Sometimes, It Takes Time

Watching Cody Johnson accept his CMT Awards this week made me want to go back and research him. This is not an overnight success story, though it feels like it. Texas Country fans have loved him for years.

As with many Texas-based acts, Nashville seems unsure what to do, from Willie Nelson’s checkered Music City history to other outlaws and folks like Pat Green or even Asleep at the Wheel. Texas swing, and Texas Country seem hard to put in a narrow compartment. George Strait and Jimmy Bowen and, later, Tony Brown seem to have the formula. Let’s hope Cody Johnson has the same luck. The eyes of Texas are on him, now he needs the rest of the country.

CMT got a much bigger audience on CBS, but that was a no brainer. Five million for that Monday night airing was a photo finish with “American Idol.” These award shows of any kind just don’t pull those audience numbers like they once did.

The production visuals were fantastic, so many great looks and backgrounds. The Nashville Municipal Auditorium never looked better.

Kenny Chesney and The Judds are consistent performers. They always deliver. Miranda Lambert is fun to watch. Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson dodging rain drops on the outdoor set were dynamic! They were strong, and she is coming on like a hurricane.

Some of the performances were victims of odd audio or just weak songs. Pegging the meter for three hours is next to impossible. Actor host Anthony Mackie settled down after a few hits and was solid. The production was good. Where you get blowback is on social media. Some people just don’t like the Country music of today. It’s that simple.

Whoever did like everything, Pop or Country? It’s why we changed channels or skipped tracks. I hit mute more than a few times Monday night. I’m honest, I don’t hear the greatness in everything.

Some songs are love at first listen. The Jason Aldean/Carrie Underwood song just knocked you out first time. The Miranda/Elle King “Drunk” song took a few listens to adjust to and eventually like. It’s the wonderful world of music.

Some artists in today’s ensemble just don’t fit the genre, but Country is a wide style house.

Some big names would be Pop in any other time, and The Eagles would be Country as would America.

George Strait winning his first CMT Award: Now that was crazy! He has a great career ahead of him.

There were pickpockets at the Tortuga Music festival in Fort Lauderdale. They got 24 phones from the partying Country fans. Three were arrested, and 18 of the phones returned.

The CMT show will repeat a few times, and they put a number of clips on YouTube. Some performances are very much worth a second look.