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APRIL 2018 Volume 49 Number 4 Issue 578
Editor Duncan Warwick
Contributors David Allan , Janet Aspley , Donnie Ayers , Craig Baguley , Larry Delaney , Don Cusic , Julie Flaskett , Kelly Gregory , Michael Hingston , Tony Ives , Spencer Leigh , John Lomax III , , Douglas McPherson , Stephen O ’ Hanlon , Roland Purdy , Adrian Peel , Paul Riley , Wayne Smart , Chris Smith , Alison Stokes , Tom Travis , Walt Trott , Jack Watkins
News
Walt Trott in Nashville Duncan Warwick in London
Forever
Changed
Assistant editor / Special projects coordinator Kelly Gregory
Photographers Helen Parish , Patricia Presley , Ian Tilbury , Barry Dixon , Billie McAleer
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Grand Ole Opry favourite Vince Gill addressed his concern about child sexual abuse from a personal level during a Country Radio Seminar appearance , Feb . 6 , where he performed Forever Changed . Gill , 61 ( on April 12 ), confided that he had been a victim himself in a Norman , Okla . school : “ I was in seventh grade and a young , dumb kid . I had a gym teacher that acted inappropriately toward me , and was trying to do things that I didn ’ t know what the hell was going on . I was just fortunate that I got up and I ran ; I just jumped up and I ran . I don ’ t know why , and I don ’ t think I ever told anybody my whole life , but even what ’ s been going on has given me a little bit of courage to speak out , too .”
It ’ s believed Vince wrote the song a while back , but from a girl ’ s point of view , though his heartfelt presentation seemed apropos considering his own experience , prompting a standing ovation : “ Too afraid to tell someone / You might as well have used a gun / She cries to Jesus to ease the pain / Because of you / She ’ s forever changed ...”
The veteran vocalist mused , “ I never really know where this song came from , other than we ’ re living in a time right now when finally people are having the courage to kinda speak out about being abused . I think that is beyond helpful , and beyond beautiful , to see people finally have a voice for being wronged .”
Huckabee hounded out
Former Arkansas Gov . and ex-presidential candidate Mike Huckabee resigned from the Country Music Association ’ s Foundation Board a day after being made a member , following wide criticism from industry members and fans . The conservative TV host ’ s known for negative views on LGBT issues , boasts strong support of the NRA , as well as extremist political stances . One dissenter was Jason Owen , an executive both with Monument Records and Sandbox Entertainment , calling Huckabee ’ s election a “ grossly offensive decision ,” in e-mails to both Sarah Traherne , CMA chief , and Tiffany Kerns , Country Music Foundation executive . Owen , whose artist clients include Faith Hill , Little Big Town and Midland , made it clear they would withdraw their support , if he remained .
Upon learning of Huckabee ’ s addition to the board , hundreds of country fans also voiced their opposition in e-mails , and suggested they would boycott both the CMA and the annual CMA Music Festival in protest . Huckabee ’ s resignation letter stated , in part , “ I genuinely regret that some in the industry were so outraged by my appointment , that they bullied the CMA and Foundation with economic threats , and vowed to withhold support for the programs for students , if I remained ... I ’ m somewhat flattered to be of such consequence when all I thought I was doing was voluntarily serving on a non-profit board , without pay , in my advocacy for the arts .”
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