Who Is Chris Stapleton?

Award shows are important ... why? Take the case of songwriter-now-CMA nominee Chris Stapleton. With three CMA nominations, Chris just popped up on a whole bunch of radar screens!

Country fans not into park-and ride-Country-party-by-the-river songs love Chris. The hip folks in Austin and the radio people tired of the same old stew love him, too. He is a breath of fresh old air. It's 2015's take on Merle. The Hag would not say this is crap! It is not for everyone but it is for some.

So is the CMA show's 49th version going to be okay with new-old Country? We shall see how that mixes with the new sorority girls and the bros in early November on ABC. There was a problem a few years back when a good George Strait record didn't sound right next to the current flavor of the day. It was just a sign of the times ... You can't say the Bro stuff hasn't been successful. And it is NOT over a matter of what a few CMA voters say. The public is speaking with millions of concert seat purchases. The teen and 20-somethings are not about to stop their party music menu.

The 2015 CMA nominations are diverse and not 100% reflective of Country music's main radio stream. The Grammy's have been out of sync, too, in recent years. Not saying that's a bad or good thing ... just a thing.

The CMA new artist category should be very competitive: The very-in-demand

Thomas Rhett. Against 2015 hitmaker Sam Hunt. The teens and then Chris Stapleton. That will make a real good group photo.

These award shows can't be the live-or-die moment for anyone. Nice to win ... goes on your resume. The list of great music makers not subject to awards is off the scale. You take these for what they are. Promotional tools and good conversation pieces for your family.

From Garth and Kenny to Maddie and Tae with Merle and Willie in for good measure. It should make for a wide ranging show on November the 4th.

Nice moment for Garth and Trisha when they got a star on the Music City Walk of Fame alongside Jimi Hendrix and Steve Winwood, among others. We should have a walk like that, though it is not quite the Hollywood Star Walk that seems so classy in design and simplicity.

Brad Paisley is all over the start of the college football season. On CBS Game of the Week now and every Fall weekend with their feature theme. Carrie is back on Sunday Night NFL ... the Country stars are the soundtrack providers for life.