TBT – You can call him Al?

This Throwback Thursday post requires a slightly deeper dive.

Doug’s Place Flashback: “You Can Be a Star” was The Nashville Network’s first talent contest. By my recollection, at least two more talent shows on the network followed—including the series reboot, which used the shortened title “Be a Star,” and another hosted by the legen, wait for it, dary Charlie Daniels. A band from my adopted hometown of Beavercreek, Ohio, near Dayton, competed in a 13-week cycle on “You Can Be a Star.” I’ve read about a solo artist who was booked to compete on “You Can Be a Star”—but she noted TNN canceled the series before she ever got to take the stage in Nashville.

To fill time on “You Can Be a Star,” the legen, wait for it, dary Jim Ed Brown would interview the judges, who usually included, but were not necessarily limited to, recording artists, record executives, and even radio station leaders. When there was a further need to fill time—which was often—Jim Ed would turn to his co-host on the stairway of stars, who would then turn to audience members to share jokes or sing their favorite songs.

One audience singer was named “Al”—and he would go on to be… well… take a look and a listen. The introduction by the co-host begins at about 19 seconds into this clip.

As hinted earlier, there are times I wish I knew more about the world of country music—and this is one of them.

Fans indicate this marked the national debut of Alan Jackson. Did the producers of “You Can Be a Star” book “Al” as a competing act the following season? If they didn’t—ohhh brother.

The late Mrs. Morris was an Alan Jackson fan. If B95 played “Chattahoochee” or “Little Bitty,” the odds were good Cindy would sing along.

By now, you’ve heard “Al” is calling it a career due to a number of health issues, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition that affects his motor skills.

Cindy and I once went to an Alabama concert, and I came away knowing about half of the band’s songs. I have a hunch if Cindy were still with us and we attended one of Alan Jackson’s last concerts, I’d come away knowing about half his songs, too.