ABC Marries Music Row

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

ABC-TV is doing everything it can to make the new "Nashville" show a hit! They screened it early for reviewers. They ran it on Delta Airlines as in-flight entertainment. Now it's available free on Hulu. The amount of free advertising for the show via promotionals is worth millions.

Unlike the other networks over the years, ABC has been a complete partner They came late to the party several decades late, but they're here now.

NBC in the early days had the CMAs And lost them to CBS.

NBC and CBS for many years were very friendly to Country music. In fact CBS was called the Country network for years. much to the dismay of the Park Avenue socialite CBS wives.

ABC/Disney, for some reason, jumped in with both feet and arms and head. Outbid CBS for the CMA Awards. Got Fan Fair on the TV even though it airs three months later, which is very weird!

ABC bought a Reba sitcom basically unseen and put it on the low priority Friday night ... still it's on ... ABC's biggest gamble this new primetime drama.

Now showing on HULU, "Nashville" is getting the big print push prior to opening night Wednesday, Oct 10th. The Nashville Scene did a cover story ...Google it ... I'm sure many more are ahead.

We shall see how this marriage works out. "Nashville" needs to be successful as an outlet for music and one of city pride.

Politics will get raw in the next few weeks. The conservative Country stars are out on the road helping Romney and their hometown label folks are home writing checks to the Dems. Feelings are heightened as we get closer. Don't see as many Obama stickers and signs out on Music Row like I did four years ago...

The "Idol" hype is crazy. Nicki yelling over Keith ... Mariah rolling her eyes. Keith sitting in the middle smiling. "Idol" is the new Jerry Springer.

Pre-cool weather lull in the action before all the award shows. CMA is big daddy.

Is Lady A in the lead for CMA or Aldean? Luke Bryan has a chance to win male vocalist? Always interesting politics!