The second annual ACM Honors gathering at Nashville’s symphony hall on the 22nd was really wonderful. The video presentations and musical tributes focused on the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award recipients Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Hank Williams, Jr. and the late Jerry Reed, as well has honorees Merle Haggard and the late Harlan Howard, and Jim Reeves International Award winner Dolly Parton. “These are strange events for me to attend in the sense that you’re very proud, very flattered and very uncomfortable at the same time”, Randy Travis said to the press. The show was great with Carrie Underwood, James Otto, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson, Kellie Pickler, Joe Nichols, John Rich and hostess Lee Ann Womack were among the evening’s performers.

It is great seeing Lee Ann Womack in this role. She is a real trooper. She is loved and respected in the industry. We all wish she could come up with a string of #1 hits. We are also happy the ACM (Academy of Country Music) has an award that honors the late Cliffie Stone. Cliffie is a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. He is a legend on the West Coast. Cliffie was a bass player who headed up a television show for many, many years in Hollywood and is personally responsible for the careers of several country music stars. He owned Central Songs Music that became a powerhouse country-oriented publishing firm with offices in Hollywood and Nashville. It is our hope that the industry won’t let his name die. He was a dear friend to many of us.