Win Or Lose ... What A Year!

A lot more people are talking hockey than Country music around this town this weekend. Yes, the CMA rival, the ACMs, are in Vegas this weekend but the Stanley Cup playoff team The Nashville Predators are the top drawer here these days ... Maybe even more than the NFL Titans. Maybe...

Winning isn't everything but as the late great Bear Bryant said, "It beats anything in second place."

Will Maren Morris take home her first ACM Female Vocalist of the Year award? She deserves to with the year she's had, but we shall see. Like all award shows, politics and label power are a big factor in every win. The other ladies were around but none had a year like Maren. She even has a great pop hit/commercial, "The Middle."

The usual subjects should be everywhere else and the Chris Stapleton factor will surely be in control.

Coming back to Vegas a few months after that mass murder has to be spooky. The locals, those at the show that night, the first responders, all the reminders. Grief counselors worked with many of these people in the weeks following the shooting. This weekend will be bittersweet for dozens.

The three hour Country music infomercial should do well Sunday night. CBS usually wins the night. ABC is putting the Comey interview on against the third hour. Some Spring sports but should be clear sailing for a ratings win.

The Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions are Saturday night, so no competition there. A few voices trying to drum up a nomination for Willie Nelson. Who is more rock and roll than Willie? Country artists are in the Hall ... Bill Monroe and Johnny Cash, to name two. Maybe the folks should start the lobbying effort now...

Jason Aldean is everywhere in the media during this week ahead. New album out now, Rearview Town. Ellen, Today ... all over. He's been around since the early 2000s. Macon-raised artist doing things his way. Dropped by his first two labels, signed with an independent. But has that team done historic work or what?

ACM Vegas ... Hope they can get some new eyeballs to watch ... Next weekend ... Chesney Tampa stadium show ... and the Summer begins!