Meat, Lots of Music and 10-Gallon Hats

The Scene: Wednesday night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where Rosemary Clooney staged “The Singer’s Salute to the Country Songwriter.” A stage full of top contemporary country talent performed some of the best-known country songs at the event, a benefit for the Betty Clooney Foundation for Persons with Brain Injury. Honored songwriters included Johnny Cash, Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard, Buck Owens and the late Roger Miller.

Who Was There: Clooney and co-host Ralph Emery introduced Ray Charles, Joe Diffie, Vince Gill, Brian Green, Teresa James, Hal Ketchum, Jim Lauderdale, Tracy Lawrence, Micaela Lockridge, Rose Maddox, Dean Miller, Collin Raye, the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Travis Tritt, Dale Watson, Joy White and Trisha Yearwood.

Dress Code: Western wear all the way, but it was more Rodeo Drive than real rodeo. Lots of denim, lots of boots, lots of Stetsons (most of which stayed on their owners’ heads during the show).

Chow: The tofu crowd must have been going crazy. There was nothing to eat but meat--barbecued chicken and ribs, “the other white meat.” Vegetarians had to settle for long-neck bottles of Coors or wait until they got home. People ate at gingham-covered picnic tables or tried to eat standing up without the benefit of cutlery.

Noted: After the crowd gave him a standing ovation, Johnny Cash took a slap at modern country radio programmers. “See, the fans don’t care how old you are if they like your songs,” said Cash.

Quoted: Dean Miller, son of “King of the Road” composer Roger Miller, said he was nervous going onstage to perform. “But then I heard my little brother, who’s 3, saying ‘hi’ from the audience, and from then on it was like I was back in my living room.”

Overheard: At the backstage party, the singers patiently posed for endless photos with the fans and autographed everything from programs to denim jackets. Said one jaded veteran of the Hollywood party scene, “I wish actors were as nice as these country music people.”

Triumphs: Talk about organization: 28 songs, delivered in just over two hours, with no long speeches in between. Things moved so quickly and smoothly that guests were celebrating at the party by 10:15.

Last Image: Rosemary Clooney, climbing into her limo with a cowboy boot full of flowers.