Blame It On The Neon Moon

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville

Since the Super Moon illuminated the world full peak last Saturday night, things have been crazy! Started with the Tony Stewart racing incident in N.Y. state. Tony is friend to several Nashville folks and that death on the track rocked the NASCAR world.

Then Robin Williams died. The more we know the worse it gets. I had the pleasure of interviewing him from the early '80s and the next 30 years. He was talented beyond description, one of the kindest stars ever, and one of the most fragile. I had to be careful how I would conduct the interviews as I would be careful what notes follow in a musical composition. When you were with Robin, you were playing a musical instrument. Fast or slow, happy or sad. He could change as fast as you could play. He was a lonely little boy in a rich, grown man's body. I loved him and hurt for him and the loved one he left behind. Brad Paisley was among the last to ever act with him. He was shattered and like everyone else couldn't understand how Robin could feel so sad with all the people who loved him. Depression is a heartless monster.

This week, "American Idol" Season 2 finalist Josh Gracin left an odd note on Facebook. It sent the police to his Tennessee home and eventually sent Josh to a hospital for mental evaluation. Pending marital issues sent that situation off.

A chaos-filled summer for the Country concert world is coming to an end with more of the same. Luke Bryan's Gillett stadium show broke attendance records, but also had 47 transported to area hospitals for alcohol-related illnesses. Dozens arrested for various charges. Another night at a Country show. Like the song said, You're Gonna Ruin my Bad Reputation!

New music announcements filling the trades. FGL announced 10/14/14 for their new CD, Anything Goes. Those boys even made the Animal Planet channel where FGL Brian Kelley got a new custom treehouse! Treehouse Masters airing first 8/15 in prime time. Cool treehouse!

Many announcements in the coming week ... Trisha Yearwood on Tuesday ... Taylor Swift on Monday via a live steam on Yahoo. One Direction will hit Nashville's football stadium Tuesday 8/19. Summer is not over, but Fall is approaching. The CMA voters getting hit by a lot of promotional material. Campaigns for artists ... I'll leave the names out ... but this is like the election for class president. Would not be hard to imagine Luke Bryan winning Entertainer of the Year this year!

Anyone look at the box scores for Country shows the last few weeks? $13 million plus for a handful of Jason Aldean shows? $4 million for four Blake shows! The dollars are flowing for the biggest artists.

The death, two rapes, hundreds of arrests ... million-dollar paydays. Very successful times and very big problems that are hand in hand. Don't kill the good that paid the golden eggs by not getting the drunk problem under control. WE FEST stabbing? Some drunk with a taser stabbed a few folks...

This can not become the norm! Set limits and add security that will enforce laws that are clearly stated in advance. Aloha!