The Comeback Kids

Shania Twain made the headlines this week announcing her new tour and maybe her farewell tour. Tickets go on sale March 13th for Rock This Country. A very ambitious schedule that takes Shania from Seattle on June 5th to Fresno August 23rd, with 46 or so stops in between.

The return of Garth ... now Shania. It's back to work for the '90s headliners. Both set sales records artists are still trying to equal in pop and country.

Shania's show in Las Vegas was pricey as they all are now, but it was very entertaining. Was personable and seemed more relaxed than she ever was in the '90s. This new show will not be the Vegas show but one she is designing custom for this career celebration.

Look what has changed since Shania hit the chart. Pretty much everything! From analog to digital ... social media ... streaming ... you name it ... 75 million albums sold in her career with 40 million for the Come On Over album. Almost unimaginable numbers today.

Shania plowed the way for artists such as Taylor Swift. Shania's music wasn't exactly met with open arms by the traditionalists of the day, much like the later day traditionalist's have talked about Taylor Swift. Both ladies hit the road shortly and wish them well.

Kelly Clarkson sold 90,000 albums this week for a good start on her new pop album with a reported Country album in the works. No one ever said show business was easy and for the ladies, they get some tough coverage at times. All three of these winners handle the bad catty comments with great class. They are role models 100%.

Can anyone remember a year with more Country concerts and festivals? Watershed at the Gorge in Washington state sold out in 16 minutes. Toadlick and Gulf Coast Jam announced their slates this week. The economy must be better!

And the rodeos rolling with numbers like 62,276 for Miranda Lambert at Rodeo Houston.

Waiting for the reviews for Country 2 Country in London March 7th-8th with the big Bro Country artists. No all the Bros got great reviews in Oslo and Stockholm. The reviewer in Oslo was brutal. It's a starting-over process for artists trying to build a base in a country that has you as a second or third language. Singing about muddy roads is universal or maybe not.

Country is making waves in Europe. If you want to read an interesting article, go Google The Guardian newspaper's article on Sam Hunt. You ponder that Grady Smith-written hot potato.

Wade Jessen died suddenly this week. He was a classy guy I first met at WSM-FM in the early '90s. He was Billboard's senior chart manager and really knew that business. He was good at his job but I respected the man. How could you not like Wade? So ready to take your call and answer that stupid question about the chart or anything in his world. I always enjoyed talking with him and will miss him. Strength to his family and co-workers.