The Farr Side: History is made as country music searches for its identity

The 2023 CMA Awards show was an interesting mix of something. What that something was isn’t entirely clear. I’ve questioned the genre’s identity over the past couple of years, but I think it remains to be seen as to where the state of country music is today. Anyone who may have watched is surely to feel similar.

Before I go any sooner I’m going to give much praise to artist Luke Combs. This is a stand-up guy with his heart and his head in the right place. Combs’ cover of the 1988 Tracy Chapman classic “Fast Car” was the night’s most honored song capturing both the Single of the Year and Song of the Year categories. And, I will say it was much deserved.

Combs’ win not only was earned it also made history. Chapman became the first Black woman to ever win a CMA. Although she was not there to accept the award, the history she makes as the recipient of the top award will forever be known now.

I have always loved Chapman’s “Fast Car” and remember when the song first moved people back in the '80s. At a time when singers like Jody Watley, Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston were making headlines in music for their danceable hits, here come Chapman with her song about a troubled, impoverished young woman choosing to take care of her father. It turned heads then and made people listen as it’s doing again for Combs and a whole new generation of music lovers.

I have to give major props to Combs for, not only, covering the tracks, but choosing to do so in the songs original context. He recorded the song keeping the integrity of it and singing it from the female perspective like Chapman had done originally. It’s a powerful statement and one that did Chapman an incredible favor — it kept the songwriting credit all to Chapman. That is almost unheard of anymore.

It’s strange how things play out in the bigger spectrum. Combs’ song became a huge hit across many formats while topping the country music charts during late summer. At the very same time, another song by another country artist was creating a buzz all of its own. Jason Aldean’s “Try That In A Small Town” made headlines for its lyrical content and accompanying music video. The video showed images of protests and riots while the singer sang about gun ownership and how people in a small town will “take care of their own.” If that wasn’t controversial enough those images were projected onto a courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where a young black man was lynched in 1927.

The controversy was felt across all genres, including country. Several artists took offense to Aldean’s song, while others embraced it. The was also the case for music lovers, too. “Try That In A Small Town” quickly topped the Hot 100 because of all the attention the song received, but then quickly fell off the charts. The song became the biggest dropper from the No. 1 position in all of the chart’s history — seems fitting to me.

Watching the awards it was apparent to me that traditional country music is a thing of the past. Most of the performances were glorified rock music spectacles from artists who would have never got a record contract in the rock field. Just because you put on a cowboy hat doesn’t mean you’re from the “country.” I’m willing to bet most of those guys on the show can’t even ride a horse.

It was nice to see other progress on the show such as Post Malone’s performance with Morgan Wallen and Hardy on a tribute to Joe Diffie. Malone, who obviously is not a country artist, outsang Wallen and Hardy. And, Brothers Osborne win for Best Vocal Duo. TJ Osborne is openly gay in a genre that doesn’t necessarily support his lifestyle — although many of his peers have stood by him in support of his coming out.

The biggest upset of the night, for me, came when singer Lainey Wilson was bestowed the coveted Entertainer of the Year award. I’m not disputing her talent by any means, but why her? I’m happy that a female claimed the honor, considering the last time was Taylor Swift back in 2011. However, singers Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert have dominated the genre for well over a decade and have deserved to win this distinction numerous times while coming up short.

— David T. Farr is a Journal correspondent. Email him at farrboy@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: The Farr Side: History is made as country music searches for its identity