Country Mike Blog

Duets, Medleys and Niemann

Mike Sudhalter  |  May 16, 2007

I don't want to hear about any more duets where it's simply an artist singing backup vocals. I was looking forward to hearing Miranda Lambert sing on Jason Aldean's upcoming second album, Relentless, but she's only singing harmony. Whatever happened to the great team duets like George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Heck, I'd even settle for Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, if they're both singing lead vocals.

One artist I'd like to see succeed is Jerrod Niemann, an artist from Liberal, Kansas who has a strong mix of ballads and uptempo songs. His first single, "I Love Women My Momma Can't Stand" was co-written by Rhett Akins. I saw Akins perform the song at the Rodeo Club last spring, and I could tell it's a song with great energy and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

My favorite Niemann song, however, is "Yellow Brick Road", which describes his upbringing in rural, western Kansas.

On to the classics, this video is priceless. Check out Charley Pride and Johnny Cash singing Hank Williams classics.

Two of the greatest country artists of our time singing the songs of the ultimate country singer. And what a compliment for Cash to say Pride sounds so much like Williams!