"Spunky...Sassy....and Country....Ring A Bell?"

Need a favor.

Keep an open mind.

Because chances are that you are going to reject, out of hand, what I am about to tell you.

And not so much because what I'm going to tell you is right or wrong, per se', but because it, admittedly, comes a little out of left field.

Pretty much from the first moment I heard her voice and saw her perform, something seemed very familiar about Jo Dee Messina.

And it took me a little while to piece it all together in the never a dull moment amusement park that is my brain.

But I finally figured it out.

And I want to share it with you.

But, first, put your "read" brain on pause for a couple of minutes and play the video. Oh...and as you do, pay less attention to the glitz and glimmer of the production than you do the sound of Jo Dee's voice and the attitude accompanying.

Enjoy. I'll be right here when you finish.















Okay.

Here's the thing.

There is something specific about the tonal quality of her voice and the attitude she projects, not only on that song, but pretty much on every thing she does, that made me realize who it was that she reminds me of.

If she were just in her early 30's today and just starting out in the contemporary country music business, she would sound, look and act just like Jo Dee Messina.

Loretta Lynn.

See?

I told you you'd reject the idea out of hand.

But, trust me, if you pick out a handful of Loretta's sassiest stuff, give them a good and fair listen and then listen to a similar bunch of Jo Dee's material, I'll bet you an all expense paid trip to Butcher Holler that you're going to hear and see Loretta peeking out from behind Jo Dee's strut and swagger.

And it's not faint praise of Jo Dee to say that I hear Loretta's tone and timber coming out of her mouth.

Is any of this going to alter the history of country music or save the planet from the ravages of global warming?

Nah.

But, now that I see the hidden figure inside the collage of colors, I get a new kick out of enjoying Jo Dee Messina's work.

And there's one other thing I think the two very talented ladies have in common.

Ain't never gonna be nobody like Loretta Lynn.

Ditto Jo Dee.