One-Twelfth Of 2012 Down ... The Groundhog Is Bored!

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

Winter never happened or hasn't happened yet in Music City. January was sort of boring. The Packers lost. The groundhogs of the U.S. seem conflicted. Trump flip-flops away from Newt. Odd year so far. Not a bad year, just odd.

I just know Southwest Airlines is crowded on every flight. And the Vegas airport is a work in progress. Never walked so much and never has TSA been so FAST! Yes, FAST!

Country music is alive and very well in Las Vegas on the Strip. Almost like the '80s, but not quite.

The Virtual Reality Tour with Brad Paisley, The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery was a real crowd-pleaser at the Mandalay Bay arena. The Vegas crowd is not as crazy as a Tampa crowd, but they still had fun.

Brad is at the top of his game. Best show presentation yet for him ... and his opening acts are very complementary. Kimberly Perry is going to be a big bright star. The Band Perry is evolving and growing; with a few more hit songs there's no telling where they might be.

Scotty is smooth. He's a star in training, too. He is young and soaking up the stage. Better every night.

Country was all over Vegas. Garth at the Wynn, posters for Shania Twain at Caesar's later in the year and the classic Mickey Gilley at Treasure Island. The George Strait tour with Martina in Vegas this weekend. Blake Shelton in a few weeks. Country is strong in Sin City.

2012 and Rascal Flatts aren't slowing down. In fact, they seem to be adding on things to do. A Columbus, OH restaurant venture, new CD, new tour ... even a fragrance line in the works. They don't get half the credit they deserve in any category!

Little Big Town on the summer Flatts tour ... great choice!

Carrie Underwood is back full-blast with the PR machine opening up and her pre-Super Bowl show with Steven Tyler. New CD May 1st and a new single Feb 23rd. Good girl. With Taylor out of the way somewhat, in 2012, Carrie will roam free. Hard to keep those fans and the spotlight on both at the same time.

Blake Shelton's spotlight must be burning his face. I hope they are turning that FAME into CASH! PR/Fame/TV time doesn't always equal paid admissions. I hope for Blake it means a huge TV paycheck from NBC. He is on the cover of the Rolling Stone, Redbook, on The Tonight Show and everywhere else -- not to mention the Grammys this week, the Super Bowl and his tour. OUCH! Overexposure, at some point, but what a nice problem to have for someone who's been around and on the charts for over 10 years.

I am now tired of 'Red Solo Cup!'

Grammy week in LA. The Boss just added to the performance list with the full band. Please do something uptempo, Mrm Boss man! McCartney's song will be in Black and White, I am told.

Grammys are must-see TV as a spectacle. The winners and nominees are often head-scratchers, this year and every year.

Adele will be back and will own that show. Blake may get his first Grammy for 'Honey Bee.' Aldean gets one, too. Interesting week ahead. February is always more fun than January.