Since I was awake very early this morning I happened to catch a new blurb on CNN. it was President Obama's schedule for the upcoming week. I was not paying too much attention until the Tuesday schedule was announced. It was just a few words, but it caught my attention – Country music at the White House.
Being a country music fan I thought I heard incorrectly. My husband and I listen to country music stations, and he reads Country Weekly Magazine, and watches the Opry on TV – he had not heard about it. Some quick research and now I know, and I'll share it with you.
The White House has been having a series of musical events they are calling The White House Music Series, which was introduced by First Lady Michelle Obama. They have already featured jazz at a Jazz Master Class. The series will have musicians of all ages. Interaction between musicians and children is meant to educate and enlighten the children about all types of music. The Jazz event was very successful. The White House is looking forward to the next music event, Country Music and a Classical event will be held in the fall.
Next on the agenda will be this Tuesday, July 21, 2009 – Country Music. The White House should be into some heavy duty toe-tappin' with the likes of country music star Brad Paisley along with Alison Krauss and Union Station. Tuesday will be an all day event with workshops for 120 students from O.W. Smith school in Nashville, along with students from other schools across the country. Students will learn about song writing, as well as country music traditions. The day will end with a special performance for the President and Mrs. Obama, along with White House staff and members of Congress.
To give credit where credit is due, the Country Music Celebration is presented with assistance from The Country Music Association and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It is being produced by the Grand Ole Opry and Great American Country Television.
Country Music has been a part of Washington festivities and activities for years. East Tennessee's own Kenny Chesney sang the National Anthem for a t-ball game on the White House lawn a year ago. Lee Greenwood was a guest of George H.W. Bush for a bbq on the White House lawn. Don't forget Willie Nelson who smoked a little pot on the White House roof when he visited during Jimmy Carter's administration.
So if you happen to be near the White House on Tuesday and get an urge to put on cowboy boots and a hat and all of a sudden you feel like doing some line dancing, don't be surprised! Country Music should be oozing through the portico during the Country Music Segment of the White House Music Series.
Sources:
GACTV.com
PositivelyBarack.com
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(AP) Sen. John Ensign's former mistress and her husband sought an $8.5 million settlement from the Nevada Republican before the affair became public, The New York Times reported Thursday.
Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, a friend of Ensign, acted as an intermediary in negotiations last spring with the lawyer for Cindy and Doug Hampton before Ensign publicly admitted the relationship with Mrs. Hampton, the Times said.
According to the Times, Coburn rejected as “ridiculous” the $8.5 million figure suggested by the Hamptons' attorney, Daniel J. Albregts. The amount was to cover the purchase of the couple's home in Nevada, lost wages and pain and suffering.
The Times said that the Hamptons' lawyer came back with a $2 million figure, which Coburn passed on to the senator, who flatly rejected it.
Both Hamptons worked for Ensign while the affair was taking place, Doug Hampton as his administrative assistant and Cynthia Hampton as treasurer for two Ensign-controlled campaign committees.
Early last year, Coburn warned Ensign that if the affair did not end, Coburn would “go to Mitch,” referring to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and tell him about the relationship.
The Times also reported that after Doug Hampton discovered the affair, Ensign played a role in helping Hampton get work representing NV Energy, the largest power company in Nevada, and Allegiant Air, a Las Vegas-based discount airline.
On Thursday, Ensign's office responded to the report with an e-mail noting that it had previously been publicized that the senator helped Hampton get two jobs. Ensign's office did not reply to further questions.
Coburn's spokesman could not be reached for comment.
Ensign has a long record of assisting Allegiant and NV Energy. The Times reported that Hampton, in coordination with Ensign and his staff, played a significant role in pushing the Washington agendas of both companies.
According to the newspaper, Hampton spent the summer of 2008 strategizing with the senator's chief of staff, John Lopez.
Following requests from Hampton, said the newspaper, Ensign called the secretary of transportation last year on behalf of Allegiant Air. Ensign also arranged for Hampton and his clients to meet the new transportation secretary in a successful effort to resolve a dispute with a competitor, the Times said.
Jared Rosario