Someone Save Ben Affleck

How would you like to be singing on the Grammys and look out into the audience and see Ben Affleck? Ole Ben looked like he was in pain being there. Wet blanket! What was going on with him?

Chris Stapleton and Stevie Wonder with Smokey Robinson could have been a 30-minute jam. Everyone has a favorite on Grammy night.

The Grammys got good news from the TV ratings gods, up to near 13 million from nine million the previous year. Up is good.

Feedback on “Music’s Greatest Night” can be rough. Music reviewers seem to always beat the show up … too much this and not enough that. For the producers/writers, it’s a controlled crash most every year. No shortage of moody musicians and their managers, with everyone wanting the best showcase.

Somehow Taylor Swift, and Adele, and Shania Twain for that matter -- responsible for a few hundred million sales -- are just sitting at tables, not singing. (And how does Beyonce arrive late due to traffic?)

The producers have a crazy job, but how do you just breeze past the death of David Crosby?

Madonna tried to get the energy level up in the audience. What was the deal there?

A few folks gave the “Ben” face when Willie Nelson’s name was called for “A Beautiful Time” as Best Country Album. Many of us were surprised and also thrilled. The 89-year-old Willie’s 72nd album beating out all the young studs? The Grammys are predictably unpredictable.

A number of social media and trade sites ranked the performances. Predictably, they mostly ranked the long Hip Hop retro as the best segment. Hip Hop/Rap fully deserved the treatment. It’s what so many watch the Grammys for, bringing out the stars and the viral moments.

The Luke Combs performance was very late in the show, and most gave it a nod. Nothing bad. Luke told reporters early that week that he just wanted to be in music, anything from a demo singer to a publisher. He remains a humble guy. His song sort of got lost in the show. Big exposure for Luke. The show needed more Lukes and fewer Harry Styles fan club members. Time wasted.

One hundred percent gave a thumbs up to everything about Kacey Musgraves’ Loretta Lynn salute. Loved the Lynn guitar and everything else about it.

Brandi Carlile is the darling of music. Pop, Rock, Country, she does it all. She is an all-format artist. Maybe in the years ahead artist will not be assigned to just one format. Some do them all. Food for thought. So many of our Country artists are too talented to be cubby holed. (Anyone understand that reference still? Put in a box, maybe.)

Willie is Country with a capital “C,” but he swims in all the ponds. No one seems to mind, with 14 Grammys over his lifetime. His 90th birthday is April 29th.

Many on Music Row have been selling their catalogues. Did you see the one this week? Michael Jackson’s recorded music, 50% for 800 to 900 million dollars!

Wish the Grammys ran on public television so all forms of music could get their spotlight … Bad Bunny, Harry Styles and some Jazz, Classical, Country and everything else. Let it run two nights. Have Uncle Joe pay for it. Music’s biggest week!?

The Minnie Pearl documentary was great, and made me cry multiple times. More on that later.