USA TODAY: "CMA Festival hits all the right notes"

(This story appeared in the Monday, June 15 edition of USA TODAY.)

As one-half of what brought the music world's attention to Tennessee this weekend, Nashville's CMA Music Festival attracted thousands of fans and dozens of country artists. USA TODAY took it all in.

Get the party started: Rodney Atkins served as grand marshal for the downtown parade that kicked off CMA Fest Wednesday, an honor he didn't learn about until the day before and one that allowed Atkins and his family (wife Tammy Jo and son Elijah) to have time together before the hectic five days ahead. "She took her flip-flops off and she rode through the parade barefoot," Atkins said. "We just got to be ourselves, have fun and do it together as a family."

Shift into overdrive: The members of Little Big Town see the festival as the equivalent of a sports season's opening day. "It's the thing that puts it into the extra gear of summer," said Jimi Westbrook. While the group's Wednesday fan club party was at the beginning of the festivities, Kimberly Schlapman says planning for next year's bash starts before the last autograph is signed. "Every year when we finish a fan club party, we go, 'Here's what we're doing next year and here's what we're doing different, here's what we liked and here's what we didn't like.' "

Picking and choosing: Wednesday's most anticipated event was the Alan Jackson club gig marking his 20 years of hitmaking, and fans had to make some tough choices if they wanted to get in on the rare opportunity. "We had to leave (Little Big Town's party) to come get in line for a wristband for Alan," said Linda Stolting of Memphis. "We stood in line for about two hours to get in there, but we could only stay for a few songs."

So you're saying Alan Jackson wins out? "Every time."

Caution, superstar traffic ahead: Euphemisms about her looks aside, Kellie Pickler literally stopped traffic Wednesday afternoon while filming bits for ABC's CMA special airing Aug. 31. Coming out of the world-famous Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Broadway with TV crew in tow, Pickler was instantly mobbed by fans who moved with her in an amorphous blob as she attempted to cross the street.

"This is amazing!" Pickler squealed. "As long as everybody's having a good time and nobody gets hit, then it's great."

The future is now: Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam can usually be counted on as a place to find young and upcoming acts — but not always ones as young as the showstoppers called The Martin Brothers. Guitarist March, 11, and singer Kell, 8, are sons of Stuart's Fabulous Superlatives bass player Paul Martin, and the boys played and sang a pair of numbers with Stuart's band, garnering a standing ovation Wednesday night from the Ryman Auditorium crowd. "You don't have steady jobs and you've got a pretty girl driving you around," Stuart said, referring to beaming mom/vocalist Jamie. "Congratulations, boys — you're professional musicians."

That's dedication: A line started forming alongside the Nashville Convention Center at 9 p.m. Wednesday for signing sessions with Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire that didn't start until 1 p.m. the next day. "As soon as we found out they were going to be here, we knew we had to be in line," said Amanda Breeden of Martinsburg, W.Va., who was in the prime spot for the Thursday sessions.

"I just can't believe the devotion and the support they always give," McEntire said after her session. "It still amazes me that they will come to Nashville and do that to get an autograph."

The trend presented itself again Saturday afternoon when fans started lining up at 3:30 p.m. for Taylor Swift's marathon session that began at 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

Where's a ShamWow when you need it? Heidi Newfield used CMA Fest to signal Thursday's launch of her fan club. "I wanted to wait until I got on my feet and really got some music out there that people recognized, and to make it a little bit more special," she says. But even though she's fairly new to the solo artist thing (she's formerly of Trick Pony), she's got years of experience with the autograph pen and a quick answer to the most difficult surface on which to leave her mark.

"A sweaty head is the hardest thing to sign," Newfield says. "Sharpie just won't stay on a sweaty, shaved head."

Twist and shout: Even though Bo Bice was able to use American Idol as a springboard to the music world's attention, he admits that he can still "goob out" when he sees somebody of whom he's a fan. That includes Steve McGranahan, the "World's Strongest Redneck," who performed one of his feats of strength for Bice on Thursday, hand-twisting a horseshoe into the shape of a heart. "This is going right up there with my gold records, dude," Bice said, beaming at McGranahan. "I'm happy."

When it rains …: A 3½-hour rain delay Thursday night prevented Rascal Flatts from performing during the nightly concerts at LP Field, but the power trio made its way through the press gauntlet before the downpour. Always looking to lighten the mood, Jay DeMarcus decided to engage in a little canine conversation during the band's photo shoot with USA TODAY, exchanging barks with Julianne Hough's spaniel Lexi.

Like almost every other act appearing during the week, Rascal Flatts talked about the importance of fans and how artists in other genres are coming to realize that today's music industry requires a new level of transparency. "You are naturally personable with your fans or you aren't," DeMarcus says. "That's not something anyone can teach you."

Avoiding sophomore slump: CMA's best new artist Lady Antebellum lit up the LP Field crowd Friday night like the seasoned performers they're becoming, but the band is keenly aware of expectations for a second record looming around the corner. "We'd be lying if we said there wasn't pressure," Hillary Scott said. "It keeps you on your toes, but you can't let it consume you because then you're off your game."

CMA Fest vs. Bonnaroo: The Atlanta-based, six-piece Zac Brown Band had one of the more musically diverse weeks, being one of two bands (bluegrass family outfit Cherryholmes being the other) playing both CMA Fest and Bonnaroo. But lead singer Brown noted the two festivals shared one important denominator: "It's two different demographics, but they're all just people wanting to hear good music."

When the going gets tough: Country rocker Jason Aldean hardly slowed down Friday, racing from his prime-time slot at LP Field across the river to the Wildhorse Saloon for a fan club show benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer foundation. If he was tired, he wasn't going to let it show. "You tell yourself that it's just a few days and they're the ones who give us a career and support us all year long, so it's a small price to pay," Aldean says.

Ring her up: Sometimes, it's as simple as picking up the phone. "He just called and asked if I wanted to do the duet with him, and I said absolutely," said Martina McBride matter-of-factly about performing with Kid Rock on Picture during Rock's "surprise" appearance Friday night. "He's a great guy and it was a blast. I had so much fun."

Bring Mom to Work Day: Though Wynonna has worked hard for her solo stardom, she does get excited about the occasional onstage reunion she and mother Naomi have as The Judds. Backstage before such an occurrence Saturday night, she admitted to nerves beyond what she normally experiences. For starters, "I never know what my mother is going to do or say," Wynonna says. Then "I never know what the fans are going to do or say to me on stage. It's somewhere between panic and peace."

Dude, where are you supposed to be? CMA media relations director Scott Stem talked about a reporter from a surfing magazine showing up for credentials because he'd been told to fly to Nashville and check out the music festival, likely meaning Bonnaroo. "We weren't going to turn him away," Stem said, "but he's probably going to look funny going home with stories about Reba McEntire for a surfing magazine."

Tennessean: "Kid Rock invites Martina into the 'Picture'"

(This story appeared in The Tennessean and on TuneInMusicCity.com Sunday, June 14.)

Sometimes, it's as simple as picking up the phone.

"He just called and asked if I wanted to do the duet with him, and I said absolutely," said Martina McBride, matter-of-factly. Martina was speaking of her appearance with Kid Rock on the song "Picture" during Rock's "surprise" appearance at Friday's CMA Music Festival concert at LP Field.

"He's been to our studio before and worked, he's a great guy and it was a blast. I had so much fun."

Martina was at it again Saturday with her annual appearance at the charity auction benefiting the YWCA Domestic Violence Center. Martina says not only does the event generate much-needed funds, but it also gives her an extra bit of personal motivation.

"This coincides with my closet cleaning every year. I brought out some items that are really special to me, the dress I wore to sing at the White House for Stevie Wonder and the dress I wore on the Flameworthys a couple years ago to close the show," she said, referring to the former name of the CMT Music Awards.

"It's an opportunity for me to go through and try to figure out what would really mean a lot to my fans and what would bring the most money for the YWCA."

TIMC: "Aldean keeps music going late-night for Komen For the Cure benefit"

(This story appeared Saturday, June 13 on TuneInMusicCity.com)

So many aspects of CMA Music Festival involve hybrids.

For the fans, the week is both a vacation and a chance to celebrate their favorite music and artists. For the artists, the fan interaction merges with the opportunity to get exposed to a wider audience.

So when an event within CMA Fest can serve two purposes – late-night fan party and worthwhile cause benefit – even better.

Friday night’s Jason Aldean-headlined show at the Wildhorse Saloon featured the requisite special guests, as hitmakers Luke Bryan and Jake Owen brought the party straight over from LP Field to play short sets after newcomer Ashley Ray opened the show.

But the true stars of the night were the breast cancer patients and survivors supported by the Susan G. Komen For The Cure organization, the event’s beneficiaries. Having such an event tied in with country music’s biggest party is a natural for an organization that celebrates cancer survival alongside early detection and education.

“Country music has such a universal message and the fan base is so broad, it really helps us reach every element of the fan base with our message,” said Tracy Rode, president of the Greater Nashville affiliate of the Komen organization. “There’s so much work to be done to cure breast cancer, but everyone’s involvement can really make a difference.”

Aldean, who was whisked from his prime-time slot at the stadium to the Wildhorse, said the loss of the wife of one of his best friends to breast cancer at age 29 got him involved with the organization, and that the multi-purpose event suits him well.

“It’s something we started doing back in 2005 and it’s gotten a little bigger and better every year. It’s a really serious disease, but at the same time we have a lot of fun with the show,” Aldean said. “It’s not all about the sad side of breast cancer. There are so many people who are survivors of it, and the other thing is that affects both men and women, which is something not everybody realizes.”

“CMT Top 20 Countdown” host Lance Smith served as emcee for the event, and even amidst the hectic pace of the week, noted that this event was a personal highlight. “I get asked to do a lot of events because I’m that four-letter word – host – but really it’s just about friendships and relationships,” Smith said. “Then you look at what it’s for, and everyone’s been affected by cancer, directly or indirectly. When you see benefits like this, it’s easy to say yes, regardless of who you know.”

TIMC: "World’s Strongest Redneck works over CMA festival"

(This story appeared Friday, June 12 on TuneInMusicCity.com)

Steve McGranahan stands out.

At six feet tall and 375 pounds, the North Carolina native gets his fair share of requests for pictures. His favorite pose? Lining up his 22-inch biceps alongside somebody’s thigh. McGranahan’s arms are usually bigger.

The photo requests are merely part of the gig of being the “World’s Strongest Redneck,” the moniker McGranahan has used through stand-up comedy, motivational speaking and, most famously, appearances on CMT’s “Country Fried Home Videos” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” showcasing his feats.

McGranahan’s fame has literally been built by hand, using his prodigious hand strength to rend, morph or otherwise obliterate objects into shreds — or works of art. One of McGranahan’s favorite tricks is to twist — by hand — a horseshoe into the shape of a heart.

He did it back stage Thursday at Cadillac Ranch for an appreciative and awed Bo Bice as part of the hectic schedule McGranahan was keeping during CMA Music Festival.

In-between the A-list superstars and the street-level performers just trying to get noticed during the Country Music Association’s festival is a galaxy of potential stars with a story, a gimmick and some professional experience trying to make that next step. McGranahan knows that even 10 years into this kind of career, there are logical progressions to that step.

“The goal here is getting sponsors, growing the brand out there, hopefully getting some more support,” McGranahan says. “There’s strategy behind it, sure, but a lot of it is just going through the doors as they open. We did more in the first day of my visit this year than we did the whole time last year. Each year, we build upon what we did last year and it just keeps getting bigger and better.”

In the short term, McGranahan hopes to shift his act to a touring support role for artists who love what he does while continuing to hone his feature performances. “It’s all about getting out there, getting that 15 minutes of glory every night, get the crowd fired up, laughin’, happy and exuding endorphins, then boom, let main act hit.”

Meanwhile, McGranahan is more than willing to methodically work at elevating his profile, much the same as he is methodical about honing and performing his tricks. He prays aloud before hand rolling a frying pan into what he called a “redneck hot dog cooker or blow dryer,” an object that fetched $200 during the live auction at Andy Griggs’ celebrity poker tournament.

McGranahan is careful to wrap the ends of a 60d nail (more a spike, really… 6 inches long and one gauge thick) with cowhide straps before bending it in half…one of his favorite greetings. When he hands you the nail, you can feel the heat emanating at the bend point.

And McGranahan knows what he does is unique, so much so that he offers anyone who can bend the 60d nail in half a free “World’s Strongest Redneck” T-shirt. He hasn’t parted with much clothing over the years.

“In the 10 years I’ve done this, I’ve had six guys get free shirts,” McGranahan says. “And three of ’em were from Pennsylvania. There are some strong dudes there.”

So how far can the really strong ones who don’t make it, but give it their all, bend the nail? “Usually about 10 degrees,” he says. “Beer muscles show up with these guys sometimes, too. And they wake up the next day wondering why every muscle in their bodies hurt.”

New Day for "Tonight"...

Big day in the media world yesterday as Conan O'Brien took over as the fifth host of "The Tonight Show."

And for the first time in 17 years, it felt like "The Tonight Show."

Big, expansive stage. Band to the right. Interview set to the left. Announcer/sidekick at about 8 o'clock as we're looking at the host.

And an emcee who has hit his stride in such a way that he should not only bring his hard-earned audience forward an hour with him, but is savvy enough to get the folks used to a certain sort of post-late news comedic world to stick around.

The show's cold open, with Conan realizing he hadn't done the final item on his show prep checklist and having to sprint from sea to shining sea (or at least to the Universal lot), also did one other, slightly more subversive thing.

Set with the background of Cheap Trick's "Surrender," it said that this is going to be the "Tonight Show" for Generation X, that much-maligned and now-suffering group of folks in their late 30s, early 40s who live in an absurdist world not of their own choosing.

We're the ones hopefully with kids, jobs, responsibilities (clearly, I'm not talking about myself...) that just want a look-in on the world from between our toes as we start drifting off to sleep.

And sometimes, we want that look to be a little off-kilter...Leno was never really able to provide that, certainly not in the way his predecessor could (Carnac and/or Art Fern, anyone?) and not in the way his successor will.

Amazing how different two guys from Boston can be. Part of it is their background: Leno as a stand-up guy who slugged it out in front of club crowds for years, O'Brien plucked out of a writer's room on The Simpsons who suffered his performance growing pains in front of a national TV audience (albeit small those first few years.)

But after close to 3,000 hours spent with a camera pointing at him, Conan's got this stuff down pat.

And say what you will about Leno still having a few good years in him and he's still making NBC Universal a boatload of money and he'll redefine prime-time when his new show debuts in September...it was time Conan graduated to the big stage.

So congrats to the folks at the new "Tonight Show," including recently transplanted Nashvillian/music guru Jim Pitt, on their first outing. The big-name stunt booking is going to bring them plenty of eyeballs this week, but if the first show is any indication, it'll be the quality of the production that keeps them looking in.