And The Winner Is … ?

The rogue, exiled Country star Morgan Wallen surfaced this week with a four-page, handwritten letter. Wallen thanked his fans for their support and said he would not be playing tour dates this summer. Wallen went on to say he was still working on himself, and would take a few more months off to do that.

Meanwhile, six digital Lamar Advertising billboards around Nashville are beaming out Wallen’s picture and some comments from fans, who reportedly paid for the campaign. One has a Bible verse from the Book of Mark about forgiveness. The saga continues.

Luke Bryan came down with Covid-19. He is off “American Idol” for now, and no Academy of Country Awards performance either. Luke is up for Entertainer of the Year. His mom got the vaccination on January 8th, but was Luke vaccinated? If not, why not?

The ABC people test and retest, and have strict Covid precautions for “Idol.” How did Bryan get it? Was he a mask user? Was he planning to get the shot? PR people don’t give out much these days for artists or politicians.

The ACM Awards on CBS Sunday night (4/18) will be a multi-location jumpathon from the Opry House to the Ryman Auditorium to the Bluebird Cafe, and now we learn Lower Broadway, the Station Inn and the Bridge Building on the Cumberland River will host performances as well. So at least six different looks and no in-studio audience. But who knows about the outside shots? Alan Jackson will hold down the senior circuit roundup. Many of the artists will be singing two songs, Jackson, Thomas Rhett and Blake Shelton to name a few.

With “American Idol” going against the ACMs, that’s five million music friendly people not watching. If the ACMs rate well it will be a minor miracle.

Tour announcements seem to come out every day. Let’s hope all these plans can be executed. Michigan is said to be a Covid hotspot, and there are a few others. With Bryan testing positive, you just hope these are just blips on the radar screen. Europe still sounds like a mess. Don’t see anyone even talking about that.

Anyone heard of this secret project that NBC might be doing in town? TMZ was writing about it again: the Country version of “Real Housewives.” They say Jason Aldean’s sister, Kasi Wicks, Tyler Rich’s wife Sabina Gadecki and Dee Jay Silver’s wife Jenna Perdue are doing the pilot program. Jana Kramer’s name keeps floating around, too. Sounds interesting, but the formula for a hit TV show seems easy until you try to do it.

The two TV music talent shows are entering their live shows and the ratings race when head-to-head competition has tightened. NBC’s “The Voice” still leads, but by less than a million. “Idol” has a loyal five million viewers. “The Voice” a loyal six million, and sometimes more. There are a few Country music potentials on each show. Stay tuned.

The socially distanced, jumping all over town ACMs Sunday night on CBS, who’s going to win? I’ll pick Miranda Lambert to pick up one and Thomas Rhett one. Beyond that, who knows?