Santa’s Coming, But Tour Talk is Here

The virus can’t come back this winter! Too many Nashville based tours are on the road in 2022.

Garth Brooks is selling tickets this weekend for his spring LSU stadium show, and the next stop will be in Orlando at Camping World Stadium on Saturday March 26th. Expect another show announcement before year’s end.

Next year is set to be a record breaker, with several Country stadium shows and plenty of everything else. Garth and Kenny Chesney will lead the stadium parade, and a few others will try one-nighters in the big venues -- football and baseball.

Some of the world will see Nashville acts too, with Brad Paisley and Keith Urban in Australia. Both will go to Europe as well. The G Man will play in Ireland, and Luke Combs and many others in the U.K., too.

It’s great to see the ramp up. You’ve just got to hope this Covid will not be a factor.

Country is still not breaking out in Asia or Africa. Once there seemed to be a movement in Japan, but you don’t see that anymore. Taylor Swift was the last to get any real reaction in Japan. It’s still a U.K./Canada/Aussie Country world.

How about the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honoring Florida, Georgia Line with a year-long exhibit? They deserve the attention. Their idea of Country music was a trendsetter, for better or worse, in some minds. They have two RIAA Diamond-certified songs. Very few people have Diamond singles, with only 64 in history.

The Diamond was established in 1999. It is thought “White Christmas” is a 25 million seller. Billy Ray Cyrus has his name with Lil Nas X on a 15 million selling “Old Town Road.” In this research, Darius Rucker has a nine million seller, “Wagon Wheel.”

This year is ticking away. Blake Shelton’s “The Voice” is wrapping up with its big, live shows. Both nights should get a big audience. Paisley is hosting an “Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Then, who knows what rabbit they are pulling out of the hat for the CBS New Year’s Eve Nashville show.

So many questions come up with no answers. Thomas Rhett doesn’t get as much love from the CMAs as the ACMs. What’s that about? His new song continues the trend of great songs. The new video for “Slow Down Summer” is well done, too.

It’s so sad that the Morgan Wallen issue is still an issue. There was a nasty opinion piece about it on the NBC News site. Can we leave this specific story at the door on December 31st? Hopefully, the whole incident was a game changer for all involved.

Country music needs to do a better job attracting people of all colors. The best people to sing a Country song should be heard.

Wallen wraps up his mini tour this weekend in Southaven, MS. The Lexington/Rupp arena shows were packed all three nights.

Combs and Wallen will be the biggest hit makers and ticket sellers in 2022. Just watch.