RIGHT FOR THE WRONG REASON :

Singer says ABC's Jennings gave him the boot : Country star says lyrics too controversial for July 4 special (CNN, June 13, 2002)

ABC's Peter Jennings gave the boot to country singer Toby Keith after deciding the lyrics of his hit song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue," were too controversial for the network's July 4th special celebrating America.

At least, that's the version from the roughneck Oklahoma native. ABC, on the other hand, has said logistics and "a number of other factors" prevented the network from booking Keith for its three-hour special, being hosted by Jennings, who is Canadian.

It'd be nice if ABC were banning the song for its profanity rather than for its "controversial" message. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 14, 2002 9:46 AM