We have both kinds: country and western

No matter how many research projects the Country Music Association commissions and no matter what the results say, we just can't get away from the old stereotypes.

Actor John Ratzenberger (Cliff Claven on "Cheers" and, more importantly, the voice of numerous Disney/Pixar characters) recently filed a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend, claiming she is "capable of violence because she listens to country music," according to TMZ.

Ratzenberger said that his former flame "indicated that it is common in many country western songs for women to set the cars of their former boyfriends on fire."

First of all, we don't deserve the old "country western" tag—I mean, when was the last time a country singer wore a cowboy hat? Umm, never mind. Strike that.

Anywhooo, I can't remember the last time a country song espoused setting a former boyfriend's car on fire. Houses with kerosene, yes. Cars, no.

Speaking of Miranda Lambert, who famously sang about burning her boyfriend's house down and waiting for an abusive mate with her gun cocked and loaded, I spoke with her last week about her involvement in a cool new campaign for cotton. She told me that her new album, which is due in September, will be less about revenge and more about the maturity that being in a stable relationship brings.

"It’s more grown up," she told me. "It’s not so chip-on-your-shoulder and crazy. It’s definitely more stable. It’s me all the way, but it’s me at 25, versus 18 or 19."

If Miranda—the daughter of private detectives, by the way—ever breaks up with fellow country star Blake Shelton, who used to wear a cowboy hat but doesn't anymore, perhaps she can show Ratzenberger a thing or two about stereotypes.