RIP Country Radio…
Time of Death: Approximately 5:00 pm.
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Cause of Death: Murdered by Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson, one of country music’s best singers, best songwriters, and last great defenders of traditional country music, took the stage in Lincoln, Nebraska, yesterday for their Lincoln On The Streets event, that also featured performances from Ella Langley and Blackberry Smoke.
According to Saving Country Music, some local pop country radio DJs from KX96.9 took the stage between sets, and perhaps underestimating the kind of crowd on hand, it sounds like they weren’t very… welcome.
And Jamey let them know:
“There was a radio station that came out on this stage uninvited to run a little pep rally before I came out. I feel like I oughta tell you, I don’t really care what radio station you listen to in the morning, they’re all good.
They’re all good, that one ain’t no better than any of the other ones. And the thing is, none of them play my music, so why should they be up on my stage talking to you?”
“I thought we had a good deal worked out. Y’all don’t play my music, and I don’t play yours, so stay the fuck off my stage.
‘Kix’ whatever the fuck your name is… who gives a shit…”
DAMN.
Needless to say, some of the local radio crew took exception to Johnson’s statements:
what’s funny @jamey_johnson is that you have in fact graced our signal and I personally played it heavily during my nebraska nights live show so that was pretty fucked up but hey whatever right? I used to respect you. Shouldn’t be surprised though. Have a great set.
— Coryelle Thomas (@CoryelleThomas) August 13, 2022
Another DJ chimed in as well:
Pretty sure we play:
The Dollar
In Color
High Cost of Living
+ That Lonesome Song is one of @Husker_Nick’s favorite)
Between Jennings and Jones (One of mine)
& after hearing you wrote “Give it Away” it got me through a real shitty divorce
But thanks for that @jamey_johnson— JPOnKX 👻🎙 (@JPonKX) August 13, 2022
At least Nick was honored:
😂 @jamey_johnson just openly mocked me on stage bc I’m the morning show guy and I am so fucking honored. Here is me w my dad & my father in law bc we love this man’s music. pic.twitter.com/Vyq8H40LyE
— Nick Gregath (@Husker_Nick) August 13, 2022
After the fiery rant, Jamey went into a performance of “Can’t Cash My Checks,” dedicated to his co-writer on the song, Jason “Rowdy” Cope.
“This one’s for ol’ Rowdy Jason Cope.”
Rowdy is the late great guitar player and founder of The Steel Woods, who passed away at the beginning of this year. Cope played guitar for Jamey before The Steel Woods took off in 2016.
God bless Jamey Johnson.
Here’s the video from Nebraska Country & Red Dirt Music:
Jamey Johnson On Covering The Country Music Greats
Talk about wisdom from a legend.
Jamey Johnson is about as real as they come, as he prides himself in writing songs about real life, everything from hardships growing up, to personal experiences.
Recently, he sat down for an interview with the Country Music Hall of Fame, discussing the importance of carrying on the legacy of country stars who both inspired and came before him.
In the video, he talks about how many of the all time greats in country music have passed on, from Merle Haggard, to Johnny Cash, to George Jones.
His biggest fear is that shallow songwriting about “beer” and “partyin’” could erase the memory and importance of the true country music legends.
“Without people like me out there covering their songs, they just stop. If nobody was singing Johnny Cash, there’s a whole generation that would grow up without Johnny Cash. And if you ask me, that’s not gonna be a good world.
The young artists today… it’s important they learn those songs, it’s important that they pass it along. That you pay respect but that you also pass along the ministry of those important singers.
They had a lot to say that matters.”
He also discussed how he didn’t realize the importance and relatability of those songs until a little later in his music career:
“You don’t realize that until you get some age to ya… when I was young, I didn’t understand Merle Haggard lyrics, the same way that I did when I got to be 25, 30, 40 years old.
Those lyrics hold more truth, and more wisdom, and more meaning than you could possibly realize.
I just view myself as a torch that’s passing down (music) from one generation to the next, and if I could be used in that way, maybe that’s a good purpose.”
Real recognizes real.
All I gotta say is, we need some new Jamey Johnson music soon. It’s been way too long.
Unfortunately, we got a false alarm here recently as one of Johnson’s bandmates told the world there was a new album in the works, but Johnson declined the rumors.
Here, @jamey_johnson offers perspective on why it’s important to carry forward the music and traditions of Outlaw country’s creative beacons — including @OfficialWaylon, @WillieNelson, and @Jessi_Colter.
More in ‘Outlaws & Armadillos’: https://t.co/79rWK2md2w pic.twitter.com/EcQYaxtzXv
— Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (@countrymusichof) August 2, 2021
And speaking of covers, check out this badass video of Jamey covering a George Jones medley: