The Music Row High School Elections

It’s that time of year, a little past Labor Day and we learn who is in and who is out on 16th Avenue as the nominations for the Country Music Association Awards are revealed.

Morgan Wallen’s “Dangerous: The Double Album” is nominated for album of the year. It is the best selling album of the year. He was ineligible for most categories. Can he win? Will he be allowed to be the always-popular comeback story? That’s to be seen.

ABC’s “CMA Summer Jam” got somewhere around 3.5 million watching. Will the CMA Awards show with pretty much the same cast get a huge rating? That’s also to be seen, November 10th on ABC. As always, it’s a Wednesday night. CBS has “Survivor” and “CSI: Vegas” up against it that will get older audience.

NBC will win the night; take that to the bank, with its “Chicago” series night (“Med,” “Fire” and “PD”). ABC and the CMA have lots of new musical faces. They are not nominated, but will they find a way to include past winners George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton and so on?

Luke Combs is the hottest of the new folks, along with Wallen. Combs got three nods, Wallen one. Carly Pearce got into the album and female vocalist categories.

And who will they get to host? Is Reba McEntire in the mix again, or are they going new school with all new hosts? Maybe Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini? I’d love to have been a fly on the wall with ABC and CMA studying that issue. So many bankable stars are missing from the nominations, Darius Rucker for one. Some established stars better be worked into this show in some way.

Will this Covid-exhausted audience that has changed viewing habits so much show any signs it cares about award shows at all? That’s also to be seen.

How about Trace Adkins getting the male lead in “Monarch” on FOX this January? Trace will play opposite Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon. His friends are so happy for him. Trace is no stranger to the small or big screens. He has Country credentials, unlike the stars of ABCs “Nashville.”

Covid shows no signs of backing off. Middle Tennessee is Covid loaded. Keb’ Mo’ and Ben Folds cancelled their tours this week. The other tours, except Garth Brooks and Florida Georgia Line, are still rolling. The football stadiums are playing at full house. We shall see in days if not hours how smart a decision that was.

Not sure what this is all about, but the “Kenny Rogers: All In for the Gambler” special is airing on CBS Thursday September 23rd. Two hours in prime time.

That was the last time most of us got the see Kenny. What a great night, with Dolly, Lionel Richie and more.