Perfectly coifed hairdos aside, Bon Jovi always straddled that perilous divide between rock credibility and pure pop fluff. Still, there's no doubt about the band's commercial viability. With massive hits "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Wanted Dead or Alive," and "Living on a Prayer," among others, and album sales in excess of 120 million, Bon Jovi's one of the most successful American bands of all time. Yet when it comes to journeyman ethic, it's never earned the reverence of such heartland heroes as, say, Springsteen or Mellencamp, although they often travel in the same circles.
Bon Jovi's recent dabbling in country confused matters, but it also expanded its following. "Who Says You Can't Go Home," featuring Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, garnered a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals, and 2007's Lost Highway boasts contributions from LeAnn Rimes and Big & Rich. Still, those early hits hold sway. During January's Grammy telecast, for example, 250,000 votes were tallied online from viewers selecting a song for the band to perform, and "Living on a Prayer" was victorious.
