This is a good weekend for combining comedy and music (see below), so for our look back at “Huckabee” on TBN, here’s a visit from the Grand Ole Opry’s favorite stand-up comedian (and musician), Gary Muledeer.
By HP pop culture guru Pat Reeder
Last Friday, Laura and I saw one of our favorite performers, Weird Al Yankovic, on his “Bigger & Weirder” tour in Fort Worth. We see him every time he comes to town and even saw this same tour in Dallas last year. We’re friends with his great guitarist, Jim Kimo West, who always leaves backstage passes for us. Laura used to write and sing all the parody songs for our radio comedy service and perform live shows where she was hailed as being “as if Julie Andrews and Weird Al Yankovic had a child,” so you can see why we’re such fans.
Over his 40+ year, politics-and-scandal-free career, Weird Al has released a ton of great material. Who would have predicted that in 2026, he would be selling out arenas to crowds ranging from kids to grandparents? It struck me that with Dolly gone, he might be our last universally-beloved entertainer.
You likely know his most famous parodies (“Fat,” “Eat It,” “My Bologna,” “Amish Paradise,” “Like a Surgeon,” etc.), but I thought I would share some things you might not have heard.
First up, his brilliant parody of Bob Dylan, “Bob,” in which the lyrics are all palindromes (they read the same backwards and forwards.) It’s complete gibberish, yet it sounds just like Dylan lyrics. The video is a spot-on send-up of Dylan’s iconic clip for “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”
Okay, I’m cheating with this video, since it’s four songs in one. It’s his recent NPR Tiny Desk Concert, including his Backstreet Boys send-up “eBay;” his “Star Wars” themed parody of “American Pie” that inspired Laura’s parody, “American Spies” (seen here this week); and his fan fave original, “Skipper Dan.”
I also wanted to share this to demonstrate what amazing musicians his band members are. They have to be, to replicate every genre of the past half century. Our friend Jim (the blond, curly-haired guitarist) has a solo career putting out Grammy-nominated albums of beautiful Hawaiian slack key guitar music ** that I highly recommend**.
Finally, I love to help get out the word about talented people who deserve more notice. In that clip above, you’ll definitely notice the youngest new member of Al’s band, guitarist/singer/keyboardist Payton Rose Velligan. She’s getting noticed for both her talent and the joyous energy she brings to the band (you know you have charisma when you’re behind Weird Al and people are looking at you.)
She’s also a breath of fresh air in the pop world: An attractive young female artist who is (A.) seriously talented musically; (B.) doesn’t act like a stuck-up diva or dress like a hooker; and (C.) has a sunny smile, a sense of humor and an outspoken love for classic rock (she plays in Fleetwood Mac and Rush cover bands) and her family and home (Charlotte, North Carolina.) I wonder if she might have received encouragement from the Artists Music Guild, David L. Cook’s Charlotte-based group that supports arts education and that has given Laura multiple music awards.
I pick Payton Rose as a young artist who is going places and deserves more support, so please check her out and spread the word. ** Here’s her website with bio, interviews, music and more**.
And here’s a delightful video of her catchy, ‘60-inspired original, “Unforgettable You,” co-starring her brother and a North Carolina snowstorm. YouTube also has a solo acoustic version, and you can download the song free at her website. It deserves more views and likes, so please spread it around.
It’s time to check out this week’s fake news from the Babylon Bee.
Gee, we hope they had enough material to work with…
https://babylonbee.com/news/letitia-james-indicts-trump-in-cornell-case
https://babylonbee.com/news/judge-rules-that-trump-must-allow-white-house-access-to-assassins
https://babylonbee.com/news/uk-terror-suspects-back-in-custody-after-sharing-meme
