunny day. All of that quickly changed when sirens interrupted the serenity and wind and hail forced Jimmy to channel his inner boy scout and take cover.

I was hiking a 7 mile trail when the sky began to darken. I took my earphones out and heard a siren alarming. I knew it was a tornado warning. I was still approximately 1-2 miles from my vehicle. The sky quickly turned black. The sound of trees cracking began and I realized it was hail falling from the black sky pounding everything underneath. I panicked and began to run as fast as possible but I couldn’t outrun the storm. An amazing gust of wind blew so hard it was impossible to stand or run therefore I immediately took cover on the ground under a bush. My dogs Ruby and Tate instinctively crawled under me. It was like something out of a movie. I hovered over them like a dad would do. I laid there on top of them as they lay still. Hail beat the back of my head and my back and legs. Eventually I looked up at the sky to see if I could run and that’s when a golfball sized piece of hail hit me directly in the forehead. I was seriously scared. My dogs were scared . I’d never been in this situation before.. We eventually got up and made a fast dash to the vehicle a half mile away. We were a muddy mess!

Jimmy escaped without major injury. The golf ball sized hail pelted him in the head and face and tore his clothes. But he admits, he’s lucky since some folks weren’t able to escape the disaster. You can recount Jimmy’s story on Twitter.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

10. This week the tour bus that Lee Brice and @TylerFarr use caught fire. They were able to save some items “Coincidence that my Tim Tebow book was unharmed in the bus fire?? I think not! He’s fireproof”

9. To stay on topic, @CraigCampbellTV had bus troubles this week also “Bus door key pad broken…getting close to show time…may have to where the clothes we have on #theshowmustgoon”

8. On his first major country tour, @ScottyMcCreery knows how to stay connected with those at home “skype really comes in handy on the road..”

7. Sometimes @JimmyWayne has the best inspirational sayings “‘it’s not success when all you have to show for it is money’ #happiness”

6. This isn’t the first time that @BrettEldredge has thought outside the box “I wonder if Siri ever gets tired of living in that little iPhone….. #nolegroom #claustrophobia”

5. Before looking forward at an album release week, @KelliePickler found time to look back “Found a picture of me & Kyle fishing’ at one of Saddam’s Palaces on a USO tour. #BringingTheRedneckToAPalaceNearYo”

4. Last week @JakeOwen broke his collar bone; this week a check-up was in store “In the Dr. waiting on my sentence.. You know it’s not good when he comes in and says “That break is worse than the football teams”. Damn.”

3. Blake and @Miranda_Lambert experienced a loss this week – Blake’s dad. Here is what Miranda said “Thank you all for your kindness and prayer. Our family means everything to us. Blake and I appreciate the support so much.”

2. This week we lost a legend. Little Big Town (@LBTmusic) summed it up best “We’re saddened to hear of Etta James passing today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family. Her voice has been and will always be a part of all of our lives. In our wildest dreams we could have never imagined having the chance to hear her record a piece of music we wrote. Hearing her sing “Boondocks” is an honor we will treasure forever.”

1. After a successful first weekend tour, @BradPaisley had a celebratory cigar. “If you ever wondered if you can light a cigar with a laser, well you can.”

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Scotty B.
cmttreviewer@yahoo.com
Twitter @stupidkid2150

Have you always wanted to have dinner with your pet pooch while watching 4-legged friends strut their stuff on the runway wearing designer fashions?? I’m sure it’s wayyyy up their on your list…So if that’s the case, you’re in luck. The 2nd Annual Unleashed: Dinner with Your Dog will be hosted by country cutie Kellie Pickler and take place on January 21st at the Nashville Hutton Hotel.

Celebs will be assisting the doggies walk the runway include  Jimmy Wayne, Allison Demarcus, Julie Roberts, Sarah Darling, Karla Lawson, Shane Talent, Heather Byrd, Mike Smith, Margaret Ellis, Jeffrey Garner, Dean Miller, Russell Hitchcock and more!

Tickets range from $80-$150 and benefit the Nashville Humane Association. Click here for more details.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com