Alright, it wasn't my birthday, it was my blog's. And I knew the one-year birthday was around this time but I was too lazy to look for myself so I'm guilty of not celebrating the monumentous one-year anniversary/birthday of NashvilleGab. Bad blog owner.
Oh what a crazy year it's been. My very first blog post was on June 5, 2008, when I said something about maybe not posting every day because it wasn't always easy to come up with country music news and gossip.
Ha! Double ha! If only I knew then what I know now. Would I have even started this journey had I known? I sure hope so.
It's been a crazy ride I tell you what. I've seen the birth of babies and the death of stars. I've seen Jessica Simpson rise - sorta - and fall hard. I got griped at by someone who shall remain nameless because I mispelled Eddy Arnold's name. I've watched Taylor blossom into a headlining superstar - and got to meet her. I started on one radio station and then another and another and another and now am on 13. I overcame my fear and just went for it and am so happy that I did.
I got to see my name and blog name in "Country Weekly" and then almost got sued by Chick-fil-A because I had unknowingly swiped their cows for my header. Oops. There's a story I never shared with you guys. And for future reference, ignorance is apparently not an acceptable excuse when a lawyer is talking about copyright infringement.
I've gotten dirty looks from Gloriana's road manager, had dinner with One Flew South, hugged Taylor Swift, had Kenny Chesney's people apologizing to me because they thought I was angry at them (talk about having a sense of power that day), got blown a kiss by Jay from Rascal Flatts, almost had a picture in People Magazine (almost being the important word there), had sources from unlikely and very surprising places, broke the story about John Rich getting married (well it was more like "is John Rich getting married today? and then being proven right), broke the John Rich and Jared Ashley story, had my website on Perez Hilton and OK! Magazine's websites (okay, probably not that cool, but got a lot of hits that day), got a care package from Nashville from Dawn McCoy, had a couple of very cool places email to say they really enjoy the site and it's the first thing their office looks at in the morning (of course they could have just been buttering me up), and had nasty Twitters from someone who apparently hated fat blondes who play dumb just because it's easier than being smart. Don't ask. I also had my first hate email that basically told me the same thing. May have been from the same person, I'm not sure.
So many wonderful things have happened I can't even think of them all. There have been huge highs and a few let downs. I've fought with a few blog owners (you know who you are), radio DJs (yeah, you know too), and even a radio station. I've apologized and been apapologized to, I've made friends and maybe an enemy or two, but thankfully the friends I've made far outweigh the non-friends. I've learned and laughed, laughed and learned. Heck, I've even cried a few times. I've gotten emails asking me to remove stuff (puff puff pass) and gotten personal phone calls from unexpected places. I've fought cancer and seen the birth of my first (step) grandchild and the death of a grandfather-in-law whom I loved very much.
What a year it's been. NashvilleGab has far exceeded my expectations, but on the other hand I have huge dreams that are still waiting to be fulfilled. I'm still fighting the stereotype some people in my life have that this is just a glorified hobby because I see it as so much more. My game plan is to prove the doubters wrong and show everyone who cares to notice that my wildest imagination isn't really that wild after all. But no matter what happens, I will always cherish the first year I spent trying to get my bearings. I don't suppose anything will ever top the craziness of just starting out on this journey and the only direction I see now is up.
Thank you all my loyal readers, my commenters, my email buddies, my sources, my friends on the inside, my radio peeps, my angels who have helped me with things that weren't at all blog related, my friends I've made along the way and those who have been here since the beginning (I'm talking to you "Not Carrie"). Thank you even to the haters. You all make my countless hours sitting in front of my computer staring blankly at my screen worth it, and for that I'm eternally grateful.
Shannon, you are awesome. you put up w/ so much sh!t and you still keep going! congrats on making it a year! i love how you tell it the way it is...and you are hilarious! on a personal note, i hope everything goes your way and you make strides in beating your cancer. my thoughts and prayers are with you! don't stop doing what you love!
Posted by: Christen | July 15, 2009 at 08:05 AM
Congrats on one year! I'm another fan and I'm here reading every day.
Posted by: Debbie | June 11, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Happy Birthday NashGab! I love reading your blog and I love that you always cover my fave stars and singers that aren't stars yet. Sharing in your yearly wrap up and hearing the fun stuff makes me smile; while hearing about the meanies out there makes me want to knock some people off their high horses. Ur too awesome for anyone to be mean to you! I loved the Dawn McCoy care package story - she sounds really nice and it's nice to know that there are some nice girls out there that make it. That must have been realy cool to get in the mail. And I love that the Kenny Chesney people realize that they need to keep you happy. Just goes to show that ur little blog has a far reach and here in Alabama, I;m ur biggest fan!
Posted by: bamajama | June 11, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Congratulations Nashville Gab, I love comming on here and I do, everyday to check out whats happening. Totally apppreciate everything you put into this.
Posted by: dmarie | June 11, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Chris N. | June 11, 2009 at 10:08 AM
where'd you get your saweeet new header at?! = )
Posted by: broadway | June 11, 2009 at 08:43 AM
A Big Happy Birthday!! I joined you on Twitter, and have enjoyed all your hard work! Thank you for doing this...keep up the good work and know you are very apprecaited!
Posted by: Barb | June 11, 2009 at 06:43 AM
Thank you everyone!
Posted by: Shannon | June 11, 2009 at 05:30 AM
Happy Birthday Nashville Gab! I love this site - It's one I go to for all of my country news.
Posted by: Jane | June 11, 2009 at 02:15 AM
Happy Birthday Gab! Yes...I'm addicted, so...you know, keep it up! You support my habit!
Posted by: Chris | June 10, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Congratulations on 1 year of Nashville Gab!! I always wished there was a gossip blog about country music & was hooked when I found this one!! Keep up the awesome work!!
Posted by: marissa | June 10, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Happy, happy birthday to Nashville Gab!!! Loved reading about what a "long strange trip it's been"! Had to use that line because it's so cool but actually it's been fast and successful! Very cool to see someone like yourself's dream come true! Awesome!
Posted by: Connie Lee | June 10, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Happy Birthday, Gab!!
Posted by: smokeyjoe | June 10, 2009 at 09:56 PM