Both Elections This Week: Surprising Results

The Red Wave for Republicans didn’t happen, but Country music’s big, yearly election saw some shakeup. The big headline: It was the most Country show in 40 years!

From a Rocky Top clogger in the opening monologue to the longer than maybe they expected Alan Jackson tribute, he show saw no bro Country, more than a few guitar amps turned up to nine for Carrie Underwood, The Rolling Stone salute, and Miranda Lambert dropping fire and confetti.

The biggest sea change: the classic Country. It was more like an oldies show than the usual showcase of the latest tunes. And I’m not complaining by the way, just observing.

Picking Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton was pretty much business as usual, easy votes for the six or so thousand CMA members.

Like the previous Carly Pearce pick for Female Vocalist, going with Lainey Wilson for New Artist and Female Vocalist this year was the story of the night. She was the belle of the ball! Lainey got all kinds of air time: the Crown Royal veterans segment, the Alan Jackson tribute, winning twice of course, a video-like performance with HARDY, her humble, very Country acceptance speeches. The folks in little Baskin, LA had to be screaming!

Three hours is a very long time for a TV show in 2022. Don’t get shocked if that is addressed at some point.

Choices made by the bosses to make hour three an oldies show was surely not an accident. The musical mix was eclectic at best: a time for the Chris Stapleton/Patty Loveless deep, bluesy song about dying in the Kentucky coal mines, and then a veterans/Crown Royal feature and long commercial set at the top of the hour.

Seems odd placement then going with a Rolling Stones song, a few more awards and a goodbye. Can’t wait to see the ratings. They for sure put on a different looking show!

Losing Alabama’s Jeff Cook so close to the show day could have been difficult. Proud of the show’s bosses finding the time for a short remembrance.

The hosting duo of Peyton Manning/Luke Bryan was good. Peyton has become quite the confident TV host. Luke’s been on TV enough now to feel at home. The writing was better than normal. Hard to find that host combination that works, but will they do it again? Ratings will determine many things. See the credits? Peyton and Luke were made executive producers. Not sure what they were in control of, hmmm. They’ve never done that before with hosts.

Seeing Jo Dee Messina and Patty Loveless was dessert. Overall good show. The music choices were odd, but for some better than swimming through the too Pop Country singers and the Bro ones.

Lainey and Cody Johnson are the next big things, as stated by their CMA Awards wins. Both are “traditional” Country artists.

Big struggles within the business, and you saw it on that show. Is Country going toward the rock and R&B side or heading back to Alan and Garth Brooks? Stay tuned … a cliffhanger.

Oh yeah, Lainey Wilson starts on “Yellowstone” Sunday night, November 13th. Can the week get any bigger?