The Music City Time Machine

Was busy with high school ... and music from Nashville was a hillbilly ride for all I knew ... Later I would learn about Chet Atkins and discover Roy Orbison, Elvis, Marty Robbins and even "the Green Beret" were all Nashville creations ... Young and dumb.

These days Nashville truly is the best of the old and best of the new ... Like President Obama said this week, "You're always looking at the bright, shiny object that people haven't seen before."

He was talking about Bernie Sanders but it fits for today's music menu. It's just how people are ... new bright and shiny is always the attention-getter.

But look at the concerts around town this week ... Diana Ross and Art Garfunkel. Tickets on sale for a September Brian Wilson show at the Ryman...Oh yeah, Ringo is back at the Ryman, too. Hardly new and shiny but still rolling!

The top 10 is new Country ... 1000% very new. Top 40 Country is playing the hits. Meanwhile the Classic Country stars are still around and still sounding good.

One setback in that world this week as Merle Haggard has double pneumonia again. Merle is booked at the huge Watershed festival in George, Washington this summer. I'm sure he will be good then ... One of the new guys,Tyler Farr, is booked at Watershed, too. He was out of service for a while with mandatory vocal rest after surgery. Even the young ones get sick.

Mell Tillis isn't healing from colon surgery as fast as they would like ... that's the word from his daughter Pam Tillis. They have a rodeo date in Austin in March hope he gets well soon!

Eric Paislay was shining this week showing off new music ... Talented songwriter coming into his own as a performer.

The Super Bowl is on the horizon. Zac Brown playing a Turner Sports party. Surely others are booked for the private parties that are everywhere. The NHL Al- Star weekend is in town in Nashville this weekend. The flavor for Country music will be all around for the visitors.

Carrie Underwood is cranking up her big multi-month tour in Jacksonville, Florida as Paisley and Aldean already have their shows in the arenas.

Grammys in mid-Feb and the ACM nominations are being read by Dierks Bentley Feb. 1st on the CBS Morning News. (CBS carries the show)

Speaking of CBS, CBS News opened up what could be a future scandal involving The Wounded Warrior Project and the way they spend the money. Trace Adkins is very high-profile in their awareness advertising ... 40% administrative costs? Charities are often under watchful eyes and Country stars and Country radio should always do their due diligence. Very sad situation because such a huge need exists!

The Oscar diversity blow-up is not that far from the women played on Country radio issue. Another issue was written about in a publication that came up in search: lack of lyrics involving faith and religion. Too big a subject to go into but the first story appeared in the British The Guardian. Grady Smith the writer. Google it if interested. Controversy everywhere...

And just wait until the presidential race gets past the primary schedule. Watch ... many hide, but some will be out front for their favorite Democrat or Republican candidate. That will be a too-hot-to-handle subject in the fall ... Just wait! Mention Trump or Bernie Sanders right now and watch the fireworks ensue ...whew...