NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Lorrie Morgan gets her Romney on (from the mailbag)

Accepting the extended personal invitation of Gov. Mitt Romney, Lorrie Morgan performed at the first 2012 Republican rally setting the stage for Gov. Romney's public address before more than 6,000 supporters in Denver, Colorado early last week.

Morgan appeared at Romney's first rally "Wings Over The Rockies" on Monday, October 1, 2012 held at The Air & Space Museum in Denver. She hailed our country with her rendition of the national anthem and performed her hits

"I Didn't Know My Own Strength" and "Except For Monday." Her closing performance of "Trilogy" moved the audience to tears and a standing ovation in adoring admiration.

Hank Williams Jr. bashes Obama at the fair

Well there went your White House invite, Hank. 

Yeah, like that was really coming any time soon.

Hank Williams is back to his old Obama bashing ways and according to the Des Moines Metromix (via THR), on Friday decided to tell fans at the Iowa State Fair how he really felt. 

"We've got a Muslim president who hates farming, hates the military, hates the U.S. and we hate him!"

Apparently the crowd loved it and responded with cheers.

Of course, these comments are no surprise since Hank made similar ones in last month's Rolling Stone interview where he said, "I mean, the guy is the worst. Giveaway programs, hates America in the first place, forget about the flag."

Then there was last year when Hank got fired from his long-running 'Monday Night Football' gig after telling Fox & Friends that House Speaker John Boehner playing golf with the president was "like Hitler playing golf with [Israel Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu."

Then on his newest album 'Old School, New Rules', there's a song called Take Back Our Country where there's a line that says, "Hey Barack pack your bags, head to Chicago, take your teleprompter with you so you'll know where to go." 

I don't know. Freedom of speech is one thing, but am I the only one who thinks that Hank could use a little more discretion in his opinions to at least keep himself from sounding like a complete nut? 

Yeah, that'll probably happen about the same time he gets an invite to the White House for tea with the president. 

Willie Nelson hacked or high? Agrees to be Roseanne Barr's presidential running mate

Well now this has certainly taken an interesting turn. 

As I told you a couple of days ago, comedienne Roseanne Barr has decided to try her hand at politics and is currently seeking the Green Party nomination for President of the United States.  Girl was serious enough to have landed a spot on California's ballot for the state primary in June.

Well after successfully getting started in her new political career, Roseanne decided that the perfect running mate would be none other than Willie Nelson. After tweeting Willie several times asking him to be her vice presidential candidate, Willie finally tweeted back a polite thank you but no thank you. 

You would have thought that would be the end of the story, but then you'd be wrong. After a day or two of thought, Willie apparently changed his mind and decided that he wound in fact make a great vice president and tweeted to Roseanne: 

@TheRealRoseanne I would be happy to run w u After thinking about it awhile it kept sounding better Are u still interested? Love, Willie

Holy crap, what??? 

I think Roseanne sort of thought the same thing because she seemed rather excited with Willie's change of heart, tweeting back:

WILLIE I THANK GOD FOR YOU!! May intelligence help us save our country!! BARR/NELSON2012

So now Willie Nelson's running for office with Roseanne Barr. Wow. 

But wait, not so fast!

Shortly after accepting the job, Willie wrote back:

@TheRealRoseanne I see u are speaking to some1 else regarding ur vp running mate I know whoever ur choice is they will be happy to serve w u

@TheRealRoseanne Im not ready 2 get n2 politics I have stayed away this long I am content 2 sit on the sidelines & criticize every1 else

@TheRealRoseanne Good luck with your campaign. Love, Willie

Okay, I have just one thing to say....hahahahaha.  I'm honestly thinking Willie may have did a little casual tweeting while he was engaged in his favorite plant-based past time before waking up and wondering what the hell he'd gotten himself into.   

That or Snoop Dogg took over his Twitter as a joke.  

Roseanne apparently wondered something similar because she tweeted back:

@willienelson wtf??? I told EVERYONE THAT YOU ACCEPTED, DUDE! you can't back out now! Your country needs you!

Roseanne took to groveling, begging, and direct messaging Willie but there's no word yet on whether she's gotten her running mate back or not.  

You can (and definitely should) check out the whole funny conversation here.  

TO BE CONTINUED???

If Roseanne Barr had her way Willie Nelson would be the next Vice President of the United States

Photos courtesy of Willie Nelson and Roseanne Barr's Twitter accounts

Well now this is entertaining.  

Did you hear that Roseanne Barr (yes, that Roseanne) has thrown her hat into the presidential race?  Well she has.  Back in February, the comedienne announced via her Twitter account that she was running for president and would be seeking the Green Party nomination.  

And she wasn't kidding, promptly filing the proper paperwork to make everything legit and even made it onto California's ballot for the state primary in June. 

Well, like any good presidential candidate (and tweeter), Roseanne decided to pick a running mate and announce it via Twitter.  

On Monday, Roseanne tweeted, "My Vice President will be announced at the debate in San Francisco this Saturday. I want Willie Nelson as Vice President."  

Then she sent a few tweets directed at Willie who finally tweeted back his decision not to join her on the campaign trail - "Thank you but no thank you. Good luck to you!" 

Awww, what a bummer.  So far Roseanne hasn't taken to her Twitter account to try and wrangle up a new running mate, although I'm pretty sure John Goodman's free.  

Michele Bachmann hires Randy Travis

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

I have a confession to make....I don't follow politics.  

I know, I know, how utterly un-American.  I should be ashamed and trust me, I am.   

But what I do follow is late night comics and Gawker.com, so I have to say that while my knowledge of presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann is limited, I do find the things she does both scary and hilarious.

I also have to say, though, no matter how scary and hilarious I may rightly or wrongly find Congresswoman Bachmann, I can't fault her choice in music.  

Politico.com is reporting that Michele Bachmann has hired - or borrowed or begged or whatever it is that political people do to get singers to attend their events - Randy Travis to perform at an upcoming Iowa political thingy mcbobber.  

The upcoming Iowa Straw Poll will be a little bit country thanks to Michele Bachmann. The Republican presidential candidate announced on Tuesday that country music star Randy Travis will perform at the event, along with country artists Richie McDonald and Tim Rushlow and Christian singer Charles Billingsley.

“I am a huge Randy Travis fan and I am honored he will be with us on August 13 to help make this day fun and meaningful for our supporters and their families, as well as to encourage all straw poll attendees, regardless of their candidate of choice, to come together to help support Iowa’s returning military veterans,” Bachmann said in a press release. 

Team Bachmann also promises to provide barbecue, beverages and an air-conditioned tent.

You can find out more about the Iowa Straw Pole here. 

Willie Nelson would like you to pick your own darn candidate

 
Teapot Party picture via www.teapotparty.org

Back a few months ago Willie Nelson was arrested for pot possession. 

Then he got off with a slap on the wrist for his pot possession. 

Then Willie got all political and started the Teapot Party in the hopes of getting America's leaders to come over to his way of thinking and legalize pot. 

Because, darn it, Willie's getting tired of being arrested for his recreational habits. 

Okay, I made that last part up.  

Anyway, today it's been widely reported that Willie and his Teapot party had picked their first candidate to endorse for president - former New Mexico Republican Gov. Gary Johnson, a man apparently after Willie's own heart when it comes to marijuana legalization. 

But now it seems Willie's had a change of heart and doesn't want to endorse anyone because he thinks we should all grow up, grow a set, and pick our own damn candidates. 

Okay, I made that last part up too, but Willie does want us to use our brains, follow our hearts, and pick who we want to pick.  

From Celeb Stoner: 

Willie then wrote back: "The Teapot Party is millions of people. It's not me. I jokingly said after I got out of jail in Texas that there is a Tea Party and there should be a Teapot Party. The difference between us is we follow our own drummer. No one can tell us how to think. If we back someone that's us telling them how to vote. I'm not qualified. You can say or do anything you like and I will do the same but let's don't back a political candidate. Let's give our opinions and say what we know about everyone but let's let everyone decide for themselves."

"I still say that the people have the power to change things and they will if they vote.," Nelson replied. "The Teapot Party started as a joke but it could still be a way for people to speak out about important things. I am not a criminal. The millions of pot smokers in this country are not criminals. We don't like being treated as such and I for one will stand up for what I believe in and will vote for anyone I choose. You should do the same. We are not ever going to agree on everything and everybody. The best advice I ever got was from my ex father-in-law. He said take my advice and do what you want to. End of story."

I feel such an affinity with Willie right now - I have the same problem with people taking me far more seriously than I take myself.  

Willie did have one final thing to say about the predicament: "This will blow over and the world moves on. No harm done. We sound like a bunch of pot smokers, that's all."

So there you go, study up and pick who you feel is the right candidate for you and your beliefs.  A wise man, that Willie Nelson.  

John Rich gets Joe the Plumber

 
Remember way back when when Obama was still just the wannabe president and the every-working-man Joe The Plumber made the scene and suddenly everyone was talking about this man who supposedly represented the hard-working, blue-collar, tax-paying man?  Then about a week before the election news hit that Joe was looking into releasing a country CD.

Then he just sort of disappeared.

Well Joe the Plumber is back.  Please, hold your applause. 

Joe is actually back in sort of a big way....at least for a day.  The every-day-working-man-representative will be hitting the the stage in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on June 26th at the Ford Center for the third stop on the Taking Our Country Back Tour.  Also appearing at that tour stop will be John Rich and talk show host Glenn Beck

"Growing up, my dad regularly had me read the newspaper," said Joe. "With the dictionary right next to me, every time I didn't know a word he would say, 'Look it up.' That is part of my message to the American people: Stop listening to other people and 'Look it up!' You were blessed to be born in this country, with this blessing comes responsibility. "

"We need to elect 'Americans' not Republicans or Democrats," said Joe.

As for the country CD Joe had hopes of, I'm still not sure what happened to that whole project, but somehow I have a feeling we may soon be finding out.

For more information regarding the tour go to www.takingourcountrybacktour.com/index.html.

Country and politics converge again

Oh those country singers just can't stay away from the political scene.  From Tim McGraw mulling over a run for Tennessee governor to Gretchen Wilson and John Rich performing for the Glenn Beck Taking Our Country Back Tour, country stars love getting involved in the political process.   

This go around, though, things are a little different because it's not someone just considering a run and it's not someone performing for someone else's political rally, it's a country singer with an actual political platform and honest to goodness political aspirations.

Roughstock is reporting that Sammy Kershaw is running for Lt. Governor of Louisiana. 

“This is the ‘Real People Campaign.’ I am running for the average, hardworking citizens of this state, who are tired of career politicians and political insiders using this seat, and their taxpayer dollars, as a place to bide their time until they can run for some other position.   The primary responsibility of the Lt. Governor is to serve as Louisiana’s Ambassador.  This job is about introducing the unique people, culture and heritage of this state. I have been in the promotion business my entire career and no one is more qualified to do this job than I am.  It’s time the people have someone in this position who not only can do the job, but wants the job,” said Kershaw.

Sammy ran for the same office back in 2007. 

So do you think Sammy will perform at his own rallies or will he get some famous friends to help him out?  Hmmm.

You can read more on Sammy on his website at www.sammykershaw2010.com.

Sarah Palin apparently doesn't do favors

John Rich has been a strong supporter of Sarah Palin for years now. He's done appearances, concerts, hosted shindigs, etc. for Sarah and her running mate John McCain and various other Republican politicians along the way.

Sarah Palin has a new Fox News show debuting on Thursday called "Real American Stories."

One of Sarah's first guests is.......Toby Keith.

Thanks John for all your support, now let's see if Toby's free.

Oh, I'm sure there's no animosity, I just like to find the drama in every situation, it makes things a bit more interesting around here.   

And speaking of John and politics, he will be headlining this year's Tax Day Tea Party rally at the Hendersonville City Hall on April 15.  More info here if interested.

Thanks Sarah for all your politicking, now let's see if George W.'s available.

He he.

John Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Sarah Palin are trying to take back our country

I'm sure there's a joke in here somewhere, you betcha.

John Rich and Gretchen Wilson are set to perform on March 13 at the Tulsa Convention Center as part of Glenn Beck's Taking Our Country Back tour, which John Rich helped to plan.

Also attending the rally will be ex Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.  

Tickets for the rally and concert cost from $45 to $100.

John Rich will also attend a second rally (though probably minus Sarah and Gretchen) in April in Kansas City and if the two "tour" stops are successful then up to 10 more events are being planned.

I must be joked out today because I honestly can't come up with nothin'. Sorry to let you all down.

You can read more about the Taking Our Country Back tour here.