This year, the Grammys gave all four of the big categories to country artists for the first time, and all the Nashville industry does is bash them for still calling the Chicks country and not letting Carrie Underwood sing her own song, despite the fact that the whole Wills/Eagles tribute was initiated by Underwood’s reps. Instead of capitalizing on that success, the country industry has made a point to separate itself from it. The new ways Music Row finds to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory never cease to amaze me.

Grammys: Joe Galante is exactly right. It’s pathetic that at America’s biggest music awards show, the country’s most popular genre does not get to perform one current song and is reduced to covering politically correct West Coast rock songs. Of course, the Grammys’ dislike of country music is nothing new and most Music Row figures have come to accept it but this year their efforts to snub and insult mainstream country and Nashville were extraordinary.

This year, with all the awards the Chicks got, the Grammys can’t even take the sanctimonious position that they’re only about rewarding artistry. Besides, I agree with Keith Urban, who has commented that there’s nothing wrong with making popular music and there’s a unique kind of artistry involved in building strong hooks that people like. Ok, Rascal Flatts excepted.

King George: This is nothing new. People have been complaining for George’s entire career that all of his songs sound the same. He’s the only traditional Honky-Tonk artist left on country radio and I don’t want to see him change. I wonder how long he can keep going as is and reinventing himself at this point would only hasten his demise. If he or his band seems flat at times, I imagine it has a lot to do with the fact that George Strait probably likes being a country star about the least of any artist out there.

“Straight From The Heart”: Daryle Singletary is a great cover artist. He released a similar album several years ago called “That’s Why I Sing This Way.” The title cut, an original, is bright, fun and traditional, probably my favorite Daryle Singletary song (though “I Let Her Lie” is close). The album contains several great covers of underappreciated classic country songs, including one of my all-time favorites, Johnny Paycheck’s “Old Violin.” At times I even think that Daryle improved on the original.

Kenny: Not sure if this photoshoot is an intentional PR move following the gay rumors or just a coincidence, but it’s not going to put anything to rest. There were whisperings about Kenny Chesney even before his divorce and the reference to “fraud” in the divorce petition certainly didn’t help anything. Honestly, I think that Kenny Chesney looks gay and wouldn’t be shocked to find out that he is.