Big & Rich, G-Man and NYC

... writing from NYC.

Just finished watching Big & Rich on Imus in the Morning on MSNBC in what I guess is the last of the "Country Takes Manhattan" campaign this year.

Exhaustion!

Country did about as good as you could trying to get the attention of the media bosses and the 8 million New Yorkers.

The show lost 900,000 viewers from last year, but was still the number one show on TV Tuesday night.

The awards themselves were odd. Kenny Chesney got a big slap from his Music Row "friends" by getting shut out. It can be argued that he was actually mugged in the Entertainer of the Year category. He IS the Entertainer of the Year in every way you could judge the work this year. Kenny lost the battle but won the war when CD sales came out and he scored first week sales of 470,000 for his new CD. #1 pop, country, digital and internet. He got screwed, basically.

At the end of the day, Garth reminded us that he is the true BOSS. The BOSS himself could have pulled off that Times Square event, but very few others with that intensity and energy. He is an enigma. Garth is back ... Wait until you see his first week Wal-Mart sales!! It will be the biggest first week sales in MUSIC history.

Are Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman engaged? People says she's wearing a rock on the appropriate finger. Pinocchio, who speaks for Mr. Urban, gave some muddy non-denial.

The CMA and the Hall of Fame segments suck. They are disrespectful and should be discontinued. Wrapping up a career like Glen Campbell with some black and white stills and a few album covers is outrageous. The whole Alabama thing was a disaster. Put it on another show entirely or do it right!

What's the deal with Gretchen Wilson? Didn't stop or even wave to most of the press at the "Walk the Line" premiere in NY. Did not attend the MJI radio event. Only did a fly by on the red carpet on show night. Is she such a big deal that she can do that? Bad move, PR people. I'm sure Gretchen's a great gal. Show us!!! I wish she would take charge of that aspect of her career, too. Sara Evans, her partners Big & Rich, and even LeAnn Rimes now are so media friendly. Work it girl!

Back to Big & Rich. They were fantastic with Imus. A lot of people don't know what to do with them. They do require getting in their zone. It does look weird from the outside, but if you will let yourself experience them in person you will become a fan. They've got incredible range and are very fun. It's all very cool. You just have to have an open mind.

CMA back in Nashville better be a big deal. They better do it up with multiple events and a big budget like NYC. It was done first class in the Big Apple, as it should always be!