tonight on "nightline," too sexy too soon. selling clothes to pre-teen girls is a business worth billions. with celebrities like miley cyrus setting trends across the land. but how did cute and adorable get replaced with blatantly sexual? guns in bars a new tennessee law makes it legal to pack heat in places where people pound drinks. but what happens when someone opens fire in a place like this. >> and the country's biggest star

stars join us for a special edition of the "nightline" play list. >> announcer: from the global resources of abc news, with terry moran, cynthia mcfadden and bill weir in new york city, this is "nightline," november 10th, 2010. >> good evening, everyone. as long as there have been pre-teen girls, there have been parents agonizing over how they dress. young ladies come into their own fashion sense in that 8 to 12 range and as a group, they spend an astounding $10.7 billion of their own money annually. chasing that market are all manner of xecompanies, and they are daunting opponents for parents fighting to keep kids kids as long as possible. my co-anchor terry moran has our report. >> reporter: roll out the pink carpet. it's a big night at macy's department store in manhattan. there's madonna and her 14-year-old daughter lourdes.

and there's taylor munson. she's 17 years old. and that's why it's a pink carpet. this is an event -- girls. >> what have you learned working with your daughter on this line? >> she's actually very focused. very, very detail-oriented. and she takes her job very seriously. i'm happy to know that. >> reporter: and this night last month, madonna was a proud mom. it was the unveiling of a new line of clothing, material girl. she and her daughter have created it for girls. and taylor is the face of the new line. she's wearing some of the clothes. >> it's very much about putting your own look together to be yourself. >> reporter: she's certainly being herself in her newest video, "you make me want to die." times sure have changed. judy garland was 15 when this song made her a star.

15 was very different back then. ♪ i'm too old for toys ♪ and i'm too young for boys >> reporter: but even into the 1970s, on "the brady bunch" and other main stream tv shows, teen and pre-teen girls were still dressed and portrayed as cute more than hot. adorable more than sexual. >> that's so cute. >> reporter: but some things haven't changed. >> i want to get new dresses for the dance tomorrow. >> reporter: grace and olivia are 12 years old and like just about every girl their age they are beginning that beautiful journey of figuring out who they are and how they want the world to see them. ♪ i know a place >> reporter: and our culture inevitably shapes them. ♪ california girls were undeniable ♪ >> reporter: grace and olivia love katy perry's "california girls."

we went on a shopping trip with grace and olivia and grace's mom, diane. >> so pretty. >> that's cute. >> i like the sparkle a lot. >> reporter: forever 21, h&m and a lot of energy. >> one of the "glamour" cover. >> i don't know. it's not a young person's outfit. >> you don't like it? >> i don't. >> reporter: is it easy to find stuff that you both like? >> a little bit of an effort sometimes. >> reporter: later, we asked them about that age-old balance between moms, daughters and clothes. >> grace had really liked this dress that was black and it was kind of sheer. and it came up here. i call them butt huggers. they come right here, kind of that. and she came out and said, how do i look? and i said, you look absolutely fabulous. and when you're 18 or 21, you'll look better in this and you're not getting it now. >> reporter: you thought you looked good? >> yeah, i did.

>> reporter: corporate america has fallen in love with girls like grace and olivia. tweens, kids between 8 and 12. they have tremendous buying power. tween is a term popularized by marketers, an age group defined to sell them stuff, from books and entertainment to clothes. >> with that industry, you're talking about a mull-million dollar industry. >> reporter: alex morris is a reporter for "new york magazine." >> you're talking about an age group that is sort of a sweet -- in a sweet spot, because these kids, for the first time, are -- have access to their own money. >> reporter: 8 to 12-year-olds now have $43 billion in spending power in the u.s. every year. and sex sells in america. so, corporations targeting all that teen and even twee n money are receiving sex to them. critics have a term for it. corporate pedophilia. >> you have a rack of clothing that is prompt for an

11-year-old next to a rack of clothing that isn't. it's certainly blurring the lines. and it's making it harder for parents to be able to sort of set bound rips. >> reporter: and the entertainment industry isn't making it any easier for parents, either. a few years ago, miley cyrus was the sweet hannah montana on the disney channel. now she's in black leather hot pants. she's 17. >> reporter: ashley tisdale of "high school musical" is cranking it up. and amanda bynes was on the cover of "maxim." >> the easiest way for a female celebrity to transition from being a child star to an adult star, the pathway is through their sexuality. >> reporter: there's new research that all of this is harmful for young girls. the american psychological sew yags released a report earlier this year, finding that girls exposed to such imagery are more likely to experience body

dissatisfaction, depression and lower self-esteem. but maybe the pendulum is swinging back a bit. ann is the editor of "seventeen" magazine, the bible on what to wear for so many teen and pre-teen girls. >> if you look at the girls who are the big starls these days, taylor swift, miranda cosgrove, selena gomez on the disney channel. these are good girls. >> reporter: grace, like so many strong young ladies, as they used to say, knows what she likes, and it isn't trashy. >> something comfortable but looks like, kind of edgy or high fashion, urban cheic, kind of. >> i think the thing you'll see is that teenagers are very aware of who they are. and it's all about pushing boundaries. >> it's just a little low cut. >> reporter: diane, grace's mom, knows her role in all of this is crucial for her daughter.

>> it's a little hoochi. >> no, it's not. >> i don't have to be her friend, i'm her parent. we can be great friends when she's 30. for now, sometimes we do have a back and forth. >> reporter: back on the pink carpet, we asked madonna about all of this, and some of the clothes in the material girl line have been criteria sized as too racy. the question brought out the mom. >> i'm very strict about the way my daughter dresses, though. i mean, we have arguments about how short the skirt is. you know, is there cleavage. >> reporter: you think the line of clothes -- >> i think it's appropriate. it depends if they cut them off short or yank -- it depends. you can work a dress and, you know, if she wears short shorts i make her wear tights with them. that kind of thing. >> reporter: how does that work for you with mom? >> obviously i don't agree with

all of her decisions but i know it's coming, so -- i mean, i know she's going to say something. so i'm going to try and see what happens. >> reporter: and that's what moms do. >> say no? yes. >> reporter: they are so precious, so beautiful, and they aren't some corporations next big demographic, their next male tick meal ticket. they're our daughters. for "nightline," i'm terry moran. >> i have a 6-year-old girl at home and with any luck when she's ready to dress like that, i'll be dead. thanks toer a er arterry. when we come back, a controversial new law in tennessee that allows people to carry guns inside bars. we talk to the women who support that law. [ woman ] you know, as a mom, i worry about my son playing football. which is why i'm really excited. because toyota developed this software that can simulate head injuries and helps make people safer.

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any aficionado of the wild west could give you a few vivid examples of why guns inside bars can generally be a bad idea. yet tennessee joined three other

states that explicitly allow firearms inside places where brooz is served. and the women we meet tonight say there is a need for this law and explain why to chris bury. ♪ good old southern kind >> reporter: in nashville, the honky tonks are hopping, the beer flowing. ♪ western town in the usa ♪ is boogie tennessee >> reporter: and nikki is getting ready for a night out on the town. her constant companions, an ammunition clip in her pocket and a loaded.38 smith and wesson revolver that slips into a hidden pouch in her purse. >> we need to be protected, because bad guys are going to carry their guns. >> reporter: on this night, she's meeting friends at a nashville bar and restaurant. >> reporter: how many of you at this table have concealed weapons right now? three people here at your table,

packing weapons. >> i want more than a cell phone and a prayer. i want more than that. i want the ability to save my own life. >> reporter: tennessee's new law explicitly allows handguns even in places where alcohol is served, as lock as the gun toters hold state permits. similar laws are now on the books in arizona, georgia, virginia and maine. the catch is, no drinking while you're packing a gun. is it a good idea to mix guns and alcohol? >> there is absolutely no alcohol being mixed with guns at this table. all of us are drinking nonalcoholic beverages because we're law-abiding citizens. >> reporter: nikki is convinced she is safer in this bar with that gun in her purse. >> the police aren't -- they're not going to be there in enough time. they're going to be there in enough time to put up the crime scene tape and take pictures of your loved one.

i've been there. >> reporter: she has. in april 2009, she and her husband ben were running a karaoke night when a man, bothering her, was asked to leave. >> he pulled out a gun and shot my husband multiple times right in front of me. >> reporter: at the time, her husband was killed, tennessee law banned guns from all places serving alcohol. >> i had to leave my permitted legal weapon locked in my vehicle that night and i'll probably wonder for the rest of my life if i could have saved ben. >> it's a smaller gun. it's perfect for pocket carry, perfect for concealed carry. >> reporter: gun shop owner phillip tells us the new law has spurred sales of small guns. and he teaches owners how to use concealed weapons, like the one nikki carries. >> what she'll do is, with her hand in the purse, simply lunge

to the target and shoot it. >> reporter: tennessee residents need to be 21, free of felony convictions and complete eight hours of training. you think i'm ready to handle a loaded weapon now? >> i think you are. >> reporter: after a few lessons, even a complete novice, like me, can hit a stationary target under carefully controlled conditions. >> ready? fire. >> reporter: not going to win any awards, but it would hit the target. >> you've stopped the threat. both of those shots, first time you've shot a gun, you stopped the threat. >> reporter: but to fire a gun at someone, the threat must only be perceived as deadly. if someone is, say, ten feet away, they've got a knife, broken bottle, coming at me, i can just shoot him, here in tennessee. >> ten feet. >> reporter: inside a bar? >> absolutely. >> reporter: no problem? >> no problem. >> reporter: imagine a gun going off in a place like this. >> it makes me nervous, because at a bar, people are drunk, make

stupid decisions. >> alcohol, guns, does that mix? no. >> reporter: in nashville, where some bars draw huge throngs of tourists, many employees are wary and worried. even if their gun-toting patrons are not the ones drinking. >> maybe this person who has the gun is not drinking but the guy over here has had several, has an attitude. >> after a couple of drinks and stuff, they start getting cocky. they start swinging fists. i've seen people knock down chairs, knock people out. >> reporter: the permit hold earls believe they actually make bars safer. >> do i feel like i could stop someone from hurting innocent people -- i think so. >> if somebody had to defend themselves, they wouldn't shoot anybody unless they knew they could take a shot. >> reporter: but these restaurant workers are not convinced even a sober shooter can hit the intended target in the chaos of a bar fight. >> if my hand is the gun and i

would point at the bad guy over here, the difference between is bad guy and someone who is literally two feet away is about that far, you're not talking about -- >> in a fight, someone pushes -- >> you can have multiple shots fired in a matter of seconds. >> reporter: even arrington, a long-time police officer, cannot shoot nearly as well when drawing a concealed weapon. look at the difference, the blue target shows deliberate shots. the red one, a quick draw. even for an expert like you, the more deliberate shot gets the better shot. >> absolutely. >> reporter: the new tennessee law does allow bars and restaurants to ban guns if they choose, by posting no gun signs like these. a choice that bar owners know may alienate many of their customers. >> i would rather not have to, you know, say one way or the other. >> reporter: nikki's choice is clear. she only wishes the law had been in place that april night in 2009 when she left her gun locked in her car.

are you convinced that had you had your gun at that moment, you would have saved your husband's life? >> you know, i'll never know that, will i? >> reporter: so, now that .38 special is always in her purse, locked and loaded, making her feel safer, inside a bar or anywhere else. i'm chris bury for "nightline" in nashville, tennessee. >> something to think about your next night out down in nashville. thanks to chris bury for that. coming up next, brad paisley, not only the host of the cma awards tonight, but the big winner. and he's just one of the country music stars who talks with us about his all-time favorite tunes. if you live for performance,

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>> announcer: "nightline" continues from new york city with bill weir. >> well, a big "nightline" congrats to brad paisley who took out entertainer of the year honors at the 44th country music association awards tonight. we spoke to many of the stars out there tonight about some of their favorite tunes, and now we begin a special edition play list with reba mcintyre who appeared on stage at the cmas and sang a song made famous by beyonce. ♪ i think i would understand ♪ how it feels to love a girl ♪ i swear i'd be a better man >> at first, i wanted to be a world champion cowgirl. the singing was great and i loved it and it was a great past time, but i wanted to be a cowgirl. ♪ my blue ridge mountain boy

>> all time favorites. when i was in the ninth grade, i went, because i loved basketball. would be the entertainment after our evening meal. and that was the songs that i'd sang. songs off that album of dolly's. later on, got to meet dolly. she is just a wonderful, wonderful person. ♪ because you're mine ♪ i walk the line >> "walk the line." johnny was one of the first concerts i ever saw. my dad took my brother and i to see johnny. i think it was probably 7 or 8. it was a pretty memorable experience. my mom was into evererly brothers and neil diamond so in the middle of all of that, i sort of started making music. ♪ i'll just keep on falling in

love ♪ >> "until i get it right" by tammy. she was a hottie. and one 0 the most beautiful women alive and yet had the most vulnerable, tender heart. she was a real combination of different things. like a wounded bird. she was the kind of woman, you never forgot who she was and where she came from. she was a hairdresser, and she still had a hair salon in her home when she passed. ♪ crazy for thinking that my love ♪ >> i think every girl singer loves to sing "crazy" by patsy cline. that was one that i looked forward to singing. my dad is a farmer and had a country band as a hobby. rehearsing in the living room with his band and teaching me songs and, we could sing in church and at different events. he would play guitar and i would

sing. it was just something that we did together. my little brother played guitar. my mom ran the sound board. i'm really grateful when he included me. it could have been his thing that he went out and did by himself, but by including the kids in it, you know, just really gave me a great start and great outlet to perform. ♪ because i can't make you love me if you don't ♪ >> i've been listening to bonnie raitt since i was in high school. there was a lot of her songs that influenced me. it was the song that everybody loved that i loved, too. that's one of the songs that, you know, i don't know, 16, 17 years later still is an amazing song. and she has become not only just a great artist influence, but a good friend. she's been the poster child for being yourself and being true to your music. ♪ looks like i've got a tiger by

the tail ♪ >> the first musical memory of song is buck owens, "tiger by the tail." when i was a kid, they played that. it's got the thing that kids love, whatever it was that buck did, that train beat, that thing which was that sort of -- ♪ i've got a tiger by the tail ♪ it's plain to see and they would play that record on the stair owe at home and i would run around in circles until i fell down. ♪ so turn it on ♪ turn it up ♪ and sing along ♪ this is real ♪ this is your life ♪ and a song ♪ yeah this is country music >> jimmy: tonight, chris pine, danica patrick, music from black

shelton and national unfriend day is only one week away. tonight, we fire up the