Music Row's Best Kept Secret

It's a town full of secrets ... has been for decades. Music Row secrets ... Was Elvis in town recording? Where does so-and-so live? Too many to name but one of the best-kept secrets comes around every Spring: The newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame are revealed.

Two questions you always get from the outside world ... How do you get to be an Opry member? And how do they pick the Hall of Fame members?

Well, it's all a secret. It is not a public process by any means ... for either. The Opry is due a new member soon, I would think, but they are on no one's schedule but their own. It is sometimes predictable and sometimes not. If I gave a suggestion for next member, it might jinx it so I will not.

As for the Hall of Fame, have to be careful here, too ... It is meant to be a rare honor. Being famous does not guarantee membership in this club! Elvis had to wait a long time and Jerry Lee Lewis is still waiting. A select committee that is never revealed is chosen by the Hall of Fame hierarchy. The list of possible names is long and for the most part, household names.

They have caught up a good bit in the last few years with Milsap and The Oaks finally getting in. Kenny Rogers, too. But often you say a name and folks will say I thought they were already in the Hall of Fame.

Opinions are just that ... Jerry Reed should be in that rare air. Hank Jr. and Randy Travis despite any bad marks on their resumes. If Elvis is in, Jerry Lee Lewis should be, too. Skaggs and, of course, Alan Jackson from the Modern Era. Honoring the Vinces, Reba, Garth and Georges can be tricky, but Eddy Arnold went in early ... They were all going in at some point anyway. New ones help with Hall attendance. You can make arguments on why some over others, but no one in that Hall of Fame is without great merit! Future Hall of Famers, your time will come. It is the greatest honor a Country artist can get.

Future Hall of Famer Keith Urban has a new album coming out May 6th. His American Idol close to wrapping things up.

Two other future Hall of Famers have new music out real soon as well: Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley. I bet both of those guys would like to see Jerry Reed go in ... he was influential in styles and in the studio.

You can lobby and lobby and it may help, but they would never admit it.

We know the exact date and place for the Hall of Fame announcement but it's a secret ... So many secrets!

The Music Row liquor business is booming. Kenny Chesney's Blue Chair Rum is expected to sale 110,000 cases this year!

The math may be off but if a case as a dozen bottles...each bottle retails from 17 to 21 dollars...times 110,000 cases...I think that's around 22 million bucks...ok Kenny grossed 110 million dollars on tour in 2015...That is impressive by any standard. Cheers!!