The Week That Was … September 26th, 2026

Jay Minkin

Sep 27, 2026

There’s shadows in my mind
Shadows on the highway up ahead
Come to me, my rhinestone eyes
Let me rest my head about your breast

There’s lightning in your touch
I’m captured and the sky is burning red
Come to me, my rhinestone eyes
Keep me through the trouble up ahead

Ever get an earworm that just won’t go away? Well, I had the Shooter Jennings song “Rhinestone Eyes” on continuous play in my brain this week. Shooter was Minkin’s Music Album of the Year in 2018, but what prompted the recall? Driving home from the Key Bank Broadway Series performance of Death Becomes Her, I listened to the Buddy & Jim Show on SXM. Tonight’s program featured an interview with Elizabeth Cook talking about her new album, Great Television, produced by Shooter Jennings. So one of the songs they played was …. wait for it ….

There’s shadows in my mind
Shadows on the highway up ahead

The first song discussed was “Sunset Promenade,” inspired by saved voicemail messages, an intentional love letter to her closest “gal pals” who have stood by her side: Chelle Rose, Ashley Monroe, and a niece she grew up with. I feel transported back to Nashville, seeing Elizabeth and Chelle during Americanafest in 2009, and memories of hanging out at The 5 Spot or Cook’s early appearances in Cleveland’s Beachland Tavern. They were part of the first of many friendships I fostered from annual trips to Americanafest or meeting songwriters via Minkin’s Music, Lost Highway Records, or No Depression.

There’s lightning in your touch
I’m captured and the sky is burning red

Speaking of plays, the Copley Thespian Society had the rug pulled from under their feet when district leaders canceled their production of “She Killed Monsters” due to LGBTQ+ themes and exploration of grief, bullying, and identity. The coming-of-age play set in Athens, Ohio, had already been approved by high school administrators, after rights were officially purchased and rehearsals started. A member of the student led-chapter of Club America, a conservative high school youth movement affiliated with Turning Point USA, brought this to the attention of their parent who just happens to be on the school board. Even with a Young Adventures Edition, The PG-13 school-friendly version has faced backlash over LGBTQ+ representation and the depiction of a same sex romance. This story is still developing and far from over. During local news coverage of the pushback, Emmy– and Tony-nominated actress Carrie Coon, a Copley High School alumna, learned of the controversy and unexpectedly phoned members of the Copley Thespian Society to hear their experiences, offer words of encouragement, and emphasize the value of empathy and serious storytelling in theater.

There’s lightning in your touch
I’m captured and the sky is burning red
Come to me, my rhinestone eyes
Keep me through the trouble up ahead

Finally, for those who follow baseball, this final week of the season was exhilarating, with a lead over the Chicago White Sox. Every pitch and at bat with wins by the scores of 1-0, 3-2, 1-0, and a 1-0 loss kept the margin intact. At stake is a first round bye in the playoffs heading into the final weekend of play. Friday and Saturday nights were slugfests against Kansas City, with 12-9 and 11-5 wins, while scoreboard-watching the White Sox games. Saturday night closed celebrating the Guardians winning the Central Division at Lebron James’s House 330 restaurant Buckets as the lowly Colorado Rockies (57-103) beat Chicago 9-6. The former 60,000 square-foot Tangier entertainment complex provides I PROMISE families and the surrounding community with resources, dining, retail, and employment opportunities. This is how you lead by example.

Come to me, my rhinestone eyes
Keep me through the trouble up ahead

Rhinestone Eyes by Shooter Jennings

(Note: This post was originally published on Substack as I’m testing the waters of this new media outlet)