Some Stars Are Just Better Than Others!

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

Singing and songwriting get you in the door and on the radio, but the personality takes you to the top.

If you don't have a personality, you can overcome that with attitude and that whole James Dean cool thing. A few try that but only a few pull that stunt off.

The superstars who shine the brightest have it all. This week a few blew through Nashville to say hello and press the flesh.

Garth was the all-time best at this. He is the gold standard of star behavior. Followed by how Taylor Swift deals with her fans and her stardom in general. Garth and Taylor light up a room when they enter in costume and character. They are special and you see and feel it.

This week we saw several examples of big stars in the making.

NBC soon-to-be-Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon may handle this star stuff better than even Garth. He certainly does it as well. Jimmy is still on his way to the big time. He is popular but not the household fixture. In person you see what the NBC suits see.

While in Nashville this week, Fallon posed for pictures, signed autographs, kissed babies and not just in duty, but with excitement and joy. He made people feel so comfortable and at ease. He was at the 100% effort level, too. You can't name a dozen stars who can smooze and greet at that NFL level. Some have it and some don't. Even the stars. Some are cut out for the politicking aspect of the job. And some are NOT.

The next "good" star would be Luke Bryan. I got a long report of how Luke handled a backstage meet-and-greet with a young girl who just survived a near-death medical event.

Luke treated her like that was all he had to do that night. Time stopped. The best know how to do this. Garth and Taylor are masters of stopping time. The fast "hurry up let's go" world goes into slow motion and even stops while the star brakes to make sure the subject gets the full dose.

This little girl Kali from Benton, Arkansas will never forget meeting her favorite star Luke Bryan. Fantastic! Proud of him and how he has conducted himself as a "star" up to this point.

Minnie Pearl was a character created by Sarah Cannon. Minnie is and was an iconic Southern creation. The two women were different in every way. Sarah knew Minnie's world was one of laughter and joy. Nothing ever changed that. It was a great week for some stars to know their dual roles perfectly.

Country music is a Baskin Robbins of tastes and flavors right now. Each star is unique. No cookie-cutter could produce this bunch. They may at times sound alike but the characters are independent.

As the CMA Awards approach ... The back-office politics and relationships will produce some winners. Kind of a shame. All the top acts right now -- and a few more, too -- are at the top of the game. The nights around Nashville right now are full of stars.