Goodbye Summer!
September 20, 2007 - 03:40
Maybe it’s the changing seasons that gets me a little down but I’m definitely in a need of a “pick-me-up.” Where I live, this summer was truly odd with very few true summer days and warm nights that seem to stretch on forever. We’ve had lots of cooler than usual weather with above average rain and it just felt kinda wrong.
No, I’m not writing a weather column. But the end of this not-so-great summer only adds to some sadness I’ve felt over recent stories involving some of country’s most prominent women.
The Sara Evans divorce saga continues to devolve into a War of the Roses scenario. Craig, her soon-to-be ex, has demanded Sara cough up evidence of multiple affairs he alleges she had, including dalliances with every member of the pop band Three Doors Down. Yikes! In return, Sara claims she has evidence of Craig saying he would drain every cent of hers and ruin her career. There is nothing good about any of this. Sara soldiers on, performing and recording but it has to be extremely difficult for her. And because I like her and have always found her to be forthright and quick to laugh, I’m bummed.
In a recent issue of a tabloid (I think it was The National Examiner, if it makes a difference) a story told of Loretta Lynn’s money woes due in large part to her adult son and daughters living off her income. Loretta, a country legend well into her 70’s and experiencing periods of ill health, feels obligated to tour to keep these so-called “children” afloat. The article told of a son, in his 50’s, who is getting married for the fifth time and his occupation is working for his mother. Sad. Just purely sad.
The Mindy McCready saga has taken a turn for the worse, with her prison sentence. I think back to over a decade ago when I first ran into her. I won’t bore you with endless details but it was obvious then that at the very least, Mindy was going to be a handful. I believe she was opening on the George Strait tour and there was friction between the camps. She dissed one of our DJs out loud after an interview and told me details of her home life that Loretta Lynn would have been happy to sing about. All in all, it just felt like a ride that would end not well and it turned out to be that way. Still, I feel for her. A talented, pretty young girl with a troubled background has big success right out of the gate usually means at least trouble adjusting and often complete destruction. Tracy Lawrence is a great example of a guy who walked that line between conquering your demons or suffering a beat down. Tracy won his war, Mindy did not.
Just three of the recent happenings on the country scene that make me want to hitch a ride to Tootsie’s, get a table of cold ones and start draining them. Sara, Loretta, Mindy – Godspeed to all three of you. Country fans are the best in the world and they will be there for you until the very end. And tonight, I’ll send up a little prayer of my own. |
