In the audio production that follows, Jerry salutes two home grown entertainers from Checotah, Oklahoma, the newest star on the music horizon: Carrie Underwood, winner of the American Idol TV show and country music star, Merle Haggard. Songs performed by Carrie Underwood, Independence Day and Crying, courtesy of American Idol Productions/Fox TV Network (BMI), and Merle Haggard's Okie From Muskogee, courtesy Capital Records (BMI).

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Where's Checotah, you ask? It's only a hop, skip and a jump from Jerry's home town of Muskogee, Oklahoma and web site producer Larry Dicken's home town of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Go Carrie! 

And, here is an article written by another Okie from Muskogee, Jerry Wilhite:

Carrie Underwood became the American Idol for 2005 in a year that had a talent filled lineup. Stardom is assured for several of the contestants, It is predicted that Carrie will sell more music than any previous American Idol.

Carrie joins a tremendous array of talent, past and present, from Oklahoma. Other Oklahoma singers include Gene Autry, Garth Brooks, Kix Brooks, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Bob Wills, Roy Clark, Toby Keith, and on and on and on. These are singers only in the country venue where Carrie is expected to become a huge star.

Carrie, with her angelic attitude and appearance, captured the hearts of country folk and city slickers alike. She will do Oklahoma proud. We wish her the greatness she deserves!!

Note: Other singers not necessarily country were born in Oklahoma as well, Roger Miller, the writer Jimmy Webb who wrote so many great hits for Glen Campbell and others; and in the pop field, Patti Page, Kay Starr and Woodie Gutherie come to mind. And then, there are other Okie entertainment industry stars, past and present:  Hoyt Axton, Wanda Jackson, Tom Paxton, Hank Thompson, Ron Howard, Tony Randall, James Garner, Jerry Pippin, Brad Pitt, Chuck Norris, Gary Busey, Blake Edwards, Lon Chaney Jr. Notice, ladies, Jerry is placed next to Brad Pitt. There are, of course, many others, if you want to contribute to this list, let me know at jerry@jerrypippin.com.