Blair Garner Q&A Country's Mane Event
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November 14, 2016, Issue 525 Family Time: Blair Garner Q&A Radio is radio. Or is it? With Blair Garner’s return to overnights, the man who defined the space with After MidNite brings newfound perspective from his three-year run at the helm of America’s Morning Show. Country Aircheck asked him about designing The Blair Garner Show as it supplants Cumulus’ Kickin’ It With Kix on more than 100 stations. CA: So how’s it going so far? BG: It feels like an amazing homecoming. Most importantly, it’s been great for my family, which was the reason to make the change in the first place. The fact that I just voted and my kids got to experience that with their dad is something that wouldn’t have happened had I still been doing the morning show. Mornings are tough, but did that surprise you? No, but I thought I could segment things a little bit better. The machine of doing mornings is all-consuming, so when I was with the kids, I found I wasn’t mentally with them. You’re always thinking, “How can I use this on the show?” That’s good, but also doesn’t allow you to fully drink in moments with family. People doing mornings get the most press and promotional Core Vets: Big/Thirty Tigers’ Aaron Watson (fourth from left) time, but the fact is there’s a significant price with veterans at KAGG/Bryan, TX Friday (11/11). that they pay for taking on that shift. What’s different about the new show Blair Garner and what’s your schedule like now? Country’s Mane Event I saw an opportunity to be less evergreen with the daypart and to Art imitates life ... and then inspires a book. Author (and former be more in the moment and topical. I’ve built a studio at my house Country Aircheck staffer) Erin Duvall says a certain Nashville and it’s amazing what that allows. Take for example the CMAs. I can actor’s enviable tresses were the impetus for go to the show and come back and add in what has just happened, her new book Country Music Hair. “Connie which allows us to live in the moment with the listeners. With the Britton’s hair has its own Twitter account,” she home studio and Nash campus [I have] the best of both worlds. explains. After discussing the idea with her To what degree are you live each night? editor, Duvall was on a mission to explore the It’s a mix and depends what’s going on. There are nights non-musical roots of country – the bleachable, [without much] going on and I may have a family commitment tease-able, perm-able ones. to honor, so I can do the show in advance. Given my preference, “In all walks of life, whether you’re a we’d be live. We’re still finding our legs a little bit. country singer or not, your hairstylist knows Erin Duvall (continued on page 6) more about you than anybody else,” says ©2016 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] November 14, 2016 Page 4 Duvall, who spent months chatting with artists and Nashville’s top MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE stylists to get the inside scoop on some of country’s most iconic styles. “It’s a very intimate relationship, because you’re trusting Universal Music Publishing Group Exec. them with a very important part of who you are.” VP/GM Kent Earls discusses his most As anyone who’s ever influential music: spent time in a salon knows, 1. Charlie Daniels Band's "The Devil chair chat quickly goes from Went Down To Georgia": That song and small talk to sharing details subsequently the Volunteer Jams in the mid- one might only confide in 1980s at Starwood Amphitheatre (outside a therapist’s office. Duvall Nashville) began my love affair of both Kent Earls found that the case when country and southern rock music and my interviewing hairstylist Nanette first of many concerts at Starwood. England, whose clients 2. Randy Travis' "Forever and Ever, Amen," co-written included the late Tammy by Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet: The opening Wynette. England not only performance at this year CMA Awards reminded me when styled Wynette’s wigs but got I bought the Always & Forever album, after I heard this a backstage pass to the ups crossover smash. and downs of the star’s love 3. Garth Brooks: The No Fences and Ropin' the Wind albums, life, including her turbulent along with Garth's 1994 tour stop at MTSU's Murphy Center marriage to George Jones. took country music to a new stratosphere. I was fortunate to “Brenda Lee’s publicist put begin my career in the industry at such a wonderful time. me in contact with Nanette,” 4. U2's Rattle and Hum movie: I watched this says Duvall. “I called her "rockumentary" over and over for several years in college. I can and she said, ‘I’m cutting a friend’s hair. Come on over.’ I didn’t still quoteUPDATE lines from it. Their music and lyrics are timeless. know what to expect when I got there. We sat down, I think she 5. Sam Hunt's Montevallo: He is a genre-defining superstar was having a cocktail – and she gave me an amazing interview.” and an incredible hit songwriter. The first time I heard "Take Among England’s memories: washing Wynette’s hair in a truck Your Time" it blew me out of my chair. I'm so proud to work in stop bathroom sink (“You made the best of a bad situation.”); this market where Country radio has really embraced Sam and hanging out with Burt Reynolds when he dated Wynette (“He was his music. very personable and fun.”); and witnessing June Carter Cash • A highly regarded song or album you've never prevent a wardrobe malfunction for The Johnny Cash Show guest heard: The 2011 Grammy-winning Album of the Year by Linda Ronstadt. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs. I never got around to listening to it Nashville hairstylist and Trumps Salon owner Earl Cox revealed and now it seems too late. to Duvall that his former client Barbara Mandrell, who toured with • "Important" music you just don't get: Frank Ocean. Patsy Cline as her steel guitar player, did Cline’s hair on the road. • An album you played incessantly: License To Ill by Cox also divulged another secret behind a ‘90s star chopping Beastie Boys. her hair. “As a child of the ‘80s who is obsessed with ‘90s country • Obscure or non-country song everyone should listen music, one of my biggest memories was when Faith Hill cut her to right now: "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots. It's a first listen hair,” she says. “It was great being able to talk to Earl Cox and hit that you sing all day long. have him explain that there was no, ‘We wanted to make a big • Music you'd rather not admit to enjoying: "Let It Go" bold statement and cut her hair off.’ It was simply, her hair was by Idina Menzel because my daughters love it. My youngest unhealthy and they decided to start over.” makes me sing the first verse and chorus every night before Duvall says one of her favorite interviews was with ‘90s star bed. And it's the first song I ever heard use the phrase "frozen Travis Tritt, who, at the insistence of his label, cut his hair at the fractals all around." beginning of his career – and then immediately regretted it. “He’s ©2016 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] November14, 2016 Page 5 Watch Band: Curb’s Rodney Atkins and friends celebrate “Watching You” as the No. 1 song of Country Aircheck’s first decade. Pictured (l-r) are Curb Publishing’s Colt Murksi, producer Ted Hewitt, the label’s Jeff Tuerff, Samantha DePrez, Mike Rogers and Ryan Dokke, Atkins, CA’s Lon Helton, and Curb’s RJ Meacham, Benson Curb and Jim Ed Norman. not someone I thought would be very passionate about his hair, but Chart Chat he had a lot to say,” she recalls. “His hair was a very important part Congrats to Cole Swindell, Kristen of his brand, and I loved the way he talked about it.” Williams, Chris Palmer, Katie Bright and Country Music Hair covers hairstyles from the 1960s through the WMN promotion staff on securing this week’s today – though Duvall says current hair trends are undefinable. “I No. 1 with “Middle Of A Memory.” The song is think this is the era of ‘no look,’” she says. “This is the era of ‘You Swindell’s sixth consecutive chart-topper and the can do what you want.’ You can be Tyler Hubbard and have a second from his current album You Should Be Here. man bun. There are no rules at the moment.” And kudos to Bobby Young and the Buy Country Music Hair here. Reach Duvall here. Capitol team on landing 42 adds for Dierks Cole Swindell –Wendy Newcomer Bentley’s “Black,” topping this week’s board. ©2016 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] November 14, 2016 Page 6 News & Notes Springfield, IL as GM. (11/9) Jamie Lynn Spears has signed with Ontourage • WBWL/Boston’s Lance Houston and Colton Bradford Management.