Big Kenny offers free music download for Mother's Day, takes his show on the road

Big Kenny offers free music download for Mother's Day, takes his show on the road

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Taylor Swift shares heartfelt Mother's Day video

Mother’s Day falls on May 10 this year, and while many of us may be scampering to get those flowers wired to dear, sweet Mom, country-pop princess Swift Taylor already has delivered her present for mom Andrea—and shared it with the lot of us.

The hit-making country performer has created a hard-to-beat Mother’s Day video-turned-automatic-heirloom that will undoubtedly resonate through the ages. That is, it’s likely to stick around in the country music world, if nothing else, and perhaps pop up as a recurrent tune this time every year as a tribute to moms everywhere.

An early planner, the blond-haired Swift, who’s taken home Grammy Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and even a CMA Award, graciously unveiled her timeless Mother’s Day gift already, a song and music video made in honor of her one and only mom, Andrea, to show her how much she’s mattered over the still-young starlet’s lifetime.

The song, titled “The Best Day,” is an autobiographical tale and ode for her "also-blond" mom. Its accompanying music clip was crafted exclusively from home movies, with a glimpse here and there of Swift's “excellent” dad, Scott, and equally great younger brother, Austin.

To read the full story about the just-for-mom video or to view it--and it's worth viewing, trust me, even if you aren't a dyed-in-the-wool Taylor devotee--please access the full scoop by visiting my National Country Music Examiner page.

Country's Jimmy Wayne blogs about mothers

Those familiar with country singer Jimmy Wayne’s background know he didn’t always have the easiest time of things as a youth. He’s talked openly about his time in foster care and penned songs about his experiences as a child, combining his real life with his art.

The merging of his memories with his music, in the end, has resulted in a hit-country sound for the now-36-year-old performer, who first emerged on the commercial-country scene with his self-titled album in 2003, a debut that scored with country radio and fans alike.

His former record label, DreamWorks, released four singles from the freshman effort, including “Stay Gone” and “I Love You This Much,” which peaked at No. 3 and No. 6 on the charts, respectively, along with the two other top-20 tunes, “You Are” and the childhood-inspired “Paper Angels,” a song that came from Wayne’s memories of being a child with his name on one of those holiday-time paper angels at the mall.

These days, Wayne’s on board with a new label home, Nashville’s Valory Music, and his sophomore album—his first for Valory—made its entrance in 2008. To date, the CD’s given Wayne his first-ever No. 1, “Do You Believe Me Now,” as well as the recent No. 18-ranked “I Will.” His brand-new single from the Do You Believe Me Now CD is “I’ll Be That.”

Chart rankings aside, and in spite of the ups and downs, the N.C.-born performer’s endured. And like most others this time of year, the advent of Mother’s Day causes many, including country music’s Wayne, to reflect on his own mother, as well as the women in his life who’ve fulfilled a motherly role in one way or another.

To read Jimmy Wayne's open letter about the importance of moms, from birth moms and sisters, to surrogate moms and bird moms, or to view his music video for "Do You Believe Me Now, his former and only No. 1 to date, please click here.