Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Mon., Feb.4)

Songwriter Vic McAlpin was born in 1918.

Tater Tate -- fiddler for Bill Monroe, Wilma Lee Cooper, Jimmy Martin and others -- was born in 1931.

Billy Walker joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960.

Clint Black was born in 1962.

The premiere of the film "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" -- starring Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis and Don Williams -- was held at Nashville's Crescent Theater in 1975.

George Strait's "Something Special" album was certified gold in 1986.

Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns died at age 65 in 1989.

MUSIC AND MORE

ALAN JACKSON GOES PUNK COUNTRY

Alan Jackson will play legendary New York punk palace CBGB's this Wednesday evening, right after he tapes "The Late Show With David Letterman" on CBS, country.com reports.

He'll be performing in alien territory. CBGB's stands for "Country, Bluegrass, Blues" and originally, owner Hilly Kristal planned to feature roots music at the club. But his plans changed and instead the venue nurtured seminal punk acts such as the Ramones, Television and Blondie.

On Thursday, Jackson will appear on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show."

Interestingly, Jackson isn't planning to perform "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" on his New York media stops. He'll do "When Love Comes Around" on Letterman and "Work In Progress" on Rosie. Both songs are from his new No. 1 album, "Drive."

JOHNNY CASH CD TRIBUTE

Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Steve Earle have signed on to an upcoming tribute CD for Johnny Cash on the occasion of his 70th birthday (Feb. 26). Dylan will sing "Train of Love" while Springsteen has chosen "Give My Love to Rose" and Earle draws "Hardin Wouldn't Run," Billboard.com reports.

Also participating -- Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dwight Yoakam, Travis Tritt, Keb' Mo' and Little Richard.

The album is slated to hit stores May 28.

Cash has covered songs by Springsteen and Dylan in the past. His 1983 CD, "Johnny 99," took its name from a Springsteen tune.

FREDDY FENDER ON THE MEND

Grammy-winning singer Freddy Fender is back home in San Antonio, Texas, after receiving a kidney transplant last month. The kidney was donated by his adult daughter.

Fender, 64 -- who is up for another Grammy this year for a collection of "roots" music from his childhood in Texas' Rio Grande Valley -- spent a year on dialysis awaiting a suitable donor organ. In a statement, doctors at San Antonio University Hospital report Fender's recovery is "textbook" and right on schedule. He spent about a week in the hospital before being released. They say it may take as long as two months, though, before he can get back to work.

The Grammy Awards are slated for the 27th of this month in Los Angeles.

REBA TO STAR IN TV VERSION OF 'OAKLEY'

Reba McEntire confirms that she has been tapped to produce a made-for-television version of the Broadway musical "Annie Get Your Gun." McEntire wowed 'em on the Great White Way with her authentic portrayal of Annie Oakley last year, then brought her talents to TV in her own sitcom -- which, by the way, has been renewed for a second season. Country Music Television reports the film is being made in conjunction with MCA records. No air date has been announced.

(The above two items thanks to UPI's Dennis Daily)