Why Not?

Someone is sending up a trial balloon testing the waters for a Miley Cyrus Country jaunt. Hmm. First things first. Miley can sing. And sings very well. But when did singing ability be the judge in 2017 for musical acts?

Miley and Dolly did "Jolene" on The Voice and (I think) she sounded great. Now to the persona. The twerking and shock nudity adventures had an unknown effect. Image used to be important.

But look at some of the folks at the top of the Country heap right now. One keeps showing us his ass in outdoor photos and another is not even one ounce Country by any standard of measurement. Style, dress, associates, the door seems wide open to anything right now.

Everything except age. Corporate radio for sure has an age bias. They know what they want as their billboard image and only a certain few make the grade. I ask again ... When did Country music become a teen format?

The subject matter, the depth of lyrics used to be a consideration. Now it's waiting for the weekend, drinking wine, cruising someplace is as deep as it often gets.

Note ... nothing new about having music that focuses on the groove and not the lyrics. It was called Disco. That was all about the beat and the feel. "Burn Baby Burn" didn't really mean what it said. But you could dance to it.

Bob Wills was a radical. Marty Robbins was, too. Eric Church is now and they are Country greats. Old and New. They had/have style and substance. Chris Stapleton did not reinvent the genre of Country. Nor did he change it in any way I can see since he stormed on to the scene. His new album will do great. You just know it. He is radical, too. For today.

Miley going Country. What kind of song would she cut? Go in the Carrie Underwood "brick bat on a car"-type song. Sing about boys and time and wine? Go real Country would be a sure loser. So you have a superstar name, but what to do? Stay tuned; let's see if she gets lucky like a Bon Jovi . I still love that Jennifer Nettles/Bon Jovi song. Was it Country? No ... but it was good. These are strange days for the format. Where is it going?

Hear about the reawakening desires for American Idol. Rebooting will be tricky and ABC wants it on Sunday nights. It would run in March, April and end in late May. If they can figure out how Seacrest can be in two places at once, a few problems are solved. Who judges ... etc., etc. ... devil in the details and can lightning hit in the same place twice?

The show died when it lost its edge. Politically correct. Little criticism. A gold star for all the snowflakes. Simon was a rare villain. You loved to hate him. That will be hard to find that formula again. The tastes of the masses. Very, very tricky. Just look at the pop charts and the Country ones. What is the common denominator?

Lots of girl power out there ... on and off the charts. It is always a roller coaster. From politics to Country music, trying to find the magical ticket has never been harder.

Nashville will hopefully get some more hockey time in May. It is going to get real interesting if they move forward past St Louis. Nashville loves a winner!