In The Conversation

Who knows how many saw some or all of the “CMT Music Awards” this week? This is true for all award shows: More people see you on the red carpet for the fashion moment then ever see you on the award show.

People will check out what you are wearing on People, The Daily Mail, and around the world. Fashion grabs eyeballs. After someone sees you on camera, for better or worse, they might be more inclined to seek out your music. You are in the conversation.

Kane Brown chose a solid, classy three-piece suit image that was a winner on the CMT show. Lindsay Ell dressed in silver and Kelsea Ballerini in pink leather. Both tied for the great carpet looks.

The late night shows on CBS, ABC, and NBC live and die now with clips on YouTube and other social media. Many more see the clips from the monologue or whatever than ever stay up after bedtime to see these shows. Again, they’re in the conversation thanks to clips, social media posts and internet news coverage. The contemporary consumption of media means live or die by the modern rules.

Anyone see the Charley Pride secret son story? Is it the first time anyone has heard about this? Pride’s will is being contested by his DNA-matched secret son, a 41-year-old cop from Tyler, TX. The Dallas Morning News has been covering this messy legal situation.

Back to the CMT Awards briefly: They were not stuck with the limitations of an arena stage. Remote location performances were pre recorded. Is that the future? I still miss the live audience. What was the deal with the Maren Morris’ “scheduling conflict” that kept her off the show?

The next award show for Country is the CMAs. They have already said Morgan Wallen can be nominated in several of the categories but, if nominated, will he be allowed to perform? There is no way his “Dangerous” album, the best selling of the year, could be ignored in the Album of the Year category. Credibility of those awards are at stake if that happens.

Electronic billboards, seven of them, are still up around Nashville asking for Wallen to be reinstated in the Country music mainstream. His music is starting to be eased back in on some stations.

Kid Rock was the target this week after he said a troubling word from stage, and TMZ started the fire surrounding it. It’s unlikely anything will come from this. Kid Rock has been politically incorrect for decades.

Miranda Lambert’s new lower Broadway bar, Casa Rosa, is first class, with a mirror ball saddle and great mural.