"Ask Stella" is up
Current mood: talkative

Hey Everyone-

The first installment of the "Ask Stella" series is up in the video section of the myspace page.  You can now start sending in questions for the next installment.  We hope to have the next one up by the end of the month.  This month is a little more difficult, as Stella is very busy.  

Keep the questions coming.  They have been great.  Stella got a kick out of a lot of them.  

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Staff-

10:22 PM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Private Photos
Current mood: selective

Just wanted to let everyone know that the photo section has now been made viewable to "myspace friends" only.  You will have to be on Stella's friend's list to see all the goods in that section. We just added some photos from the Songwriter's Festival as well has some behind the scenes photos from Stella's most recent photo shoot. We will be adding more stuff to that section as time goes on, so keep checking back.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Staff

4:04 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Got a question?
Current mood: inquisitive

Hey Everyone-

We are starting a new feature on Stella's myspace.  We're calling it "Ask Stella."    Got a question you've always wanted to ask?  Just send your question as a myspace message with the subject line "Ask Stella".  Every two weeks we will go through the questions and pick a few for her to answer.  She will answer the questions on video that will then be added to the video section of the myspace.  The questions can be about anything from music, to recipes, to day to day things so get creative!  She will not be able to answer all of the questions, but she will get to as many as she can.  You'll have until Saturday July 12 to get your questions in for the first round.  Be sure to include your name and where your from (if you want) as Stella will read that on camera. 

Hope everyone is doing well.

Have a fun and safe July 4th.

Staff

9:12 PM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Behind The Scenes

Hey Everyone-

I just wanted to let everyone know that there is a new video from behind the scenes of CMA Music Fest.  You can find it in the video section of Stella's myspace.  The video section is right next to where you click to see the pictures.  Speaking of pictures there are some new ones we just put up, so take a look.

Keep checking back because we are going to be adding more and more stuff as the time comes. 

Hope this finds everyone well.

-Staff

6:46 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Times Are A Changin’ CMA Music Fest 2008
Current mood: artistic

Well, The music festival is over as of last night. 

I began interviews on Friday and finished on Monday.   We were up and running with an early breakfast show at the Nashville Palace in tribute to  Opry legend Billy Walker.  Billy, his wife, and two band members tragically lost their lives in a traffic accident last year.  The audience was great and the band did a fabulous job.

Jeff Cook from the group, Alabama, performed before me. I invited him to remain on stage and play with me just like old times when Alabama was my backup band; they worked with me as Wild Country before becoming Alabama.  Wild Country was a name from a bottle of aftershave available at the time. 

I did a live  radio show on Friday night just before the Opry broadcast at 8:00P.M. at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.  Jim Sales, an award-winning songwriter, joined me on the guitar.  David McCormick, the owner of Ernest Tubb Record Shop was in attendance.  David and I have been friends since he started out as a stock boy at the record store.  He owns the entire Erenst Tubb record store chain, now.

Teddy Gentry  also of Alabama fame was at Fan Fest and gave me a big hug and kiss at the press conference on Saturday.

Boy, times are a changin'.  I saw so many friends and a whole lot of new faces.  So many shows happen throughout the city, in every club, at LP field and even in the booths at the convention center.
 
I signed autographs at the Bluegrass booth on Saturday afternoon where I met a couple of new artists.  The real highlight was to see Lonzo and Oscar signing at the same time; they are legends in country and bluegrass music and certainly two of my favorites. 

I spent a couple of afternoons in the media room doing interviews and you can check out our activities on our myspace page. 

Wow! the food was soooo good in the artists lounge.  Those guys at the convention center do a great job!  We finished up the festival signing autographs and posing for pix at the GAC booth with a new young group --The Road Hammers.

My crew did a wonderful job.  Thank you: Brant, Tim, Sheena and Emily.  Adam Fisher joined us for three days.  Everyone tried to see how many times they could get Adam to carry my purse and tote bag.  He was a good sport and went along with the good natured ribbing. 

7:42 PM - 0 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Dottie Rambo passed away
Current mood: sad
Category: Friends

Dottie Rambo passed away last night in a tragic bus accident. 

From what we know, a number were injured in the unfortunate event.

Our prayers are with the families of all involved.

12:34 AM - 0 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

What A Birthday!
Current mood: happy

10:02 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Dr. Ralph Stanley’s 81st Birthday Party!

I was thrilled to sing at Dr. Ralph Stanley's 81st birthday party in Kingsport, Tennessee a couple of weeks ago.  I have always had such high regard for Dr. Stanley and the musical contribution he has made to Bluegrass music throughout his life and the effect on those who listened to his music.

Freddie Phillips, the man who asked me to join Dr. Stanley's birthday bash, suggested that I use the ETSU Bluegrass Band as my band.  They backed Porter Wagoner and Alison Krauss last year, so I figured they must be pretty good.

We sent a CD and charts for seven songs.   I expected that they would learn at least three or four of my songs leaving me the remainder to perform by myself.  Boy, was I surprised!  From the time we walked in to do rehearsal and sound check, each student in the band displayed a high degree of professionalism and skill.
 
We ran through my material only once and made a couple of  minor adjustments.  The band played with soul and precision. 

However, I was still apprehensive.  Under these circumstances, people get rattled when playing new material. Fortunately, Raymond McLain, their music professor, was in charge.  He played upright bass.  I worked with Raymond once in the studio with Jessie McReynolds (of Jim and Jessie fame); Jessie had invited me to sing harmony on an album a few years ago.  Raymond is a musical genius and uses his talents teaching these kids.

These kids performed masterfully.  I was in awe of their gifts, their attitudes, and their skills. Everything went great.  I could not have been more pleased  with the musical outcome.

The ETSU kids performed and incredible show themselves.  Everyone was entertained and totally impressed.  So often we hear how bad younger people behave, but I just want to say these kids will restore your faith in the "younger generation".  So just for the record, if you get a chance to hear these kids I highly recommend it.  You won't be disappointed.

Professor Raymond McLain, his incredible assistant, Daniel Boner and the ETSU Bluegrass Band (Haley Stiltner, Sara Needham, Leah Needham, Leona Tokutake, John Mooneyham, Colby Laney, David Grindstaff, Zack Fanok, Abe Spear) are keeping bluegrass music alive and well in Tennessee.

Rebecca Lynn Howard was also a featured performer at the birthday party and gave a fantastic performance.  What a talented young artist!

Stella, Rebecca Lynn Howard & The ETSU Bluegrass Band!

7:45 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

There Is A Fungus Among Us

In early January a story appeared in a tabloid about Dolly and me.  The article contained very unflattering photos of me and Dolly. The article was rather negative and falsely painted me as a rather small and hateful person.  At first I was very hurt over the way I was portrayed, since I take great pains to be as positive as I can be.  I make every effort to be supportive of all my family and close friends.  To have an image contrary to one's efforts and demeanor is rather jarring.

In an effort to set the record straight, I give you the following facts as I recall them.

A number of months ago I received a phone call at my office requesting an interview.  I was out of town when the call came.  As so frequently happens, I failed to return the call within the time the reporter required.  Unfortunately, instead of waiting to hear back from me, the reporter chose to use information from a "biographer" from Great Britain, instead of getting information from a direct source. 

The "biographer," who interviewed me for a very short time at the Country Music Hall Of Fame last summer, came across as arrogant, ugly, and rude; that is not uncommon in this business.  I answered a few of his questions, but cut it short when he began guiding the interview to matters I felt were inappropriate and ill-conceived.  He did not like the fact that I would not provide him with salacious details or information that would sell his "biography."

I recall leaving the interview and telling my assistant that this would not turn out well, since I didn't give the man the lurid information that he was certain existed.  His questions were beyond the pale of decency and I felt rather uncomfortable with his manner and approach.

I have encountered this before and my family has been subjected to this sort of outrageousness many times in the past. 

I later encountered this deceitful article in my exercise class.  Someone brought the article in for everyone to read.  It never ceases to amaze me at how quick people are to believe the worst out of you, especially when it's not true.  Fortunately one individual took me aside after a week or so and told me about the article and offered her support.  I appreciated her kindness and her efforts on my behalf.  Usually people will just let you suffer in silence.

Human nature seems to gravitate to gossip. It's very likely that much of the drivel about Britney Spears is fabricated to sell copy.

My brother Randy had a legal situation a few months ago in a business deal that went bad.  The press painted him as the one in the wrong.  Needless to say, no one made a big deal of the outcome of this situation when he was exonerated.  His reputation and credibility were damaged nonetheless.  Our family felt that each one of us had been attacked and suffered right along with him through it all.

No one is perfect, but the next time you read a negative story about someone you know, just  ask yourself: "How true is this garbage?"

This is a form of character assassination in the most cowardly way.  This is why I call my little rant "There is a fungus among us" fungus usually grows on garbage.

---Stella.

5:35 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos

Remembering

This has been a time of reflection for me, prompted by the observance of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. I remember where I was when we heard he had been shot. My mom, two of my sisters, Cassie and Willadeene, and I were leaving the Starday recording studio on Dickerson Road in Nashville that evening. We were recording the gospel album "In The Garden".

As we drove away from the studio, we heard over the car radio that Dr. King had been shot. We were greatly saddened by this tragedy. Mama talked about Corretta Scott King being left alone to raise her children. Someone with Dr. King's desire to help the downtrodden being so violently taken from his mission affected us all profoundly.

To this day, I wonder what would have happened if Dr. King had survived. With the greatness that his short life engendered, I wonder what his life would have entailed had the assassins bullet not taken his life?

The music of that time was reflected in the struggle of people. Johnny Cash recorded a live album at Folsom Prison which becomes a big hit. Elvis Presley made a comeback, Janis Joplin was huge and so was Jimi Hendrix. James Brown sang,"Say It Loud- I'm Black and I'm Proud". The Vietnam war raged on. My son was born in November of that year. And Judy Collins' song "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" was a hit.

Oh well, it has been quite a ride.

Little did I know that with the invention of the first word processor at Stanford University that same eventful year that we would be taken over by computers. Shucks, I can't even find spell check on this thing. Oh well, just remembering.

Love ya,

Stella.

5:12 AM - 0 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment