Crazy Week Is Here!

CMA/Fan Fair is here, an almost 24-hour-a-day event and the official shotgun heas start on summer in Nashville.

Many Music Row big shots used to take vacation this week and still may.

It does seem a busier time now that the downtown version of Fan Fair is several years old. It is nearly prehistoric to think of this event now at the state fair grounds.

Who knows, will atmospheric gasoline prices take its toll on drive-by fans? I bought two soft drinks (medium) and a medium popcorn for $14.50 at a Nashville movie theatre today, and if that's any sign of what everything is costing everywhere, this is going to be the summer of watching TV!

I am declining the privilege of doing the stadium-sized Fan Fair this year. I will watch it in September on TV. Instead, I'm taking the challenge and covering Bama Jam in South Alabama. The heat will be more intense and the country more gritty. From Hank Jr. to Trace Adkins, we shall see if Country in lower Alabama (my home state) can do a Bonnaroo.

Look at a travel map for stars over the next few days ... whew ... Kenny and company on the West Coast (check his review in LA Times) ... the new stars politicking for votes in Nashville at the CMA show ... some of the same stars and others, such as Skynyrd in South Alabama. Gasoline is like water for the touring business. You got to have it, so what do you do?

Speaking of gasoline, like it was free, wheeled into Panama City, I'm not Destin, Florida. The opening of the new Tootsie's was my mission. Darryl Worley was at the bar, signing autographs when I got there. What a nice place! Buffett's Margaritaville is in the same complex, which is almost a mile long. Crazy amount of money dropped on that former redneck beach destination.

I loved it as a "Redneck Riviera." Started going at age two and never stopped. It's a different place now, for sure -- better and worse. Mostly better. Lots of Nashville music people go to the Gulf from Orange Beach to Naples. This year, if the gas price doesn't get you, the undertow will. Watch for the newer Double RED FLAG beach -- closed flags. At least six died last week in the Gulf from testing the undertow.

So Kenny's got a sore foot and throat; I have to pass on Fan Fair this year. Gas prices are nuts; the CD sales are down at least 13 %. Who cares! You can't take it with you. We can always get a motorcycle, and the new President I'm sure will do all the things they say they will. Hoo-rah!

Oh yeah, Shania on cover of People for the second week in a row. Chris Cagle, well you know he went to jail this week. Jessica Simpson's new song isn't bad, but it sounds like it came from a fast-food country recording studio. All these new girl singers are trying to be Carrie -- and they aren't making the trip!

One last thing after my last last thing: I'm not going to say any more about how great Taylor Swift is as a star. She will sign autographs for at least six hours June 7th at the CMA Music Festival convention center hall. That was the purpose of that event until it got so big. Maybe Taylor will set an example that her peers will follow. After allm, she is the #1 CD sales artist in Country for 2008. Why would others NOT follow? She is amazing ... after seeing here again firsthand at a radio hour and concert last week in Alabama. She is every bit as good as Garth and Reba to her fans. And she is 18! Amazing doesn't begin to describe what she is doing! It's a great team, which starts with her immediate family and goes from there. The label, everyone ... It is the best team and star since Shania/Garth, and it's growing everyday. New CD in 4th quarter, and she's going to be in Miley's movie.