BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 477

Of the six women who have the most top-10 hits in country-music history, five are enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
They are, #1 Reba McEntire, #2 Dolly Parton, #3 Loretta Lynn, #5 Tammy Wynette and #6 Kitty Wells. The #4 position is occupied by Tanya Tucker. It’s a travesty that someone of this stature has not been inducted and an even bigger one that a vocal stylist this gifted has never even been nominated.
By the way, other female Country Music Hall of Fame members include #9 Barbara Mandrell, #10 Emmylou Harris, #13 Connie Smith and #21 Jean Shepard, plus Brenda Lee and Patsy Cline, who are tied at #22 of the women with the most top-10 country hits.
Tanya might not be in the Hall, but she now has what is maybe the next best thing, her own exhibit. On Thursday evening (Nov. 13), the Hall of Fame & Museum held a preview party for “Tanya Tucker: Strong Enough to Bend,” a second-floor display of her career memorabilia, located in the space the Miranda Lambert exhibit occupied.
“This is freaking me out,” said Tanya to the party attendees. “I’m just so proud to be a part of country music. I want to continue the legacy.”
“We thank her for all she’s given to country music,” said the Hall of Fame’s Kyle Young. “When Tanya Tucker hit town at age 13, Nashville had never seen anything like her. Forty years later….there is [still] only one Tanya Tucker.”
“This lady right here has given so much back to people,” said Jett Williams of Tanya’s legendary generosity. “I’m proud to stand here and honor this great lady….We are all richer for knowing her.”
Tanya credited her late parents for saving most of her career mementos, noting that she couldn’t have cared less as a kid. The exhibit includes some of her child stage outfits, as well as a denim jacket commemorating “Delta Dawn,” her debut hit from 1972. A copy of the 9/26/74 issue of Rolling Stone is in the display case. Tanya was the first female country star ever on the magazine’s cover. The following year, she signed a $1.4 million dollar contract with MCA Records.
“She was all of 16 when she did this,” commented Kyle.
Many of her colorful costumes are featured, including the outfit she wore as a halftime entertainer at the 1994 SuperBowl. A childhood record player, the script from her 1981 appearance on The Love Boat, National Cutting Horse Association awards, an Elvis statuette, her 1993 ACM video award and her pink Harley-Davidson motorcycle are also in the exhibit.
“This event has caused me to do a lot of thinking and to appreciate so much what music has done for me,” said Tanya of her exhibit during a pre-party press conference. “I took the last three or four years off, because I really didn’t know if I wanted to perform anymore. Maybe my music matters more than I think it does. Now I don’t think I could ever stay away from singing and performing. This event has caused that.”
Party attendees included Steve Popovich Jr., Steve Betts, Steve Lassiter, Jerry Lassiter, Jerry Crutchfield (Tanya’s longest-tenured producer), Dianne Sherrill, Diamond Rose, David & Karen Conrad, Cerrito, Craig Hayes, Kelly Zumwalt, Bill Wence, Barb Hall, Bob Paxman, Billy Galvin, Bonnie Sugarman, Mike Vaden and Tanya’s lovely singing daughters Presley and Layla.
“A lot of my friends are here from all over the world,” said the honoree. Tanya also said that she is working on a comeback album. “I asked Haggard, ‘What do you think I should do?’ He said, ‘Keep singing, one song at a time.’”

Tiffany A. Dunn and Denise M. Stevens have been named partners at multi-service law firm Loeb & Loeb.
Stevens concentrates her practice on entertainment and intellectual property transactions, and has particular experience in the music, television and motion picture industries. She has participated in both small- and large-scale music catalog acquisitions, and has extensive experience negotiating recording and publishing agreements and agreements related to international touring, merchandising, sponsorships and brand partnerships for major label recording artists and preeminent songwriters. Her client list, which features such names as Classic Media, Loretta Lynn, Nicolle Galyon, Lee Miller, Chris Tomlin and Third Day, also includes producers, authors, music industry executives, record labels, music publishers, production companies, and television personalities. Stevens has also been a key member of the team representing Carrie Underwood, Wynonna, Michael W. Smith and others.
Stevens has been honored by MusicRow as a “Rising Woman on the Row” for her substantial contributions to the Nashville music industry. She was instrumental in drafting The Songwriters Capital Gains Tax Equity Act advocated by the National Songwriters Association International (NSAI), for which she serves as General Counsel.  She received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and her B.A., cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dunn’s practice focuses on transactions in the entertainment business and intellectual property protection and enforcement, particularly within the music industry. She also practices general corporate and transactional law. Dunn’s clients include legacy artists, recording artists, songwriters, producers, corporate brands, authors, publishing companies, record labels, management companies and other parties in the music industry, including the John R. Cash Revocable Trust, the Grand Ole Opry, Jerrod Niemann, Jim Lauderdale, Carlene Carter and Tootsies Orchid Lounge. Dunn has also been a key member of the team representing Vince Gill, B.B. King, Old Crow Medicine Show and Casting Crowns.
Dunn was named a leading “Women in Music City” by the Nashville Business Journal and one of “Hollywood’s New Leaders” by Variety. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from University of Tennessee College of Law and a B.B.A., cum laude, from Belmont University.
“Tiffany and Denise are two of the most talented and well connected music attorneys in Nashville and have been an integral part of the growth of our national music practice for many years,” said John T. Frankenheimer, partner and chair of Loeb & Loeb’s Music Industry Practice. “They are trusted counsel to top flight talent and other leading individuals and institutions throughout the business and their contributions to their clients and to the firm are incredibly valuable. I’m pleased to welcome them as partners.”
Loeb & Loeb LLP is a multi-service law firm, with more than 300 attorneys focusing on select practice areas. Loeb & Loeb has offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Beijing, as well as an affiliate office in Hong Kong.

The CMA Songwriters Series marked its 10th anniversary in 2014. The year saw the series travel from Sundance Film Festival to London, and make its national television debut thanks to a partnership between the CMA and public television’s program “Front and Center.”

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Former BNA promotion staff held a reunion luncheon yesterday (Nov. 12). The team promoted Kenny Chesney‘s radio singles in the late ’90s, and worked with Lonestar, as well as Mindy McCready‘s first No. 1 song and platinum album. They also promoted artists including The Warren Brothers, Jason Sellers, Kellie Coffey and others.

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ASCAP presented the November installment of its monthly in-the-round songwriters showcase at the Bluebird Cafe on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Songwriter Sarah Allison Turner, Combustion/Atlas Music writer Jameson Rodgers, Taperoom songwriter-artist Hunter Phelps, and Warner/Chappell songwriter-artist Brandon Lay were featured.