DAVE'S DIARY - 27/12/2023 - PREVIEW OF EPISODE 4 - SERIES 58

JIMMY BUFFETT HEADLINES NU COUNTRY TV

We honour the late Floridian singer-songwriter-sailor-pilot and author Jimmy Buffett as our headliner on Nu Country TV on Saturday December 30 at 6.30 pm on Channel 31/ Digital 44.

Texan singer-songwriter Maren Morris boomerangs to the show hosted, filmed and produced by Laith Graham and repeated Tuesday at 1.30 am.

Kentucky coal-miner's son Tyler Childers and fellow Kentuckian Carly Pearce also return.

Melbourne bluegrass band Weeping Willows join Lynchburg as North Dakota born singer, mandolinist, guitarist and western swing ace Brennen Leigh returns after touring here recently with Asleep At The Wheel.

Nu Country TV is a highlight of C 31 streaming list on Digital 44.

Further info - https://www.c31.org.au/

BUFFETT BUBBLES AS A BILLIONAIRE

Billionaire Jimmy Buffett worked as a singer-songwriter-author and pilot until shortly before he died at 76 on September 1 this year.

Jimmy was born on Christmas Day in 1946 and is fondly remembered for his Australian tours with his Coral Reefer Band.

Buffett was joined by a vast cast on latest video Bubbles Up - one of many highlights of his 36th studio album Equal Strains On All Parts.

Jimmy wrote the song with Will Kimbrough.

The video was produced by Stan Kellam and directed with Jerem Clevenger with images of Jimmy performing, sailing, flying, and visiting with fans across the globe.

He made his fortune from his Margaritaville stores and franchises that began on October 23, 1973, when Buffett walked into Woodland Studios in Nashville and recorded Come Monday for his debut album Margaritaville.

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer turned his good-time, beach-bum persona into a business empire encompassing restaurants, hotels, resorts, bars, casinos, clothing, packaged food, spirits, books, outdoor furniture, home goods and merchandise.

Much of it was branded Margaritaville after his 1977 pop and country hit signature song.

He also topped charts with It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - a 2003 duet with Alan Jackson - and his 2011 Knee Deep collaboration with Zac Brown Band.

His songs appeared on film soundtracks Rancho Deluxe, FM, Goin' West, Summer Rental, Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Urban Cowboy.

He did cameo appearances in movies and had recurring role as a helicopter pilot on TV's Hawaii Five-O in 2011-2020.

His books all made New York Times best-sellers lists.

They included Tales From Margaritaville (short stories), Where Is Joe Merchant (a novel), A Pirate Looks at Fifty (a memoir) and A Salty Piece of Land - a novel.

Buffett also wrote two musicals and two children's books.

He co-owned two minor-league baseball teams and three retirement communities. He had his own cannabis brand, as well as a video game. He owned luxury real estate in five states. According to Forbes, he was worth more than $1 billion.

CLICK HERE for our Buffett Nu Country TV headlining show feature in the Diary on August 31, 2020.

MAREN MORRIS CLIMBS THE TREE

Texan singer-songwriter Maren Morris returns to our show with her unique ignition.

Maren, now aged 33, started a little arson with her fire as she tried to burn a toxic tree.

The Tree is on her EP The Bridge.

The Tree was produced by Greg Kurstin and Get the Hell Out of Here produced by Jack Antonoff.

"The Tree is about a toxic family tree burning itself to the ground,” Morris revealed.

“Halfway through, I realize it's burning itself down without any of my help. This song evokes the pain of exhausting all your love and time for this person or 'entity,' but realizing it's just a draining, transactional relationship that isn't nourishing in any healthy way. By the end of the song, I give myself permission to face the sun, plant new seeds where it's safer to grow and realize that sometimes there is greener grass elsewhere."

The video features Morris walking through boarded up town with signage "Go woke go broke" and "don't tread on me." A storefront sign proclaims, "We will miss you."

Morris and educator Karina Argow wrote picture book Addie Ant Goes On An Adventure for Chronicle Chroma.

Maren divorced fellow singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd after five years of marriage on October 2.

The couple share three year-old son, Hayes Andrew Hurd.

Morris and Hurd's friendship began during a meeting to write songs and married in Nashville in March of 2018.

CLICK HERE for a Morris feature in The Diary on June 18, 2016.

TYLER CHILDERS

Kentucky coal-miner's son Tyler Childers, now 32, takes viewers behind the scenes in his latest video.

Childers demonstrates the work necessary to create a safe stage for his concerts.

Tyler also showcases his equestrian skills off stage as he rides in daylight in his video for Rusting In The Rain - his sixth album title track.

Childers toured here in 2019 with the late John Prine.

CLICK HERE for Childers Purgatory CD feature in The Diary on September 16, 2019.

CLICK HERE for Childers Country Squire CD feature in The Diary on March 4, 2019.

BRENNEN LEIGH FROM WILLIAMSTOWN TO ARKANSAS

Western swing singer-mandolinist-guitarist and singer-songwriter Brennen Leigh also returns to Behind Bars.

Brennen took us on a journey of her dreams after touring here with western swing kings Asleep At The Wheel.

Brennen, now 39, joined Ray Benson's combo in their video for In Texas With A Band from her seventh album Obsessed With The West.

They played Out On The Weekend festival at Williamstown.

Her new single video Running Out Of Hope, Arkansas is on her eighth album Ain't Through Honky Tonkin Yet.

Further info - https://www.brennenleigh.net/

WEEPING WILLOWS AND LYNCHBURG

Melbourne dual Golden Guitarists the Weeping Willows join fellow duo Lynchburg - Allan Caswell and Lindsay Waddington - on their Nu Country return.

They perform Together With You written by Allan and Lindsay for Lynchburg 's self-titled album released this year.

Highett based Weeping Willows - Andrew Wigglesworth and Laura Coates - perform Until This Song Ends on Lynchburg 's album.

Weeping Willows also won Golden Guitars for Instrumental of Year with Southern Gothic and Bluegrass Recording of Year with Black Crow.

They previously fronted our show with House of Sin from third album You Reap What You Sow in 2022.

The duo also appeared on Nu Country with Devil's Road - fifth single on second album Before Darkness Comes A-Calling, The Pale Rider, Travelling Man, The Roses Fall and Golden Days with Allan Caswell .

Further info - http://www.theweepingwillows.com.au/#hom

CLICK HERE for a Caswell feature in The Diary on September 19, 2016.

CARLY PEARCE WRITTEN IN STONE

Grammy winning Kentucky bluegrass singer-songwriter Carly Pearce is joined by Kentucky coal-miner's son Chris Stapleton in her Nu Country return.

The duo's We Won't Fight Any More video follows her fourth album Written In Stone.

Carly also fronted Nu Country TV with What He Didn't Do from her third album 29 - Written In Stone.

Pearce, now 33, and Arkansas traveller Ashley McBryde won Grammy and CMA awards for Never Wanted To Be That Girl that also featured on our show.

She also fronted Nu Country with Dear Miss Loretta - her evocative homage to fellow Kentucky born belle Loretta Lynn who died last year at 89.

Further info - https://www.carlypearce.com/home

WIN WAYLON, GEORGE JONES AND MERLE HAGGARD

Help us celebrate being Nu Country TV members and win albums by late Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Highwaymen by becoming a Nu Country member or renewing your membership.

George, Waylon, Merle and Willie Nelson were among country historian Barbara Dowling's favourite Texans.

The Waylon, Highwaymen, Merle and George discs were donated by Barbara who died at 77 in December, 2020.

She co-hosted Long In The Saddle in our Nu Country FM era and was pioneer Australian and Victorian country music awards judge.

Barbara was admired for rising above losing her sight as a young woman and her country passion with annual trips to Waylon's birthplace in Littlefield, West Texas.

Waylon died at 64 on February 13, 2002, and is survived by singing spouse Jessi, now 80, and son Shooter, 44.

WIN KEITH URBAN CDS ALSO

We have expatriate Australasian superstar Keith Urban's chart topping 12th album The Speed Of Now - Part 1.

Also BR5-49 CD Big Backyard Beat Show and Billy Ray Cyrus's historic 1992 album Some Gave All featuring Achy Breaky Heart.

We have other CDS by major artists you can win by becoming a Nu Country TV member or renewing memberships.

They include Brad Paisley, Eric Church, Kip Moore, Carrie Underwood and late larrikin legend A.P. Johnson.

CLICK HERE for our Membership Page for details.

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