Finally, Nashville!

A LONG TIME ago, I wrote songs and played with a talented singer named Lana Hawkins. She was always bugging me about going to Nashville. "That's where it all happens," she said. "You HAVE to go."

I'm not much of a country music fan, but music is music. Now, finally, I'm going.

If they can play in Second String Music, Nashville should be easy!

The Avenue Beat girls, Sami, Sam and Savana, have landed a slot at the Nashville Universe CMA Music Festival event. Click here for the details. The girls and their parents invited me to tag along. So it's a whirlwind 24-hour deal, with more than half the time spent in a car to get there and back.

But that's OK.

I am grateful to Sheryl, who insisted I go with a little pout. "Don't worry about me, staying back here and holding down the fort," she said. "I'll just sell everything for a dollar. And there might be a new puppy in the house when you get home."

GUH.

I'll take my chances with the new puppy. I just want to wander around and soak it all in. Maybe the girls will let me get up there with them and play a song or two. I am a bit heavy on the upside down bucket drum, but I can keep a beat.

Next month I'm making them play a Chicago song with me, and I hear rumors they want to work out "Come Together" by The Beatles.

Geesh. Are these youngsters from another planet?

So we are headed for Nashville Thursday, three gloriously talented 16-year-olds, their parents and a burned-out 80s hairband rocker in tow.

This is gonna be great!