Tragedy

The unimaginable, the incomprehensible, happened August 23rd.  My wife died.

     I've lost the best part of me, the part that made me want to reach higher, achieve more, shine brighter.  I go on with my life, as we all must, and my mind, in some manner that I do not understand, continues to function, but my heart is inconsolable.  She was, quite simply, the best person I've ever known.

     Only those who have been touched by such a tragedy can fathom the emptiness, the helplessness. Yvette was 62.  We were married 45 years, 3 days and 20 hours.

     Those of you familiar with my Christmas letter know that I always include a lot of humor.  Forgive me this year, and I hope the humor will return by next year.

     Cal Smith ended his run with the Jim Owen Show in 2005, and what a pleasure it was to work with a real pro for two years.  "COUNTRY BUMPKIN" still has that great voice that made him one of the most popular country artists of the 70's and 80's.  Good luck, Cal.

     Tabby Marie, my five-year-old great-granddaughter, continues to sing on the show on days she's not in pre-school, and she truly loves the business.  She tries to copy every move Suzi Weber makes.  She wants to grow up to be just like Suzi.  I've got to talk to her about that someday.  Suzi married a wonderful man in August and is happier than ever.  Congratulations, Suzi.

     Lisa Layne joined the show this year.  Lisa is a tremendous singer with a haunting quality to her voice that invokes the image of Patsy Cline.  She portrayed Pasty in a play for 12 years, and even looks a little like "The Cline" as Faron Young called her.   Lisa had a big hit on "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU" in 1997.  I still hope to add one more female artist by the time we open in March.

     Lisa barely escaped serious injury on October 19th when her car collided with a SUV flying down the center lane on Highway 76.  People drive in that lane all the time, not knowing it's a violation carrying a huge fine and possible loss of license.  Maybe enough fines would stop it.  I know some of you get frustrated with the slow traffic when you are here, but don't drive in the center lane.  It just isn't worth it.

     A Wednesday night show has been added for 2006.  8:00 p.m., in September, October, November, and December, and there will still be a 10:00 a.m. show on those days.  Now all you sleepy heads can stay in bed all day and still make the JIM OWEN SHOW.  We will still be at the COUNTRY TONITE THEATRE.

     "LOUISIANA WOMAN, MISSISSIPPI MAN" has been honored again.  CMT and the CMA just named it the second most popular duet in the history of Country Music.  Songs I've written have sold over 30 million copies, and that one song accounts for almost half of those sales.  Also, this year, "LOUISIANA WOMAN, MISSISSIPPI MAN" went over ONE MILLION plays on radio and television.  Only a handful of songs have sold 13 million copies and even fewer have logged a million airplays.  What a song!

     My daughter, Cris, has taken over the office duties for the show, with her daughter, Ashley, helping her.  They are a Godsend to me, and they are doing a great job.  Other granddaughter, Leslie, is still the spotlight gal at the show and also works at the Jim Owen Steak House.

     Rusty has returned to Nashville and resumed his career.  I could not have cared for Yvette and kept her at home had it not been for our son.

     I have winter tour dates set for Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Utah and Missouri.  I'll be in Carthage, Texas on Jan. 19th at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, in Cash, Texas, just south of Greenville, on the 20th and 21st, at the Cash Opry, and back in Texas on March 4th, in Bridgeport.  I'll be in St. George, Utah on Feb. 4th (I think at Dixie College) and in Henderson, Ky. (my home) on Feb. 25th at the Fine Arts Center.  I'll appear in Princeton, Illinois on March 11th, but do not know the location as yet, and I have a date in Gainesville, Missouri but no definite date has been set.  It will be listed on the website at a later date.  There is also a beautiful page for Yvette on the website, (Click Here) designed by our son, Rusty.  Visit her page and see that wonderful smile that entrapped me (quite willingly) so many years ago.

     Merry Christmas, and I hope 2006 brings you happiness and good fortune.  See you in Branson, I hope.

Jim