Kris Kristofferson and country superstar Toby Keith are both speaking out about Ethan Hawke recent article in Rolling Stone magazine, detailing an alleged encounter between the two country stars at Willie Nelson's 2003 birthday bash. The actor claims that he witnessed a heated exchange, during which an unnamed artist (whom he hints was Keith) warned Kristofferson not to perform any "lefty" music. Hawke claims the country legend bit back, telling off the mystery artist and putting him in his place.

So did that really happen? Both Keith and Kristofferson say no.

Okie's Big Dawg

Toby Keith was laying hits on opposing players long before he started laying down hits in the recording studio. Having lost his job with the oil industry in the early 1980s, the beefy country singer found work as a defensive end for the semipro Oklahoma City Drillers.

Steel Country

Legendary Steelers QB and current NFL announcer Terry Bradshaw has released a half dozen albums, some a little bit country, some a little bit gospel. And long after hanging up his helmet and microphone, Bradshaw made a memorable cameo in a Toby Keith music video, playing a loser looking for love in 'I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight.'

With Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow and Jewel all having recorded or about to record in Nashville, the undying love for country possessed by a lot of rockers has never been more evident. Still, bright young metal band Avenged Sevenfold, a Huntington Beach, Calif., quintet that made it to platinum status on the strength of opening for Metallica and playing Ozzfest, might be considered a longshot to embrace the twang. However, on its new self-titled album, the band explores the Nashville terrain on the track 'Dear God.' Lead singer M. Shadows says country is a big influence on him, starting with these five artists.

1. Big & Rich: I like a lot of the country pop stuff, so 'Horses Wear Color' is one of my favorite country records. I listen to older country, but they got me into it because they had a lot of rock influence and they're super-eclectic and super-crazy and they were the outlaws of Nashville for a while because they were doing so much wacky stuff on their record. They have Cowboy Troy rapping on some stuff. They're just like a rock band that plays country music, and I think their songwriting is amazing. Those guys write for everyone, and when I pick up that record every song is a smash hit in my eyes.

2. Toby Keith: I love Toby Keith, though, because I love his voice, his songwriting, and he's got a cool message. He's very pro-troops and he's got some funny songs. He's got some over-the-top songs about Al Qaeda and stuff, but I think he's got a great voice and I love his songwriting.

Toby Keith vs. Dixie Chicks

Fightin' Words: "I'm not ready to make nice" ('Not Ready to Make Nice,' Dixie Chicks)

Natalie Maines said Toby Keith's song 'Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue' made country music sound "ignorant." Keith said Maines was a lame songwriter. When she trashed the Bush administration, he toured with a backdrop depicting Nat with Saddam Hussein. She wore a T-shirt to the ACM awards that read "FUTK," and no one believed it stood for Freedom, Understanding, Truth and Knowledge. "I think it was bad for everybody involved," Keith told a reporter. At least Fox News got some mileage out of it.

Judges' Decision: Chicks in late-round surge

Calloo, callay! It's truly a red (and white) letter day here at With a Bullet! We simply couldn't be more pleased and proud to feature this photograph of Jack and Meg White, who must be busting the dozens of buttons on their snazzy Pearly King and Queen-inspired outfits you now see before you, as the chart-topping debut of the White Stripes' sixth long-player, 'Icky Thump,' finally gives the dashing Detroit duo its first No. 1 album! The cream really does rise to the top every once in a while! What a vindication this is for the plucky peppermint-stick-colored pair after plugging away assiduously for lo these many years! Lookin' good, Jack and Meg!

Excuse me, gentle reader -- my editor is motioning for me to come into his office. I'll be right back to rhapsodize further on the White Stripes, the number-one group in the whole United States of America!

Update: It seems this reporter may have been a little hasty -- the latest album chart actually lists the debut of the White Stripes' 'Icky Thump' at No. 2; evidently a new Bon Jovi country record is No. 1.

Good for him.