Hard To Pick a Headline ... So I Won't!

As Keith and Nicole gaze out from the cover of People magazine, you wonder what the world thinks of Country music this week.

We wanted pop numbers and we got the pop scandals to go along with them.

Rascal Flatts and Brad Paisley seem so squeaky clean this week. Hey, and there is not a thing wrong with that.

We all screw up. Lord knows that's true. Some of us just do it more publicly than the others. Some of us (the Dixie Chicks) wear their scars like a badge of honor and love picking the scab. (I will never understand that whole mess from the beginning to now. It defies all reason, PR sense, tradition, you name it.)

Country is and never has been a format of virtue. Glen Campbell and Tanya Tammy and George's exploits, Cash, Jennings, Haggard.... Do I need to go on? We need church more than most and not as much as some. Johnny Paycheck. Lord I could make a good list on the lack of perfection. The point is, don't throw too many stones at Sara Evans. Others have passed this way and they were not in the Internet generation. Sara's problems fly around the world in a second. And man do they fly.

Nicole Kidman is a huge worldwide star, not as big here as globally. Keep that in mind when you see the Urban story getting the play it does. He has not reached her level -- not even close. Not even in his home country.

Scandals are horrible for those involved. They shut out everything else going on. Lots of positive stories don't get on when the stinks are flying.

But they do make life interesting.

Looking around, the Clear Channel-getting-out-of-radio story sure has people buzzing. It's too big to even imagine. What must Cumulus think of their long-term prospects if CC is folding its cards? Maybe they are just a unique ownership situation. And you have to look at that ownership in the bigger picture. Has it been good for broadcasting?

I think none of these groups have been good for broadcasting. Radio stations should be locally owned. But that's probably old fashioned. A local owner gave me my first break, and I have a career to thank for that.

The dark cloud of CMA week is ahead. I hope the weather improves over this week (rain and yuck).... I could do without ever seeing another award show or Fan Fair, but that is 25 years of seeing them. It's less of a party and fun than it has ever been. The CMA and the stars are less friendly than the L.A. Hollywood shows. I cover both, and the CMAs are very stiff compared to the usually fun ACMs. Now there are all these private parties like the Hollywood crowd likes to do.

I just wish Country would act Country even at award-show time. I was never a country fan growing up. I was charmed by the stars of Nashville and the rich tradition of history and respect institutions like the Grand Ole Opry got. Minnie, Marty, Tammy, The Oak Ridge Boys and Charlie Daniels made going to see them a joy. Can we say that today, with this group of managers and stars? A few are as good for sure. It's the small percentage of jerks who overwhelm me. The bad ones may have some L.A. influence, and that's not good. That place is cold as ice for the most part.

Country music needs to find itself again soon. Brad Paisley is the best example of how things used to be and makes that work today. He is respectful of tradition, a nice guy and very talented. I like a lot of the others but right now The Gold Standard might just be little ole Brad!