Burning One Minute, Freezing The Next (On The Road In Austin)

Here at the other Country music capital city - Austin - it was 90 yesterday and, this morning, it's 52, raining and windy. That is symbolic of the Country music world these days.

It's like the major TV networks have rediscovered Country music with the November schedule. The CMA Awards, of course, take up a whole night on ABC. NBC gets back in the game with a Dolly Parton Grand Ole Opry salute, airing for two hours in late November. Then ABC is back the next night with a Brad Paisley special featuring the Jonas Brothers, Peyton Manning and Carrie Underwood, among others. When is the last time three Country specials aired on national TV in the same month?

Nashville has been in a drought, but when President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter meet up with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood for a Habit For Humanity home build last week - boom, rain and mud. President Carter fell the day before and got 14 stitches above the eye. He is some kind of guy who really loves Country music.

Did the Ken Burns documentary have any effects yet? Still early, but people are still trying to get through it all. Will the Burns effect plant seeds for the mysterious Country Music Hall of Fame nominating committee to get The Judds, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Williams, Jr. and Keith Whitley in the Hall?

News about Bob Kingsley taking off for bladder cancer treatment was troubling. He is a very respected and beloved person. From 1974 until today on national radio is amazing! He's a pro's pro. Now Bob, get well. There is work to be done!

It's "CMT Artists of the Year" week, to be followed by the CMAs next month. How will the most talked about contest between the CMA Entertainers of the Year nominees work out? Two of the candidates are getting stories almost daily. Is it really anyone's turn, or will it be the best person with the greatest year? I hope it's the later.

Maybe Dolly should run for President? She's smart, and tells it like it is. What a fun country we would have if Dolly was President! Congratulations Dolly on 50 years of Opry membership. She listened to the Opry as a little East Tennessee girl, and look at her now!