A Punch In The Stomach!

It's been a rough week! First the death of traditional Country music singer Daryle Singletary. Then the unthinkable at that South Florida High School.

The mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival was back in October. That seems like yesterday and a million years ago all at the same time. Victims from that crime are still healing and their families are very much still mourning. This shooting opened up not-very-old wounds.

Anger was evident on social media from some of Country music's more outspoken artists. Several expressed their frustration with anything concrete done by lawmakers and other politicians. Now another tragedy and more talk of trying to prevent the next one.

Songwriters and singers are sensitive by job description. Country artists seem to avoid politics like the flu. The hot-blooded activists are very frustrated with their fellow artists who are staying in the shadows, afraid they may alienate Country fans with their viewpoints. Who knows if that is true but even pro-gun rights Country fans are sickened by this tragedy and all the others.

Vince Gill recently jumped in the #metoo situation with his own personal story. Most of Country music performers have stayed far away from that issue, too.

Then there's the Grammy President situation. Some behind-the-scenes members of the Country music scene have about had it with lack of female representation in the producer and executive roles in all of music. This is such a hot issue, people want to run and hide before they speak their viewpoints.

There does seem to be a lot of avoidance of anything that might be seen as controversial. You didn't see a lot of action at the last presidential election either.

Is that going to change anytime soon? I'm sure it won't. There are no signs the main faces of Country music wants any part of anything as hot as the headlines of today. Sure, they are talking behind the doors, but not in public.

Advertisers, viewers, listeners and relationships are at stake. Hearts are broken everywhere. And it's really a shame that those most capable of expressing emotion are too afraid to speak. I understand it. But it is a shame.

Then there's Daryle Singletary. The reaction from his fellow artists could best be described as powerful and passionate. Daryle was Country like few are today. He was made with the imprint of Whitley, Jones and Haggard and nothing was going to change him. He was Southwest Georgia turkey huntin' Country. And his fellow artists respected him for staying true to who he was.

He was maybe one of the last of his kind. People are losing their record deals because they are "too" Country.

I can see a picture right now of Johnny Cash pointing his middle finger at the camera. And Waylon saying CMA is Country My Ass ... Kind of miss those pure to their roots Country singers. It was a different time and a different place ... Music Row has a row of houses ... Now it has condos and bike lanes.