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Good News: a memory related to Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy"

Glen Campbell performing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2012 as part of his Goodbye Tour.
Glen Campbell performing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2012 as part of his Goodbye Tour.Ed Rode/Getty Images
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by Ayisha Jaffer

October 22, 2024

This week’s Good News story includes the love of radio, music and, memories with Mom. Listener Dale shares his story:

In 1975, I was obsessed with the song “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell. 

I grew up in a small town in Montana, and the local AM radio station played it a lot. Our house came with a 1950s intercom system, so you could listen to whatever my mom had on in the kitchen by just flipping a switch in your bedroom. The radio in our house was always on.

That summer [1975], I got to go on a road trip with my mom to her hometown in northern Montana. It was just the two of us in our green station wagon, and I was in heaven just listening to the radio and staring out the window. As we pulled off the highway to eat, “Rhinestone Cowboy” came on, and I remember being bummed out that I wasn't going to hear it. Without saying a word, my Mom stopped outside the diner, put the car in park, and then we sat in silence just listening. When the song ended, my mom turned off the car, smiled at me, and then we went inside to eat. It remains my favorite memory of her. 

This memory is like a beautiful scene from a movie, the movie of Dale’s life, and thanks to Dale for sharing it with us here on Good News. So let’s keep that radio on a little longer right now with you — it’s Glen Campbell with “Rhinestone Cowboy” on Good News on The Current.  

If you have a story to tell about music making a positive impact in the world, a moment or a memory associated with a song or an artist, or maybe sparked by something you hear here, share your good news at ajaffer@mpr.org.

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