McCook man 'Just part of the family now'

Dale McNutt of McCook, Nebraska, poses for a photograph with country singer/recording artist "Maggie Mae" Hilliard, of Oxford, Wisconsin. Hilliard has been inducted into the "Old Time Country Music" Hall of Fame. Courtesy photos

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Dale McNutt of McCook, Nebraska, takes a lot of good-natured ribbin' from his coffee buddies about his friendship with the pretty, young, dark-haired country singer who stars on a cable television show called RFD and on stage in Branson, Missouri.

Dale, an 86-year-old retired farmer, laughs, "The coffee guys always give me a bad time," so Dale makes sure he takes lots of pictures when he attends Maggie Mae's concerts and barn dances, and when he visits at her cafe and at her family's farm in Oxford, Wisconsin.

Because of their friendship, Dale has even talked Maggie Mae Hilliard into performing in McCook. She and her "Heartland Country" band will play during McCook's annual Heritage Days celebration, on Saturday, Sept, 29, at 7:30 p.m., in McCook's Memorial Auditorium. (The concert has been moved from the Historic Fox Theatre downtown because of continuing renovation there.)

Dale's proud to show off Maggie Mae. "Oh, can she sing. Her music is wonderful," he says. "And she's learned to clog dance, and she plays the guitar, and she yodels. She's always clownin' -- she can kick her feet up higher'n her head!"

He chuckles, " ... never a dull moment ... "

Dale's friendship with the country performer started about four years ago, after he watched her on television and ordered a couple of her CD's. "I didn't get them, so I called again, and I talked to a waitress at her cafe," Dale said. "She didn't know what happened -- she and I got something wrong -- so she gave me Maggie's home phone number," Dale said. " ... her home phone number! We talked for half-an-hour or better."

"We compared our farmin' days. Maggie's husband, Roger, farms," Dale said. "And she has a coffee group, too, so we talked about coffee cups. She made me quite a deal on coffee cups for my whole coffee bunch."

Dale said Maggie Mae sent him all her CD's, "but she didn't charge me for 'em. When I called to ask about how much they were, she said there was no charge. She told me, 'You're just part of the family now'," Dale chuckled.

Dale has attended about 15 of Maggie Mae's concerts, in Branson and in Iowa. He has driven to Wisconsin for concerts, and to see Maggie perform and to spend time with her at her cafe and with Roger in the combine on the farm.

Dale chuckled, "She always introduces me -- she says, "And Dale McNutt of McCook, Nebraska, is here today!' -- at her concerts when I'm there."

Yep, fellas, eat your hearts out. Dale's a big fan of Maggie Mae, but he's also "just part of the family."