Pop Goes The Country

It is very easy to freak out these days if you are a real fan of traditional country music. Remain calm! The labels are lost and panicky. CMT thinks broadening the audience is the answer to their issues.

Jessica Simpson with a country CD soon? She could and I bet it could be good. GREENLIGHT if she is honest about it and is genuine. I still think country folks can still see a fake at 100 yards.

CMT with Robert Plant and Ms. Krauss singing "Black Dog" for a "Crossroads" show. That's cool.

The "Gone Country" show does sound like a hit and I will watch. That's the show where John Rich decides if Bobby Brown and Dee Snider are country artists. (after they are trained, of course). I think the outside world is laughing at us, not with us, but whatever.... The rules of country are now that there are no rules and the ones in place are made to be broken.

Bob Wills broke rules, Garth Brooks broke rules, Eddy Arnold broke rules. We survived. Right now, it's more important to find a business model for sales of music that actually makes sense. This thing now is Humpty-Dumpty. I even heard a plan to make albums free and give them out at concerts as part of the ticket price. How unusual and possibly cool is that?

Carrie-mania will hopefully kick in at retail in the week ahead. She is everywhere in the press and media. "Entertainment Weekly" has the most new material so far. Carrie is one to hold the cards close to the vest.

Don't stare at Carrie when you see her; she doesn't like that!

Porter Wagoner, as I write this, is in intensive care at Nashville Baptist hospital. Serious condition and weak, but his mind is strong according to family. Get well, Porter!

Ellen and Iggy the dog. Is that the weirdest tale of the week? The dog adoption people are mean as Cruella DeVille. Urban on Ellen in the week ahead.

Imus coming to RFD-TV. Emery already there. Crook and Chase on the way in prime time, too?

Sara Evans is back in business with Chevrolet sponsoring her fall tour.

GAC is all about Garth in the next few weeks. Their November lineup is good. If you don't have them, get them. GAC is a good counterbalance to CMT.

How really stupid is Britney Spears?

Take a deep breath, CMA week is almost hear ... still a little time. If you read the tea leaves, you can almost see Rascal Flatts set up for Entertainers of the Year. ABC is making a mistake of producing the show with toooo much label input and too many people with LOW TV Q. They will regret the moves.