Posted on 07/02/2002 11:06:28 AM PDT by GeneD
Filed at 1:41 p.m. ET
NEW YORK (AP) -- Hey, Toby Keith, how about this: Peter Jennings owns one of your CDs.
Jennings, preparing for his ``PJ the DJ'' debut as host of a three-hour ABC musical special on the Fourth of July, is a country fan who has Keith's 2001 album, ``Pull My Chain,'' in his collection.
Keith lashed out at Jennings and ABC last month for not including his Sept. 11-themed song, ``Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),'' in the special. ABC said Keith was considered but not invited because he insisted on opening the show.
Supporters of the country singer, including Sen. Zell Miller, D-Georgia, said they would send used cowboy boots to Jennings in protest. Jennings said he hadn't seen any yet.
``I have no idea what condition they will be in,'' he said. ``But I've had any number of people, including my wife, say that if there's a size 8 1/2 in there ...''
In the wake of the boot-kicking tempest, Keith was quoted as saying he found it ``interesting'' that Jennings was a Canadian.
``I would point out that I was the one who was interested in doing this show because it would be a great patriotic, historic exercise,'' Jennings said. ``But I don't resent it.''
The special, ``In Search of America: A July 4th Musical Celebration,'' will have Jennings introducing performances by Sheryl Crow, India.arie, Hank Williams Jr., Brooks & Dunn, Wynton Marsalis, Los Lobos and others.
Fourth of July celebrations from across the country will also be featured. Jennings said he wanted to connect aspects of American life through its music.
So ABC will show polka from Wisconsin, cajun music from Louisiana. Arlo Guthrie will open the night singing his father Woody's composition, ``This Land is Your Land,'' and Jennings will remind viewers that it was written as a protest song.
``There are little things for people to learn without getting in their face on July Fourth,'' he said.
Guthrie was one of two acts that Jennings said he booked personally. The other is singer Sandi Patty, who will end the show with the national anthem.
With the nation on alert for potential terrorist attacks on the holiday, Jennings said ABC is ready to turn the three hours into a news show if necessary. Jennings' setting is part of the contingency plan; he will be based at George Washington's Mount Vernon in Virginia because it's closer to home than Livingston, Mont., where he had been planning to go.
``I take the president's advice to heart,'' he said. ``You live your life and if life changes, life changes.''
Jennings was mum on whether this would be his last big special for ABC News. He's said to be negotiating on a new contract that takes him into his third decade as ``World News Tonight'' anchor.
But he wouldn't talk about his future.
``I don't like to talk about Toby Keith,'' he said, ``and I don't like to talk about the contract.''
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Get those turbans rollin'
Give them no place to hide
Don't try to understand 'em
Just bomb and shoot and stab 'em
Soon they will all be on our side
Bin laden is now rottin'
And soon he'll be forgotten
I hope he did some hurtin' 'fore he died.
Translation: "We can still sneak our leftist, demoralizing message in, even on the Fourth of July. Indoctrination never stops."
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