by Marilyn Justine

Created on: August 01, 2008   Last Updated: June 18, 2010

As a rule, I never write articles in a 'sexist man' category, particularly where country music is concerned. I frown upon them as cheapening the music; bringing down the genre; and basically turning the whole writing process into crass, tabloid-style journalism. However, just this once, I'm going to let my guard down since the title of 'the sexist man in country music' made me change my mind. There is just something about a man in a pair of cowboy boots, playing a six-string and singing about pick-up trucks that makes me extremely weak in the knees. So, with all my previous convictions aside, here goes...

I've had my fair share of cowboy crushes over the years. When I was at school and all my classmates were swooning over Boyzone, Westlife and The Backstreet Boys I was listening to and dreaming of Bryan White, James Bonamy and Paul Brandt. I have to tell you that in 90s Scotland it was a unique thing to even have heard of these artists, much less know their favourite colour and the lyrics to all their songs.

Bryan White (whose favourite colour I seem to recall was hunter green) was my first 'real' crush and by the age of 14 I was in love with country music thanks to him. My all-time favourite song to this day is Someone Else's Star, co-written by my favourite songwriter, Skip Ewing. Of course White went on to marry daytime soap actress Erika Paige and have two sons and I was stuck in Scotland to finish my education so that one didn't pan out quite liked I'd hoped.

James Bonamy had a very short career, but produced two impressive albums during this time, not to mention the wonderful video for 'Naked to the Pain' in which I vaguely remember he gets soaked to the point of being able to see through his white shirt during an indoors rainstorm, before Britain pulled the plug on CMT. However, he was married with a child at the start of his career, so I didn't have a chance there either.

Then there was Canadian Paul Brandt. I could never make up my mind whether I fancied him or not, but there is no denying that his songs are from the heart and his voice is fantastic, so I think it was more about the music with him but he seems like such a genuine and warm person that that in itself is endearing, plus he could get to those extremely low notes which was hot in itself. I went to a Billy Ray Cyrus country at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall one evening after school in 1998 because Paul was opening for him, and I wasn't disappointed. The man

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