The Biggest Week Of The Year!

For the Country Music Industry, CMA Week is when the spotlight is on at 100%. Three hours of network primetime television powered by weeks of national promotion and advertising. The commercials on radio and television seen by millions and all the Internet eyeballs reading the various online news and features.

The L.A.-based ACMs do an excellent job and get a great deal of publicity. The Nashville-created CMAs are the oldest and the gold standard organization in the hometown of the industry.

For better or worse, this all over the place. CMA/ABC musical extravaganza is big money and affects thousands of jobs. The stars are the point of the spears. They are the face of Country representing an American culture creation. This show has shown and seen it all and always with class and distinction. Even the Bros usually put on some school clothes for CMA Night. Key word: "usually." Even Willie with good tennis shoes on his appearances. It's the Oscars of Country music. Key word: "respect" ... for the past, present and future.

This year shifts in the public's taste. ABC and The CMA will try to merge all the divergent Country styles into a cohesive, entertaining night. It was easier to do that in, say, 1988. There is always someone new knocking at the door, but this year it's Chris Stapleton ... the one who breaks out, or is his music too extreme in the other direction? The new traditionalists vs the teeny-bopper Country folks and the Bros. Thomas Rhett's spot with The Fallout Boys might be a water cooler moment.

Brad and Carrie are loading their comic guns and will go audience hunting and between Blake/Miranda and the Ashley Madison scandal, there should be no shortage of subjects in the crosshairs.

The winners ... the bragging rights ... the resume and biography entry moments? Is it another Blake and Miranda winning night? How will often-passed-by Aldean do this year? Any real new, awarded-too-soon people on the runway? I don't think you will see any Charlie Rich moments (look it up) but the music will be debated on Thursday morning. This year will be a real stew of musical interests. Can the young and old meet in the middle? We shall see.

Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan busier than most this week. Carrie on both coasts promoting her new album, and Luke burning the candle at both ends wrapping up his touring year in Chicago and Detroit.

Tim McGraw meeting Prince Harry in D.C. Garth planning a January concert blast in South Florida, while George Strait will sell and probably sellout of 2017 tickets at Vegas arena. 2017! That is indeed an advance sale!

Look for the big ABC-TV CMA special Monday night with Robin Roberts shot all over the country ... ABC and Disney do now how to promote vertically within their company!

Good luck to the nominees and get the word out ... good CMA ratings float everyone's boat!