With popular artists "crossing-over" into genres that bring them new listeners but sometimes offend the old, I can only say that I've enjoyed the debunking of some of those myths, such as "trashy Nashville pop roots." What hubris, to pronounce another large body of work "trash." (I realize that "GUEST" was not calling Country music trash). I speak from the position of one who grew up with a "purist" who I think softened to some of those other forms in his later years. Heck, I even found a John Denver CD at his house when I cleared his estate. I know full well that he probably only bought it because one track has Placido Domingo singing a duet with him, but hey, he was making progress! (I think he never did like the Zimmerman kid, though I'm sure we battered his ears with lots of it as we were growing up!).

The point is, I think, that people grow and change. And whether it is to "just" make a living, or simply to explore more musical options, some very interesting things can happen when people branch out from those roots. Some may end up "suckers" (to stick with the botanical metaphor) and need to be pruned, but others can be very fruitful. There are some wonderful examples merged areas of music. And some duds. I loved the combo many years ago of Carol Burnett and Beverly Sills. But some of these mixed styles don't work. Like a holiday special when Diana Ross with her puny little amplified voice sang with Placido Domingo and Jose Carrera. There they were, a couple of feet from their microphones in a cathedral, and Ross was simply not able to get the studio dynamics with the mic against her mouth in that setting. But then I've heard others, Dione Warwick with Domingo, I think, who can belt it out with the best of them. Don't misunderstand--I grew up singing along with Diana Ross like most kids my age, but I recognize her limitations as a performer when I see her in there with the heavyweights with lots of training. She was out of her league in that matchup. Others surprise me, like John Denver and Julie Andrews. I think they made a special and I think it sounded wonderful.

And Emmylou Harris, was a sweet, powerful voice. She'll land on her feet whatever genre she chooses to dabble in.

My 2 cents. (How much is that in Euros?)

Maggie