LUCKY OLD RUM (Items on Kenny Chesney, Farm Aid, Patty Loveless, Tracy Lawrence, Phil Vassar, Randy Travis, Vince Gill, Elvis, Gone Country)

This just seemed inevitable...
Kenny Chesney is developing a brand of rum with the good folks at Constellation Spirits. But don't expect to see KC's kisser on bottles festooning the aisles at your local hoochmart. Rather, he'll help with not only the development of the booze, but with marketing as well. A spokesperson says that could include the rum finding "its way into one of (his) songs."
And if you think that's heresy, keep this in mind: the same spokesperson says that Kenny was looking to grow "the Chesney brand," which led to the deal.

...Or They Could Suspend Their Campaigns: The Farm Aid Board of Directors, aka Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews, have crafted an open letter to Congress questioning the bailout of Wall Street. Furthermore, the guys suggest that a billion dollars directed toward American farms would yield a huge domestic harvest.

You Don't Seem to Miss Me: The Centre Daily Times has Five Questions and Patty Loveless has five answers...and here's a nice piece on her latest, "Sleepless Nights."

My Second Home: Tracy Lawrence, Phil Stacey and Tammy Cochran are among the performers slated for the 14th Annual Inspirational Country Music Award Show in Tennessee on October 16. Collin Raye will host.
Tracy is working on a gospel album as his next release.

Is She "Little Miss 4.0?": A former college mate of Phil Vassar's is a now a TV new anchor in Toledo, Ohio...and frequently joins him on stage, since she sings, too.

On the Other Pump: Q&A with Randy Travis on music, acting and the price of gas; It's been several years since he noticed that it took $700 to fill up the ol' tour bus "and it was not all the way empty."

Cincinnati Red Leg: Where was Vince Gill in the mid-70's? Strolling through Cincinnati.

King Me: Is this Michigan truck mechanic/singer/Loretta Lynn show-opener the son of Elvis? He's trying to find out.

Seed of Doubt: Nicole Kidman credits the suds of an Australian Outback waterfall to her pregnancy the led to the arrival of daughter Sunday Rose in July, but I assume hubby Keith Urban helped, too...Meanwhile, Sunday is already engaged.

He Could Be Bigger than Julio Iglesias, Jr.: ...Sebastian Bach goes from Skid Row to John Rich protégé.

Remote Patrol: Letterman has Darius Rucker by on Wednesday and Lucinda Williams Thursday...Kellie Pickler visits with Regis & Kelly on Wednesday.