I had planned on going to my mother’s this week. I had to change my plans when I realized that my court date for a traffic ticket was this Thursday morning. This morning, however, I decided to go to the courthouse and pay for the ticket rather than going to court and trying to get out of it. After paying the ticket, it was still early in the morning, and I “almost” decided to drive on down to my mother’s after all. However, then I heard that this is Bonnaroo week, and I knew that there is NO way I would drive down I-24 from Nashville to Chattanooga. Been there - done that - will never do again.

Bonnaroo is a music festival - crowded, too few porta-potties, hot, loud. Worst of all, though, is that it’s right off of I-24 in Manchester, TN, and the traffic is horrendous. Once, a few years ago, I mistakenly started on a trip to GA and ended up being stuck in traffic hell for HOURS.

Want to know more about Bonnaroo? Here’s a little more info:

Crews spent Wednesday preparing the stages where as many as 80,000 people are expected to attend. On Wednesday thousands of fans were making their way into Manchester, but other campers got a head start by arriving a day early. One of the big topics of discussion among those attending the festival this year is the price of gas.

“A lot of people are going to try to stay in RV’s. I don’t know how economical that’s going to be. But I think if people have the money they’re going to do it,” said festival fan, Will Todd.

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I don’t know anything about John Rich except that he sings in a duo called “Big and Rich.” I couldn’t name a single song of theirs. So what I’m about to write has nothing to do with whether or not I like his music. I don’t know his music, and until tonight if I’d seen him, I would have had no idea who he was.

John Rich is one of the judges on “Nashville Star” this year, and my first impression of him is not good. What an attention hog! During several of the performances, he was busy making hand gestures, talking, getting up and dancing - whatever he could to draw attention away from the contestants and onto himself. At one point when he disagreed with something Jewel said, he slammed her for being “pitchy” on some song she sang with him. Childish! So not only is he an attention hog, he’s obnoxious and catty. He was just so obviously full of himself. He reminded me of some little immature kid.

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Tonight will be the premier of this year’s “Nashville Star” show, and THIS year it is on one of the major networks - NBC. I’m excited because there is a girl on the show who just graduated from one of our high schools. She’s in a trio that includes two of her sisters, and the group is called Pearl Heart. Her name is Courtney Krechel. I have NO idea if the group is good or not, but I’ll be cheering for them anyway.

I’ve watched “Nashville Star” in the past, and it’s a good talent show. It’s not a complete copy cat of American Idol - but it’s close.

Mondays - NBC, 8:00 Central Daylight Time.

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Yea! David Cook is the winner of American Idol.

He did a lousy job last night, but overall - looking at the season as a whole - he deserves to win.

However, I believe that in the long run David Archeletta will have a more successful career. He reminds me of a young Josh Groban.

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Tonight - before American Idol started - I told RT that it was a toss-up. I could see both David Archuleta and David Cook as winners. But then I watched the show. I sat here and listened to David Archuleta and David Cook sing their three songs on the American Idol. There is no contest. The new American Idol will be David Archuleta. David Cook stunk. Even on the song that he was able to select for himself, he chose an unknown song that just wasn’t interesting. What a horrible mistake he made in song selection - three basically unknown and uninteresting songs.

David Archuleta, on the other hand, sang three wonderful songs that got the audience involved and interested. There is no way he won’t be the next American Idol.

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It’s another “Celebrate Me Home” night. Tonight either Syesha Mercado, David Archuleta or David Cook will be sent home. It will be Syesha.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Syesha will go home.

The majority of the people who watch “American Idol” are young girls - and too many of the young girls are ga-ga over the Davids. With good reason. Both Davids are incredibly talented - and they’re both easy on the eyes - if you’re a teeny-bopper.

David Archuleta has that wide-eyed baby face.

Then David Cook has that edgy baby face.
Who will win the whole thing? I could argue for either of the Davids. I think David Cook will win. However, I can see David Archuleta winning and going on to have a Josh Groban type of career. His vocals seems so effortless - and he appears humble and appreciative of his fans.

Check back later. As soon as one of the three is sent home tonight, I will post it here.

UPDATE: Syesha went home. So the finale will be the two Davids. And I believe it will be a toss-up between the two of them.

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Miley Cyrus new album comes out on July 22nd, and you can hear the first song, 7 Things, from that album. As a Miley Cyrus fan via my two grandgirls, I have seen, I believe, every single Hannah Montana episode. Last week our street was closed for a few days because Miley was filming along our road. “7 Things” is a great song. Click HERE for the lyrics and to listen.

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Here’s a beautiful song. How do you like these lyrics?

Nothing Like You And I lyrics
Artist: The Perishers
Album: Let There Be Morning

We spent some time
Together walking
Spent some time just talking
About who we were
You held my hand so
Very tightly
And told me what we
Could be dreaming of

There’s nothing like you and i

We spent some time
Together drinking
Spent some time just thinking
About days of joy
As our hearts started
Beating faster
I recalled your laughter
From long ago

There’s nothing like you and i

We spent some time
Together crying
Spent some time just trying
To let each other go
I held your hand so
Very tightly
And told you what I would be
Dreaming of

There’s nothing like you and i
So why do I even try?
There’s nothing like you and i

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One day on the way home from school, I had an oldies CD playing. Sweet Stuff was riding with me, and Elvis Presley was belting out “The Wonder of You.” I told Sweet Stuff about Elvis - about how he had a little girl and about how famous he was - and that when Sweet Stuff’s mommy was just a very little girl, he had died. I told her that I wish I had gone to one of his concerts when he was alive. Then we listened to the song and talked about how beautiful the words were and how much we liked Elvis Presley’s voice.

A couple days later, Sweet Stuff said, “Grandma Carol, play that song again. You know, that dead man’s song.”

THE WONDER OF YOU (Elvis Presley)

When no-one else can understand me
When everything I do is wrong
You give me hope and consolation
You give me strength to carry on

And you’re always there to lend a hand
In everything I do
That’s the wonder
The wonder of you

And when you smile the world is brighter
You touch my hand and I’m a king
Your kiss to me is worth a fortune
Your love for me is everything

I’ll guess I’ll never know the reason why
You love me like you do
That’s the wonder
The wonder of you

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Next week on “American Idol” the music of Neil Diamond will be featured, and Neil Diamond will be the mentor and coach of the remaining five contestants.

I looked at the official Neil Diamond website and found a page with all the Neil Diamong Songs listed, along with the lyrics to each one.

So here are MY choices of which songs each contestant should sing:
David Cook - Cherry, Cherry
David Archuletta - I’m a Believer or Play Me
Ayesha Marcada - Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show
Jason Castro - Thank the Lord for the Nighttime
Brooke White - You Don’t Bring Me Flowers or Play Me

So what do you think? I think I picked some great songs for the contestants. I took into consideration their voices and the type of song that they do best with. For Jason, I wanted to give him something a little upbeat and edgy because he keeps doing B-O-R-I-N-G songs. It’ll be fun to wait till next week and see which songs they choose

Click on the Neil Diamond Songslink, and let me know which songs you’d give each contestant.

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