Me and Tammy Jo at BMI Awards.
What a week of CMA events. My run started actually Nov.1 in Bossier, Louisiana then to San Antonio and then to Houston. Incredible crowds at those shows. Thanks guys. Then we bussed from Houston after the show back to Nashville for 1:30pm CMA rehearsal. I was friggin’ nervous during the rehearsal. Went by very slow…as usual things were running way behind. I think we got out of the Sommet Center at
about 4:30.
Next day loaded up the truck with stuff and went to the SESAC awards Monday night in Nashville. ‘Watching You’ received Song Of The Year. Woo Hoo! Brian Gene White was a co-writer on that song and he is a writer for SESAC. We performed the song at the awards ceremony.
Tuesday morning…time for radio rodeo. Got up at 4:30 am. Did radio interviews till 9am. Then went to Tootsies and played live on the air from 9 -10am. It was great to see some of their listeners there with us live. Went back to the hotel. Cleaned up. Went to the BMI awards. Still strange for me to do those red carpet interviews. Got that out of the way and went inside. They took me upstairs to an empty room. So I’m standing there and Martina McBride, Tim and Faith, The Warren Brothers and about 5 other writers show up and we start posing for a picture together. We were all first time award winners as songwriters.
So we all talked a bit then headed down to the big awards dinner. I walked to my table and then I saw him…Willie. He was the honoree that night. He was surrounded by folks, but I had to meet him. So
I stood there and waited and we talked briefly. He asked what song my award was for. I said a song called ‘Watching You’. He didn’t seem to recognize the title so I said, “I’ve gotta boy that’s 6 years old. He got busted for cussing in school so I wrote a song about it.” He laughed and said, “that’s f-ing cool. Continued success my friend.” “I said you too Willie”. We took a picture and shook hands. Very nice. I milled around a while and it was strange for these people to know who I was, to know what I sang. I talked with Paul Overstreet, Dwight Yoakam, Keith Urban, Sara Evans and a bunch of song-writing heroes. Then there she was. I couldn’t believe it. As I said hi to Sara Evans, she asked,”have you ever met Sheryl Crow?” And Sheryl and I shook hands and I said” it’s a thrill to meet you, I’m a huge fan.” Sara said, ‘Yeah, who’s not’. I was tongue tied by being such a huge Sheryl Crow fan so I said good bye and walked to my seat. My wife said, ‘you should have taken a picture with Sheryl. I know she’s your secret crush.” (Rob Thomas is her secret crush). So I went back over said “I hate to bother you Sheryl, but would you mind if we took a picture together, then I’ll leave you alone and I promise.” She just laughed and stood up, and we took the picture. Then the awards began. I realized I hadn’t told her my name and she had no idea who I was. I just laughed it off. I wasn’t gonna bother her again.
Me and Willie
After several awards were given out then I heard ‘Watching You’ crank up and they started playing the video. I proudly walked up on stage and hugged my buddy Steve Dean (co-writer) and took the Award photo and headed back to my seat. On my way back I felt someone grab my arm. It was Sheryl Crow. She said, “Oh my God, I didn’t even realize who you were earlier. My two nephews turned me onto your
music a while back. Your album plays all the time at my house.” She said something like that anyhow. I was so shocked I think I said something stupid like….”Wow, thanks. Well I have a huge crush on you so I better go sit back down now. Thanks again for the picture.” She just laughed and I floated back to my seat.
Me and Sheryl Crow
Wednesday Nov 7th. Went back to Sommet Center for early run through of the show. Grabbed fast food on the way back. Dropped my wife off at the hotel so she could start getting ready and I went on to another hotel for another live radio interview. It was two o’clock and we had to be on the red carpet
by 4:30. I got back to my hotel at about 4pm. Changed clothes and we were gone. Red Carpet interview time again. Get ‘er done….got ‘er did. Got inside. Saw a few folks I knew from the road. Talked to Kenny Chesney, Paisley. Montgomery Gentry boys. Met Reba. Got to shake Strait’s hand for the second time. Show started. The rest is really a blur. I had to get out of my seat after the first
commercial break to go perform soon after. I watched some of the performances backstage. Then it was go time. I was pumped-!! We did our thing and I came back out and watched most of the rest of the show. I did leave a little before it was completely over, because I had to be on a bus headed to Roanoke, VA for a show the next night.
Me and my producer Ted Hewitt
Overall I had a blast all week. Getting to meet Willie and Sheryl and Reba. I didn’t actually get to see the show till I got back home that next Sunday afternoon. We recorded it. I was lucky to get to perform in front of a whole bunch of country music fans. That was what made it awesome. Those shows are great opportunities for me to look at that camera and see all you encouragers out there pulling for me. That’s who I’m singing to. Thanks for being there with me.
See you guys on the road.
RA
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