Getting Ready For The Close-Up...CMA Time

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

ABC is doing a great job selling the CMAs. The promos this year are very good and make the show look every bit as exciting and important as The Grammys. Best job yet for ABC.

Now ABC and CMA do the Music Festival live and truly make that a more immediate event.

The two-day Country music event concept for ABC is well done and sure raises Country music's profile. GMA, The Robin Roberts Special ... all good teases for the big three- hour show. Hopefully, the exposure will cross over to the cash register for concert tickets, CD and download sales. The spotlight is on the format, so you hope it looks and sounds good. Sounds good! That sound in that building. To be seen...

The trophies will most likely be spread around. The Band Perry may have a big night. Blake and Miranda, too. Not sure how Jason Aldean turns out when all is said and done. Brad could have a huge night with Album and Entertainer of the Year wins, but who knows.

Everyone picks ... let me take a shot of the predicted winners.

• Male Vocalist: Blake Shelton (if not maybe Aldean)
• Female Vocalist: Miranda ... and feel good about that bet.
• Album of the Year: Brad had the best but not the biggest ... it was Country. Could happen. TSwift's CD was huge, but not Country ... or some will say.
• Duo: Sugarland, of course
• Group: Lady A should win but The Band Perry could pull off a huge upset ... but I doubt it.
• Song of the Year: Band Perry ... they keep popping up.
• Entertainer of the Year: Brad is the safe bet ... but Taylor Swift had the greatest year.

Brad is 100% Country and this show is called The Country Music Awards. Taylor was a female Garth concert sensation this year. If you saw that show, it was a one-of-a-kind Hollywood spectacle. She should get a special award for achievement if nothing else.

The Band Perry will win a few awards and those awards will help their career. Bet the ranch on that fact. This hard working act is going to keep going up in 2012.

The award winning is secondary to the on-air performances. Perception can be everything, though so I hope there are no fashion disasters/or costume malfunctions on camera, etc. The CMAs in the last 10 years are usually a very tasteful fashion event. Almost too tame in the fashion world.

Expect this show to move fast and have plenty of Grammy-like events and special combinations. Lionel Richie will hopefully be a big highlight.

This is an industry awards show and should not have any fan-voted "Dancing with the Stars" shocking eliminations. Could have big acts canceling each other out in the voting ... that EOY category is crazy with all the factions voting for their candidate..

Life is not always fair ... award shows have more losers than winner. Hopefully, Country music wins in the end.