Comments on: GMA WEEK: Country cousins http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/ Criticism and commentary on southern gospel music Wed, 23 May 2012 18:41:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Casual Observer http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-883108 Casual Observer Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:52:16 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-883108 I was at the Harmony Honors and I think we're missing the most obvious reason Barbara Mandrell was there - I believe it was clearly a trade-off. I think she agreed to do the show if the SGMG would agree to feature her daughter-in-law in the performance line-up. I've met Christy Sutherland (her daughter-in-law) and she is a delightful and talented young lady. From all I can tell, her motives seem refreshingly pure. I hope she her career gets off the ground. But apart from having a Country music icon for a mother-in-law, I don't know how an unsigned, unknown soloist could land a prime performance spot on an event like this. Do the math. Oh, and the whole time Judy Spencer was introducing Barbara, all I could hear (in my head) was Barbara's hit song about an illicit relationship with a married man - "If Loving You Is Wrong"(I Don't Wanna Be Right) I was at the Harmony Honors and I think we’re missing the most obvious reason Barbara Mandrell was there - I believe it was clearly a trade-off. I think she agreed to do the show if the SGMG would agree to feature her daughter-in-law in the performance line-up. I’ve met Christy Sutherland (her daughter-in-law) and she is a delightful and talented young lady. From all I can tell, her motives seem refreshingly pure. I hope she her career gets off the ground. But apart from having a Country music icon for a mother-in-law, I don’t know how an unsigned, unknown soloist could land a prime performance spot on an event like this. Do the math. Oh, and the whole time Judy Spencer was introducing Barbara, all I could hear (in my head) was Barbara’s hit song about an illicit relationship with a married man - “If Loving You Is Wrong”(I Don’t Wanna Be Right)

]]> By: David Bruce Murray http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-880813 David Bruce Murray Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:53:27 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-880813 Jewels wrote: "I wonder why SGMG holds their event during a GMA week. It seems to me that the Dove Awards would/should be enough for this week." They do it for the same reason the Front Porch Bluegrass Gospel awards and the Diamond Awards hand out their honors during NQC. Everyone is already in town. Jewels wrote:
“I wonder why SGMG holds their event during a GMA week. It seems to me that the Dove Awards would/should be enough for this week.”

They do it for the same reason the Front Porch Bluegrass Gospel awards and the Diamond Awards hand out their honors during NQC. Everyone is already in town.

]]> By: David Bruce Murray http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-880812 David Bruce Murray Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:49:54 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-880812 More people will watch the Dove Awards if they can advertise in advance that Ronnie Milsap will be on the program singing in a duet. In the end, it's all about getting the most people to watch, and I can't blame them for that. It's just a bit sad and telling that for all the various styles and personalities that make up Christian music as a whole, we still don't have enough legitimate stars to draw the type of audience GMA would like to reach. I'm curious. Does this happen regularly on the various Country awards shows too? I don't remember hearing anything about Prince or Michael Jackson appearing at one of those events...seems like Kid Rock was on one at some point in the past. More people will watch the Dove Awards if they can advertise in advance that Ronnie Milsap will be on the program singing in a duet. In the end, it’s all about getting the most people to watch, and I can’t blame them for that.

It’s just a bit sad and telling that for all the various styles and personalities that make up Christian music as a whole, we still don’t have enough legitimate stars to draw the type of audience GMA would like to reach.

I’m curious. Does this happen regularly on the various Country awards shows too? I don’t remember hearing anything about Prince or Michael Jackson appearing at one of those events…seems like Kid Rock was on one at some point in the past.

]]> By: Musicscribe Blog » Worshipping Pop And Country Stars http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-880395 Musicscribe Blog » Worshipping Pop And Country Stars Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:24:11 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-880395 [...] Harrison has posted his thoughts on Country artists courting attention from the Southern Gospel industry. His example isn’t [...] […] Harrison has posted his thoughts on Country artists courting attention from the Southern Gospel industry. His example isn’t […]

]]> By: Wade http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-880377 Wade Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:12:41 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-880377 That was me yellin' OAK too!!! & they have to raise vestal & howard from the dead to present it!! That was me yellin’ OAK too!!! & they have to raise vestal & howard from the dead to present it!!

]]> By: Jewels Carlson http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-879970 Jewels Carlson Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:15:10 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-879970 I think you are forgetting something. Barbara Mandrell retired in 1997. She is not some older country star seeking a place for her music now. Barbara did fight her network to have a weekly gospel music segment in her TV show. This has to be considered a major accomplishment. So, in this sense, she most definitely advanced gospel music and, in particular, southern gospel music. And, faith has always been a part of her daily life. It is not some fleeting thing with her. Why the SGMG chose to honor Barbara now is another situation entirely. Seems to me they would have honored her long ago if they were going to. So, their timing tells me that they probably did it now in the hopes of helping their own cause. But, this is in no way a reflection on Barbara. Short of refusing the honor, there was really nothing Barbara could do about it. I wonder why SGMG holds their event during a GMA week. It seems to me that the Dove Awards would/should be enough for this week. Now that Dolly Parton is in the GMA Hall Of Fame, I am hoping that Barbara Mandrell will receive this honor. However, with Barbara now in the Country Music Hall of Fame, I really do not care as this is the pinnacle of achievement for an artist in country music. I think you are forgetting something. Barbara Mandrell retired in 1997. She is not some older country star seeking a place for her music now.

Barbara did fight her network to have a weekly gospel music segment in her TV show. This has to be considered a major accomplishment. So, in this sense, she most definitely advanced gospel music and, in particular, southern gospel music. And, faith has always been a part of her daily life. It is not some fleeting thing with her.

Why the SGMG chose to honor Barbara now is another situation entirely. Seems to me they would have honored her long ago if they were going to. So, their timing tells me that they probably did it now in the hopes of helping their own cause. But, this is in no way a reflection on Barbara. Short of refusing the honor, there was really nothing Barbara could do about it.

I wonder why SGMG holds their event during a GMA week. It seems to me that the Dove Awards would/should be enough for this week. Now that Dolly Parton is in the GMA Hall Of Fame, I am hoping that Barbara Mandrell will receive this honor. However, with Barbara now in the Country Music Hall of Fame, I really do not care as this is the pinnacle of achievement for an artist in country music.

]]> By: marie hardy http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-879954 marie hardy Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:00:15 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-879954 I agree with Ben. There are several country artists who since their careers have peaked and they may be out of record deals or off the charts, have suddenly "got religion". I'm ok with that. Better late than never, but it seems a little convenient to switch when the other door closes and the gospel door is open because we have always gotten the crumbs from the country music table. I even wonder about Alan Jackson doing a gospel cd. Is his career on the downslide? I could be wrong on that. He may really have felt impressed to do that project. I hope so. I agree with Ben. There are several country artists who since their careers have peaked and they may be out of record deals or off the charts, have suddenly “got religion”. I’m ok with that. Better late than never, but it seems a little convenient to switch when the other door closes and the gospel door is open because we have always gotten the crumbs from the country music table. I even wonder about Alan Jackson doing a gospel cd. Is his career on the downslide? I could be wrong on that. He may really have felt impressed to do that project. I hope so.

]]> By: cdguy http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-879935 cdguy Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:19:23 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-879935 There is a long history of country artists recording gospel projects, dating back to at least the 50's. Artists like Porter, Loretta, Dolly, et al There is a long history of country artists recording gospel projects, dating back to at least the 50’s. Artists like Porter, Loretta, Dolly, et al

]]> By: Ben Harris http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-879934 Ben Harris Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:15:46 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2009/04/23/gma-week-country-cousins/#comment-879934 As for Barbara Mandrell's contributions to Southern Gospel, may I add my thoughts on this. When she had her television show, she always had a time slot for Gospel Music, and most of that consisted of what we would term SG. She also recorded two seperate SG projects, one of which I did the engineering and some of the background vocal work. I cannot say that she has contributed as much as say Gaither, but she did present SG in a very good light for a number of years, and on national tv. I do have a problem with country artists with careers burnt out, then becoming SG artists. I do not believe Barbara is guilty of that. I know her and her family fairly well and I can tell you this she was always a lady when I was around her. In fact she is my favorite artist of all time to work for. As for Barbara Mandrell’s contributions to Southern Gospel, may I add my thoughts on this. When she had her television show, she always had a time slot for Gospel Music, and most of that consisted of what we would term SG. She also recorded two seperate SG projects, one of which I did the engineering and some of the background vocal work. I cannot say that she has contributed as much as say Gaither, but she did present SG in a very good light for a number of years, and on national tv. I do have a problem with country artists with careers burnt out, then becoming SG artists. I do not believe Barbara is guilty of that. I know her and her family fairly well and I can tell you this she was always a lady when I was around her. In fact she is my favorite artist of all time to work for.

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