Grammys ... And Spring Has Sprung

Jimmy Carter in Daytona Beach

One day, 4 ... week later, almost 84! These are unuseal times. Former Texas Department of Public Safety employee accused of poisoning trees in Auburn over a football rivalry. The Arab world protesting their governments with the same energy of protests in Wisconsin, of all places.

The broadcasting business sits up as Citadel is swallowed up by Cumulus. You never know what the headline might be next.

The Lady A win at the Grammys was met with some big-city trash talk. N.Y., D.C. and L.A. papers all writing smart-ass commentary on the show and The Lady A wins. N.Y. called the music processed cheese from the '70s or something like that. Corporate music. Too many slams to name. BS ... simple jealousy since their cussing rap acts didn't win again.

Miranda Lambert selling out two nights sat Billy Bob's in Ft Worth. Her star can't rise any faster. Not everyone gets it, but enough do for her star to go anywhere she wants. 2011 will remain the year of Miranda.

The Carrie Underwood fans are a little overzealous. It's one thing getting angry and expressing your opinion, but making calls to businesses and jumping up and down is over the top. No one can control them -- not even Carrie. It's how she won "Idol." Dedicated, over-zealous fans. Hate that she didn't get a deserved ACM Entertainer nomination, but that is over. Calling people to raise hell doesn't accomplish anything but make enemies. Just walk away from that, fans, and work on something else! Carrie is great and doing greater every week; getting a duet with Tony Bennett/Brad Paisley is the latest.

The Country folks here in Daytona is great. Did NASCAR see the light or in all this coincidence? Brad, Martina, Patty Loveless, Dierk's "Sideways" song, etc. NASCAR and Country should never have stopped being partners. Perfect match.

The "Idol" country contestants are, for the most part, still in the top 50. Some can't remember the words, but the fact is they are in the final 50. One is boring with a hat and the other may be a one-trick pony. Class of 2011 "Idol" for Country still TBA.

See where the equipment guy of 25 years for Widespread Panic was murdered? Garrie Vereen stabbed to death at his Clarke County, GA home. He was 49 and lots of people knew the guy.

Atlanta, Birmingham and Orlando now in the top 5 most dangerous cities in the US.

XTREME MUZIC tour going out with Big & Rich, Gretchen and the gang later this year. Everyone is on tour; I hope there's enough economy to buy the tickets.

Taylor Swift stormed Korea, then Japan, now Manila. Done for a few weeks, then Central Europe. She is a big worldwide star.

Gloriana at the White House on a Motown tribute. How did they get that gig? The Billboard Music Awards are back ... after five years, back to Vegas on ABC live.

Off to the track ... feels good to be in a short-sleeve shirt...