Everything He Touches

When has Country music ever clogged up the top of the Billboard Top 100 chart? Never, I think.

Morgan Wallen has been camped at the top of the 100 songs and 200 albums for weeks. Two albums in the Top 10 and, at times, two songs. Luke Combs has the album, and now has a single (“Fast Car”) that’s gone from 8 to 4 in the Top 100.

Who would cast a Tracy Chapman song from the late ’80s with Country’s most Country leading man? Or is Morgan the top leading man? Either way, it’s daring! Add the Country music graduate magna cum laude, Taylor Swift, to the singles and album charts, and there is little to no room for others. It is an amazing time.

Morgan should be back on the road in a few days and, along, with Taylor and Luke, the Country-born acts will own the tourings spaces as well.

Like retiring “Wheel Of Fortune” host Pat Sajak, you don’t always have a perfectly laid out career path. The fans may take you to a different place. Sajak wanted to be Jack Paar. A far too distant reference for most of you … think Johnny Carson or David Letterman, but farther back in TV history.

Luke Combs probably never saw himself entertaining 60,000 adoring fans in a football stadium, but he acts like he was born in that locale.

Taylor will soon go to South America and play to her biggest crowds yet. Like a duck to water.

The CMA Fest seemed younger and more upscale this year. Did anyone notice that every time an Alabama or Reba McEntire or Vince Gill came out the crowd loved it? Note: for TV, do they really cast the on crowd? Put hot Country babes on the front row? I knew CMT did that for award shows, but I guess this is no different. It’s smoke and mirrors, right?

What was the Eric Church dust-up all about? Social media got ugly for a bit after his Nissan Stadium segment.

Was Spotify and its Ole Red showcases in competition with the CMA stadium stages? Sure had some strong names playing there.

Did anyone break out and become the buzz act? I don’t think so, looking back. Lainey Wilson was strong, as was Old Dominion. Didn’t see a swell of media really talking about anything especially.

The Sunday afternoon rain event and the Jimmie Allen second lawsuit stole the headlines a little. Luke Combs’ RIAA Diamond award too, and that’s about it. Oh yeah, and Garth is going to sell all beers at his honky tonk.

This week, Paul McCartney announced an upcoming final Beatles song. AI technology helped strengthen a John Lennon work track. The song will be released in the fall. Better have some plans for AI. Imagine a new Johnny Cash album with AI. It can do a lot, including separate vocals from old tracks, things we could never imagine.