nope, not johnny cash. george canyon. george canyon, whom i met in birmingham, alabama, loves to start his shows occasionally by singing "ring of fire" as a tribute to johnny cash. now, we've often heard about great artists--in the country field especially, like cash, like others--that they're just like us. they're good, down home people singing about real life. and certainly in country music that's truer than in opera and in many other areas of music, but it's not always true that somebody who gets that much admiration and adulation can stay a truly simple person, but george canyon has, and you'll be convinced of that the minute he starts talking, which is right now. george canyon, i have heard of paying dues, but you have been a bill collector, a hospital-- - oh, yeah. i forgot about that. - a hospital orderly, a beef inspector. let's go through some of these. how did you collect bills? - i didn't. i was terrible at it, so i didn't do it. i didn't keep that job. - what was it, though? - it was, you know, collection agen

that puts her in the league with johnny cash. >> what? >> what? >> putting swift up there with johnny cash. >> i don't know about that. >> all right. >> okay. moving on. >>> it's a child custody battle for a academy award winner mel gibson and his ex-girlfriend the russian musician. >> this is the first time gibson appeared in court on the case. the pair have been sparring for months over custody, visitation and financial issues. and also authorities continue to investigate gibson's claims that his former attempted to extort him. she maintains gibson abused her. and now they are considering pursuing criminal charges. >>> well, hollywood icon francis ford coppola who directed class, like the godfather trilly will be honored and is going to be giving the award on saturday at the academy's governor awards. to date, the academy handed out five oscars to him reveered as a director and writer. he will be honored as producer this weekend. >>> now, maryland's most powerful doppler radar and the forecast certified most accurate by weather rate. >> good mor

cash before they go on the auction block next month. >>> and in an nbc news exclusive, brian williams travels to scotland for a rare one-on-one interview with prince charles. catch that special edition on "dateline," "the man who would be king" tonight at 9:00 on your nbc station. >>> all day long, you can stay on top of the very latest developments in those stories and others as they break on msnbc. and tonight be sure to watch brian williams with nbc "nightly news." >>> and, finally, here's a look at what's coming up later this morning on the "today" show. reports that prince william and kate middleton may wed at westminster abby. >>> and "today" goes viral. the grand finale and the "today" show special series on viral videos. >>> now keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather, sports and more. i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

cash. it was just writing and figuring out what our tools for going to be. he took what i've done in the past and he is like a coach. that was the thing that drew me to him. he is able to get into and theirs head to bring out finest work. >> that is what is on my ipod. >> mine, too. > tavis: how do these songs lend themselves to you're doing a fan favorite rec? >> -- record? >> it may be a test for the fans. the first thing was rick wanted me to do a lot of writing. fans as much as i like to hear the beauty of the singing and the orchestration, fans want to find out about the artist drew their songs. i'm always so pleased when i can get or give a song that is -- speaks to me and i can interpret. given the opportunity to write from the heart and bring some personality and -- to th genre, it was a great opportunity. i would have been perfectly happy singing a group of cover songs we felt would be great for the fans and me. he said keep going and make it personal. )0 there are personal messag

. >> the man in black will be inducted into the gospel hall of fame johnny cash one of four new inductees. it will take place coming up in january. cash was raised on gospel music. famously turned to religion and christian music midway through his career. >> carrie underwood will perform tonight 579:30 at first mariner arena. she hosted the cma awards and performed with brad paisley who run entertainer of the year. underwood who won american idol on season 4 which jump-started her career is no stranger to baltimore. >> no. >>> all right. time to say happy barth i did -- birthday. if you are celebrating a birthday. charlie's birthday. charlie crowson our newest anchor and newest member of the abc2 news team. happy birthday and welcome aboard. very humble e didn't say hey, it's my birthday. >> happy birthday. having a birthday? send us a e-mail and put a photo on it and send it to morning show at wmar.com. >>> coming up next, at 5:19. >> you've been on the town and what few drinks and wonder what do i do to get home? >> some risk getting behind the wheel. a business will eliminate that thou

. >>> and the man in black known for hits like a boy named sue, ring of fire, johnny cash will get a special honor. he will be inducted into the gospel pawl hall of fame. he is one of four new inductees. and the ceremony takes place in january. >>> 6:24. we just found out prince william is engaged to a glen burnie girl. wouldn't that be great. >> she is not from glen burnie. >> wouldn't that be neat? kate middleton is who he is engaged to. this is the prince in afghanistan. he is 28 and the the wedding will take place in the spring or summer of 2011 at martins west. no it's in london. he and miss middleton were engaged in october during a private holiday in kenya. >> they have been dating for a while. >>> today's birthdays carly crowson, our newest member of the abc2 news team, he just started and happy birthday charlie. >> just like that. >> just like that. >> we had no idea. >> no idea. >> we will get a cake next time. >> wait until you see the cake. >> balloons and everything. >> absolutely. >> gorilla will come. >> if you are having a birthday, we want to know about it. send a e-

his songs have been covered by the likes of elvis presley, johnny cash, the monkees, ub40, frank sinatra and even liberace. you can hear him sing some of his favorite songs by others on the new album "dreams." please welcome the one and only neil diamond! [ cheers and applause ] you look great. it's good to see you. >> thank you so much. >> jimmy: congratulations on your nomination to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. [ applause ] long overdue. >> i feel great about it. i don't know if i'm going to get in. but for the next six weeks, i'm a hero, you know? >> jimmy: you better get in. do they nominate people and then say, oh, no, you didn't get in? >> they do. it's like a competition. somebody has to vote on it. >> jimmy: really? >> see if you get in, but you never know. >> jimmy: wow. >> but i'll keep my fingers crossed. right now, i feel like a winner. >> jimmy: you should get in, you absolutely should. [ applause ] have you had any thoughts -- somebody gives a speech inducting you into the hall of fame. have you given thought about who that person might be? >> i thought

among the ,000 items up for sale, guitars johnny cash played on stage, hand rin lyrics and passports, the jumpsuit he wore in prison and a to-do list that he wrote to himself. it says don't smoke and kiss june. the belongings go on sale next weekend. theirs was quite a love story. uh! cut! when you're a stunt woman, work can be pretty unpredictable, from knowing when my next job will be... to what i'll actually be doing. so in the rest of my life i like control, especially in my finances. that's why i have slate with blueprint. i can make a plan to pay off everyday things and avoid interest. or pay down my balance faster on the big stuff. that saves money. with slate from chase i have everything under control... financially. debit card conol... credit card flexibility. get both with slate. and word is people really love got our claims service.ffice gecko: 'specially the auto repair xpress. repairs are fast and they're guaranteed for as long as you own your car. boss: hey, that's great! is this your phone? gecko: yeah, 'course. boss: but...where do you put...i mean how do you...carry..