1) I don’t often talk about the role Hee Haw had in my life — as much anticipated as Laugh-in, but something my father enjoyed as well — so it was with sadness that I learned this morning of the death of Loretta Lynn. One of the great American women of all time, bar none.
1a) I love this recording of her as a guest on Hee Haw singing “In the Sweet Bye and Bye,” a favorite hymn.
2) Today is also National Vodka Day, so here’s a recording of my very favorite George Gershwin song ever, “Vodka,” as sung by my beloved Spider Saloff.
2a) Broadway fanatics may also remember Dorothy Loudon singing at the Tonys a few years back.
3) Yesterday I was doing some research at the Massachusetts Historical Society, and came across a diary account of Adelina Patti singing La Traviata at Mechanics Hall when the stage curtain caught fire. Thankfully the stage hands yanked down the curtain and successfully extinguished the flames, but that’s an unexpected example of a diva setting the house on fire. 🔥