“Urban Cowboy” Legend To Retire After Parkinson’s Diagnosis

There are certain movies that every time you come across them you have to stop and watch.  For us, that list includes "The Godfather" movies, "Coal Miner's Daughter," and "Urban Cowboy."  We love the movie so much that we don't even mind John Travolta's horrific Texas accent.  The music of that movie is LEGENDARY.  Mickey Gilley's "Stand By Me," Charlie Daniels Band's "The Devil Went Down To Georgia," Anne Murray's "Could I Have This Dance," Boz Skagg's "Love Look What You've Done To Me," and Johnny Lee's "Looking For Love."  This song, when the movie came out in 1980 was a monster.  It was a hit on the country and pop charts.  Although he had a couple of hits after, it is "Looking for Love" that made Johnny Lee a star.  In the 40+ years since, he's been able to tour and make a great living as a country artist.  All of that is coming to an end.

Johnny Lee has announced his farewell tour, at the age of 76.  A recent Parkinson’s diagnosis led the country icon to decide that it is time to slow down.  “The good Lord has given me a wonderful life and the absolute most loyal fans in the world,” Johnny says. “The music and fans have meant everything to me. Over the last couple of years, Parkinson’s has been a pain in the…butt. This is a big announcement and one I am not making easily. So come on out and join us for a night of music and memories as we kick off the ‘Hey Bartender, Last Call: The Farewell Tour.’ This isn’t the end…this is only the right now.”  The majority of dates are centered in Texas where Johnny Lee is from, with a few more in various places where Johnny Lee has kept a following in recent years, along with multiple stints at the Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre in Branson where Johnny Lee has performed often in recent years.

Many movies about the country music business, country stars, and stories of budding country singers have been made over the years, but only a handful of those movies really get it right and capture the essence of country music and its people.

We take a look at five of what we believe are the best country music movies ever made.

Tim McGraw played a manager husband of a country singer fighting her way back to stardom after a battle with drugs and alcohol played by Gwyneth Paltrow. It's a powerful performance from Paltrow and McGraw.

The ultimate country music-loving honky tonk movie that started a revolution in country music in 1980. Starring John Travolta, the movie plot is described as "Bud (Travolta) is a young man from the country who learns about life and love in a Houston bar." Big songs and a country dance craze came out of this movie.

George Strait plays country star Dusty Chandler, who wants to ditch all the lights and effects for the plain and straightforward country music that made him a star. The King of Country Music proved himself to be a worthy actor.

Handpicked by Johnny Cash himself to play him, Joaquin Phoenix was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Cash. Native Nashvillian Reese Witherspoon won an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Cash's wife, June Carter Cash.

Dolly Parton said after seeing this movie (which won Sissy Spacek an Oscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn) that she had never seen anyone portray someone any closer to the real thing. Lynn said that Spacek followed her around on the road for months to prepare for the role.