It had all the sad makings for a country classic, this tale of a cowpoke from Dusty who sold his yodel for a song.

But Wylie Gustafson isn't singing the Lovesick Blues now.

The 40-year-old yodeling ace called at 9 p.m. Saturday from his ranch on the Palouse with big news: His $5 million lawsuit against Yahoo Inc. has been settled.

Gustafson had accused the Internet giant of using his yodeled "Ya-hoooo" in commercials without paying him for the privilege.

Those days are over, although Gustafson can't disclose how much his bank account will be expanding. That's part of the agreement.

There was no hiding this cowboy's satisfaction, however. To prove it, Gustafson cut loose with that unmistakable "Ya-Hoooo" audio signature heard across the globe.

"We're ready to work with them," Gustafson said. "We're happy and Yahoo did the right thing."

The media interest in this yodeling lawsuit probably had something to do with Yahoo's speed in putting out the fire.

Gustafson said he was forced to sue only after Yahoo execs ignored his requests for a fair compensation. The story of the lawsuit was printed in the Los Angeles Times late last week and quickly followed by television, newspaper and radio reporters from across the nation.

A call to Yahoo's corporate offices in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Friday produced a friendly, but firm, no comment.

Gustafson can be found on his Palouse ranch near tiny Dusty (pop. 12) when he's not fronting the Wylie & the Wild West band.

He specializes in the mellow sounds from country's Golden Age. His songs often are about ropin' and ridin' the range and gazing up at vast, star-dotted skies.

This latter-day wrangler has developed a small but fiercely loyal following of down-home folks who revel in the singer's "aw, shucks" charm.