Rockers Go Country And Silence Making Some Unhappy!

Every week in Nashville is fascinating these days ... This week Peter Frampton rocked out for the Country Music Hall of Fame fundraiser and Creedence Clearwater Revival front man John Fogerty made his debut at the Opry. You never know who you will see these days on stages around town. Tori Kelley joined by Hunter Hayes at The Ryman.

All the rock folks did great especially John Fogerty. Go back and listen to those Creedence songs and they would have passed for Country music easily today. "Looking Out My Backdoor" with Fogerty and Brad Paisley sounded great and The Opry audience loved it.

Mick Jagger hung around here earlier in the year ... Steven Tyler is all over town ... The Black Keys are proud to be Nashville folks and couldn't wait to get back home after an unpleasant encounter with an angry Steve Miller at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. We do seem to be a safe shelter in a storm for so many artists.

A few very interesting stories coming from student publications this week. The UCLA Daily Bruin headline: Country Music Gets Little Love from UCLA Student Body. An odd feature in the first place but go Google it ... eye opening that these negative feelings still exist. Stereotypes from these so called liberated in thought college students.

Then CBS News and others going after Music Row for its silence on proposed legislation that critics say are discriminating against LGBT people. Nashville's Connie Britton even implying she may be uncomfortable working in a state that passes laws that are thought of as anti-LGBT. The silence on Music Row is getting attention.

North Dakota State University's The Spectrum picking up on the theme, Women Will Save Modern Country Music. Beating up on the so called Bro-Country movement sure seems popular these days.

The girl groups in the pipeline are getting attention in this "Save Country Music" media landslide. Has there been a meeting where the rush to develop acts with young women was discussed? A few of the ladies trying to get on a radio station near you: Runaway June, The Joseph Sisters, Farewell Angelina, Maybe April, Sister C, Southern Halo, South Haven ... I'm dizzy. I'm dizzy is me, not the name another girl group ... The Dixie Chicks are on the way again so maybe that news stirred up the Force. If they all hit on the charts at the same time, Bro-Country will seem like a great idea.

From Chris Stapleton's earthquake (and he is still #1 on the album charts) to the avalanche of women on the runway, from the rockers all over town to many discovering the music of Merle Haggard. These are indeed wild times on Music Row.

Hearing John Fogerty's music fill the Opry House reminded some older radio people how CCR was the beginning of the Country Rock movement ... CCR, then The Eagles and America, Pure Prairie League, Black Oak Arkansas, Goose Creek Symphony ... and Olivia Newton John and John Denver ... It was a movement some of the traditionalists hated. Go back and watch Charlie Rich set fire to the CMA envelope back in 1975. It's on YouTube. Then Urban Cowboy came along in 1980 ... Someone around here is always in a wad. Bro Country is nothing new ...

As for the lack of women? When things get out of balance, it is never a good thing. There was a time when the charts were filed with Reba, Trisha, Tanya, Faith, Martina, and on and on... Things usually fall back in place ... Change is often uncomfortable.

The magazines still talking about Gwen and Blake...Kelly Clarkson had a baby boy...Kimberly Williams-Paisley has a hit BOOK ... Country Weekly no longer a PRINT publication ... no shortage of news in the world of Country music.

Did you see where several stage crew workers heading home after a Luke Bryan show in Syracuse had a horrific looking crash near Watkins Glen? Two of the three in the SUV were life-flighted away from the crash ... Had to hunt to find out, but the two men were badly injured but survived. Life on the road can be difficult and even dangerous. Hundreds leave Nashville every week going on the road. Prayers to their safety on those roads and in the air. Show business is not easy; just asked those road warriors!