[Becky]

A prime example is the recipient of this year's Award of Merit, an honor bestowed for 31 of the AMAs' 32 years of existence. Bon Jovi will receive the Award of Merit based on the New Jersey rockers' "outstanding contributions to the musical entertainment of the American public" - not to mention selling more than 100 million albums.

Previous recipients include Michael Jackson, Loretta Lynn, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Billy Joel and Garth Brooks.

Clark isn't worried that some viewers might scoff at this year's choice, noting that "There's always criticism. But look, Bon Jovi has made an outstanding contribution to music for a long, long time. I think they made their national TV debut on 'American Bandstand' many years ago, so they've paid their dues." (Indeed, the band appeared in 1984, the year its self-titled debut was released.)

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArti cle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031779075494&path=!flair!ae&s =1045855936372

[~saz~]

I think that there's always gonna be some critisism where BJ are concerned. They've hardly ever been the Critic's Darlings.

[Kathleen]

The last line of the article is great - D ick Clark is America's oldest living teenager . I never looked at him as that but it sure does fit. I watched American Bandstand when I was 15 and it had been on for 10 years at that time.

Kathleen

[DaveyShoes]

Pardon my ignorance, but who the hell is Loretta Lynn??

[Withoutlove]

Originally Posted by DaveyShoes

Pardon my ignorance, but who the hell is Loretta Lynn??

she's The Coal Miners Daughter
I'm trying to think of songs she sang, but I'm blank , and she sang that song, Coal mIners Daughter and there was even a movie about her She's a country singer

[Becky]

Originally Posted by DaveyShoes

Pardon my ignorance, but who the hell is Loretta Lynn??

Her latest song is "I Miss Being Mrs." Some of her other hits are "Don't Come Home a Drinkin' with Lovin' on Your Mind" and "Louisianna Woman, Mississippi Man," and "One's on the Way." But if you don't know "Coal Miner's Daughter," you probably won't recognize any of those either.