Living Life On The Edge

The jetwaysbetween andNashville and Houston are very busy as artists, technicians and fans embark on a journey to the Super Bowl. Most playing pregame shows. Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers played Thursday night at The River Oaks Country Club for the NFL team owners party. Everyone from Lady A, Sam Hunt, to Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars are playing atother venues through the weekend.

Writing this days before the Super Bowl: I sure hope Luke Bryan does well singing the National Anthem. Singing the country's most difficult song in front of a worldwide audience. You do good, no one remembers a month from now ... do bad ... everyoneremembers forever. It is a dangerous undertaking. And singing a capella, too. What could possibly go wrong?

February is a month for high-profile events with none in the music world bigger than The Grammys. Next weekend Sunday Feb. 12th on CBS. It's never aCountry music show, but the genre is usually well represented. Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood,Little Big Town, Sturgill Simpson, Maren Morris and all performing. Winning is great for your resume, but playing your music on that worldwide TV show moves all kinds of meters. The actual awards are mostly given out at the pre-award ceremonies and stream live on the Grammywebsite. The security now has changed the vibe from the past. Security has changed with vibe of everything, hasn't it?

The big RandyTravis salute is Feb. 8th at the Bridgestone Arena. Garth Brooks jumped on the show this week that already had a ton of folks from Alabama to Wynonna and everything in between. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

Willie is back on stage after a short medical setback ... 84 and still running like 34. A new album on the way very soon ... Willie is up for a Grammy this week ...Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin" - Willie Nelson. He is amazing!

Garth in Memphisthis weekend while Brad Paisley is on a frozen tour of Southern Canada and next week the Maritimes. Some Music City players are on the golf coursepracticing forappearances at the AT&T Peeble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Colt Ford for sure is going; usually Clay Walker, Charles Kelley, Larry theCable Guy and Toby Keith. This is the one with Bill Murray and Clint Eastwood, too.

Tim and Faith have been in New York and they have been promoting the Soul2Soul Tours still a good two months out. Getting a lot of PR doing a Facebook Live and a flurry of press releases. They do know how to get things done.

More radio consolidation, you have to wonder if that is a good thing ... The Trump thumpingdoesn't stop 24/7 onnational media. Despite pleas from left-leaning publications, Countrymusic remains in a neutral position. The artists,execs, and techs keeping their political feelingsunder glass ... To be seen if thewriters especially can remain silent.