First Day of Summer 2013 ... Digesting Spring

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

As we get the Summer started, we're looking back on a Spring that left us with a lot to think about. First, if a star broke out of the first half of 2013, it has to be that 16-year-old winner of "The Voice." Dannielle Bradberry has a voice that will be important, God willing, in the next year. First "Voice" I have been enchanted by in some time. Lucky Big Machine! Lucky Danielle!

"The Voice" beats "American Idol" for bragging rights ...15.3 million to 14 million ... "Idol" has fallen but both are huge audiences. They need to survive; they seem to be Country music's great audition campus. Wait until Fall! "X Factor" and "America's Got Talent" all have good talent ahead this season. I know two contestants (one of each show) and they will get people talking ... Tennesseans, but I can say no more!

The text I got last night asking me to verify the death of James Gandolfini began a very sad night. He lived in a penthouse condo on Music Row back in 2001. He was making a movie here -- The Last Castle. Intense, nice ... can you be intense and nice? Anyway, a bear of a man. One of the 10 best actors ever on TV. Tony Soprano ... I am going to get my DVD box set and start working my way through that show again ... I'll let you know.

No one can tell me a name of the breakout artist at CMA Musicfest. I was in Alaska. Someone always breaks out. Well, maybe not this year. The Fla/Ga Line boys are the big story for the first half of 2012 but not breakout artists. Hunter is close. Jake Owen not yet. Luke Bryan is at a tricky spot. A great Summer puts him in a very good spot for the CMA awards. Did divorce slow down Aldean's momentum?

A George Jones movie in the works ... been in the works. Now moving to the next level. Don't book your movie seats quite yet. A long way to go. Casting will NOT be easy. He was a unique star.

Chet Flippo died this week. He was my favorite writer in Nashville. He was unafraid. Told it like he saw it and had a great style. I never told him. I was I had. His was the only column I read on a regular basis. There is so much butt kissing that goes on in any industry town. He did his share, but when it came to principles and the honesty of this genre, he was unafraid. He called them out when too many truck and tractor songs were in the marketplace. He didn't like fake Country music. He was very deep catalogue. Way deeper than I chose to go. He was just great! I hate that I never sent him a note and told him. I hope he knew how appreciated he was.

Make this your good karma idea of the day: If you like the job someone is doing ... tell them! It feels good to be the giver and the receiver.