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(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.)

"They took all the pain and loneliness and they put it into their music. People can relate to it. Everybody feels lonely. Harnessing this pain is why they became legends. Sometimes you have to choose between love and talent. And as far as I'm concerned, we all need to fly solo for a while." That's what Glee character Mercedes Jones had to say during a scene in Tuesday night's (Feb. 8) episode when a couple of the high schoolers are at a romantic crossroads. She was trying to explain that some of the biggest stars were single when they were in their prime. Now, I realize it is just a television show, but it did make me wonder about how important loneliness is to making good music. When you think about the country stars who have made it to the top, there are no hard and fast rules. Some are happily married, some are destined to have their hearts broken over and over. Some are blissful newlyweds, some are eternal bachelors. And while some country songwriters have said they need to be happy to write good songs, other have said the opposite. So I guess all that falling in and out of love, and all those marriages and divorces, is what will keep this music interesting forever and ever.