Uh oh, Mama Judd is upset at all those Taylor naysayers out there and she’s done her civic duty to express her displeasure by writing a letter to the editor…or at least to The Tennessean newspaper. I suppose when you’re a star like Naomi Judd you can bypass the normal channels.

Taylor Swift is still getting a lot of flack for her performance at the Grammy’s by people who apparently were shocked that she can’t sing like Whitney Houston. Not sure where these people have been the last couple of years, but maybe eventually they will just accept the fact that people love Taylor for something besides her vocal cords. I’ve given up trying to understand why people seem to be so polarized by Taylor - you either love her or think she’s the worst thing ever - but obviously Naomi Judd is still bothered by the people who gripe about Taylor. Take a look at the letter she wrote to The Tennessean.

Remember the puzzles, “What’s wrong with this picture?” You search for faults, ignoring the overall larger picture.

Reference Taylor Swift. Multi-talented, she not only sings well enough to strike a chord with a huge audience, Taylor single-handedly introduced country music to a much-welcomed younger demographic and generated international interest.
She writes, dances, acts and is a dazzling performer. Taylor is the best-dressed young female artist today, in league with Hollywood’s most glamorous stars.

When I met her I was impressed by her sincere transparent niceness. Taylor’s a lovely young lady.

Having sung many times at the Grammys, I can tell you that the stress and anxiety of performing in front of the world’s top artists in every genre of music is tortuous for even the most seasoned singer.

Smarts, manners and class. Why can’t fault-finders see that she is a sorely needed role model? We’re aware of how lyrics and musicians can influence our society. If America ever needed positive role models, it’s now.

If there’s an award for being the best role model for her generation, I’d like to be the one to give it to Taylor Swift.

Naomi Judd
Nashville 37203

My Daughter Sidonie’s varsity team in Springdale, AR. One of her teammates Sam Weber makes an unbelievable shot!

Country Music Download Tuesday January 26, 2010

Things may be heating up between John Mayer and Taylor Swift. He recently took her to dinner at a Nashville restaurant called Cabana. Perez Hilton says Mayer is in Music City to tape an episode of CMT Crossroads with Keith Urban.

The cast of HBO’s True Blood wants Taylor Swift to guest star as a vampire. Ryan Kwanten says, “I’d like Taylor to guest star on True Blood. That’d be kind of cool. She set a bunch of records, so why not get into the acting world and see if she can’t tackle that, too.”

Carrie Underwood says she loved filming her guest starring role for How I Met Your Mother. “I have officially decided that I’m giving up the music business. I’m going to become a professional sitcom actress! I got to hang out with the whole cast, dress up like a flight attendant, play a cavewoman, and had a baby pig poop on me…jealous

People magazine has offered $50,000 for the first pics of Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher following their wedding.
Jason Aldean says he was sad to see the Vikes lose because he’s friends with several players. “Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, some of those guys came out to our show earlier this year we were in Minnesota. We had some fun with them.”

Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus will be singing on Simon Cowell’s charity single. They and others will cover REM’s “Everybody Hurts”.

Monday’s Country Music Download

Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett attended yesterday’s Saints-Vikings game as guests of Saints coach Sean Payton

Nicole Kidman says she has no plans to sing in public again with Keith Urban. “We decided to do that little turn for our friend Simon Baker. We worked on it for about a week at home in the evenings. It was our first collaboration and probably our last.”

Kellie Pickler had to cut off most of her hair because it was falling out due to a bad dye job. She says, “My hair started falling out!” Pickler explains. “It was so damaged I looked like a scarecrow so I chopped it off! I had two choices — look like a scarecrow or cut it. Having short hair makes me feel like I set my self apart [style wise] from the other women in country music.”

Keith Urban and John Mayer are planning to film an episode of CMT Crossroads

Jason Aldean has his own special way of determining whether or not a song is going to be a hit. He says he drives around listening to his demo CD over and over. “If I find myself getting tired of a song after three or four plays, that’s usually one we’ll pass on.”

Country Music Download for Friday January 22, 2010

Taylor Swift says she will be answering phones during tonight’s ‘Hope For Haiti’ telethon. “I’ve never actually worked a phone bank before, but I want to do everything I can to help out this horrible situation. I’m passionate about this. This one was an immediate yes.”

Country singer “Big Kenny” is in Haiti to search for his friend, Walt Ratterman. Walt was staying at the Montana Hotel in Port-au-Prince when the quake hit. Kenny blogged: “We will stay in Jamini tonight and hope to move into Port-au-Prince tomorrow. Fuel supplies are low. After another quake today Haiti will need all the help it can get for a long time. I guess one of the best ways we can all help is spread the word. I’m excited to think the music industry will step up and raise a great voice for our hurting neighbors so near to our south.”

Tim McGraw is getting ready to release his second children’s book next month on February 16, 2010.
“Love Your Heart” is the second book in his “My Little Girl” series and according to descriptions “is a heartwarming story of a little girl’s selfless act of kindness. At her school’s talent show, Kate decides to drop out of the contest to help her friend, showing kindness is the best talent of all.”

And finally Gretchen Wilson may have left her record label, Sony, but that doesn’t mean the talented singer has any plans of slowing down. Getting ready to release her first album on her own Redneck Records, ‘I Got Your Country Right Here,’ the Grammy winner who also became a spokesperson for adult education after earning her GED.

Here’s today’s Country Music Download!

Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson and Usher plan to honor Michael Jackson at the Grammys. Their 3D tribute will feature the never-before-seen 3-D mini-movie for Earth Song. The Grammy Awards will air on CBS on January 31st at 7PM

Taylor Swift says her new Nashville home is being renovated. “It’s going to be my fantasy world. There’s a pond in the living room… The pond is a moat around the fireplace and may possibly have koi fish in it. You step on a stepping stone in the pond in order to get on a spiral s taircase, which takes you up to the human-sized bird cage observatory. They’re delivering a human-size birdcage, which I’ll put a brass teles cope in. The ceiling of my living room is painted like the night sky.”

Speaking of Taylor she’s got a big fan in Kid Rock. Kid Rock says he’s a huge Taylor Swift fan. “She knows how to play guitar and she writes her songs so God bless her. I wish there was more of that out there. Hopefully she gets better and grows and keeps it all going.”

Tim McGraw may be shaving soon if his daughter has anything to do with it. Tim McGraw says his daughter Gracie does not like his new beard. “She said, “You look old!’” And I said, ‘Thanks a lot. Are you embarrassed for me to be around your friends with a beard?’ And she says, ‘There’s a lot of gray in there, Dad!’ I told her I was gonna grow it out and do a big beard combover and try to get it over the top of my head.”

And finally, Keith Urban, who took home the trophy for Favorite Country Male Artist at the American Music Awards in November, was asked backstage what one song he could dance to for the rest of his life.
“Britney Spears’s ‘3,’” the Aussie reveals in the latest issue of InStyle magazine. “It has an unbelievable production and arrangement, and she sounds killer on it.”

Happy Wednesday everybody!
Here is today’s Country Music Download.

Carrie Underwood may star in a new film called ‘Soul Surfer,’ about professional surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a tiger shark attack at age 13. One of the actors in the film, Kevin Sorbo, Tweeted: “Name of movie is ’soul surfer.’ touching story. i will be starring with dennis quaid, helen hunt, carrie underwood, anna sophia robb.”

Charlie Daniels is recovering from a mild stroke he suffered while snowmobiling. He has been released from the hospital and is currently resting at his home in Colorado.

During a recent interview, Taylor Lautner took a swipe at Taylor Swift when he said he is done dating girls who are preoccupied with themselves. “I just want someone who can be themselves. Not put on a show. It is as simple as that. I’m not dating anyone right now.”

Jason Aldean says his oldest daughter, Keeley, recently knocked her tooth out. “Our oldest daughter was running in the house the other day, and jumped on one of our chairs and almost knocked her tooth out. Well, she loosened it, and then it came out a couple weeks later.”

Ever wonder who your favorite star follows on Twitter and why? Surprisingly this is something I’ve actually thought about. It’s kind of like MySpace and who those people at the top of someone’s friend’s list are and how they got to be #1.

Well Blake Shelton thought you might be curious who were his top 6 Twitters to follow and why.

It’s a pretty surprising list. Check it out….

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Country Music Download

The Star claims Taylor Swift and John Mayer recently went on a secret date. A source says they dined at L.A.’s Italian bistro Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi. “They came in together and got a private table in a corner of the restaurant. They seemed to really enjoy each other’s company. They definitely looked like a couple. John was telling stories, and she was hanging on every word!”

InTouch Weekly claims Eddie Cibrian has become uncomfortable with LeAnn Rimes’ prescence on the set of CSI Miami. A source says, “Eddie’s always been a flirt, but when she’s on the set he doesn’t look at - or talk to - any women. Eddie seems to be uncomfortable with LeAnn’s constant presence. He’s always telling her to stay in his dressing room, but whenever he walks out on set, she’s right behind him.”

Jason Aldean says he and his wife have become golf fanatics. “Lately our youngest daughter started going to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so those are usually our date days. She’s been taking golf lessons, and I love playing golf, so we go out and play golf. We usually spend those days hanging out or maybe go to a movie or whatever. That’s about the only alone time we get these days.”

2009 CMA Awards - Award Winners strong>