In my work everyday hosting country music shows, people who have inspired me in my life have a great effect on my every move. The biggest person of all was my mother. She put an inspiration into me that I will take to my grave. One of the many things was country music.

Another influence are the songs that came from the writers, one of the greatest was Hank Cochran. Coincidentally, both my mom and Hank lost their lives to the very same disease, that being pancreatic cancer.

A new tribute album is coming out for Hank and I have all ready featured a song he wrote that was a huge hit for Eddy Arnold. It's Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss together on 'Make The World Go Away'. And it is great in my opinion.

Jamey Johnson says the man who wrote country classics including "Make the World Go Away" influenced him not only as an artist and songwriter, but also as a person. He is paying his respects by releasing "Living For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran" on October 16.

Cochran died at age 74 in 2010 leaving behind a long list of admirers, many of whom join Johnson on the album. Among them, Willie Nelson, who says Cochran "was the best writer up there" and Merle Haggard who says Cochran wanted to be the "Hemingway of country music" and was.

Among the artists featured on the tribute are Elvis Costello, Ronnie Dunn, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Alison Krauss, Ray Price, Leon Russell, George Strait and Lee Ann Womack. Johnson will kick off the release of the album with a concert at Ryman Auditorium on the 16th, where he'll be joined by several of his duet partners.

 

 

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