Big Jim,

I am a fan of hers. i think the thing we need to keep in mind is that the industry and those in it, don't have the final say so on who is or isn't a star. The viewing, listening and buying audience makes that decision. The suits in the business can force feed us all they want. But if someone catches the public's attention, it doesn't matter.

The public doesn't evaluate music as we do. They either like it or they don't and often have no good explanation why or why not. Also, her audience is the generation behind us and they hear music differently than we do.

My parents never liked Elvis, the Beatles, the Stones or any of the iconic groups of the era. But, they were/are the icons of their time...and beyond. It was the young folks of the era (people your age and mine!) who made them the mega-stars. just like the younger ones are making Taylor, Lady gagGa, etc. stars today. Today, we represent the equivalent of our parents when we were teens. they didn't like our music as many parents today don't like their kids' music. It's the normal cycle.

To today's kids, Taylor Swift and Lady GaGa are just as talented as out heroes were. We might disagree, as did most of our parents with us.

Have good one, Jim!

Alan