Where has Country Music Gone?

We settled back with snacks and drinks to watch the CMA awards last night and it was the most uncomfortable night I have spent in a long time. I kept waiting to see the country music stars and all I saw were babies up on the stage. Now while I like Carrie Underwood, she's no Reba (McEntire) and her hit video "before he cheats" makes me laugh out loud, but she doesn't have the dulcet tones of Tammy, either. Kelly got up and sang her song about how her mama abandoned her (like she's the only child that has ever been abandoned) and to me, the end was pure acting. I know she can act, I've seen her do it. When she was on Give me the Mike (Charlotte) she didn't appear to be the ditzy blond that she portrayed on Idol. She doesn't have me fooled, she is not the empty headed ditz she makes herself out to be. Granted she can sing, but where was Patty Loveless and Faith Hill? I know, I know, they weren't nominated. Well, why weren't they? Where was Alan Jackson? The audience pan revealed none of my favorite singers. Where was Loretta and George? Where was Tim McGraw and Alabama? Why do they call Sugarland a duo when only one person sings and the other stands back and strums the guitar? I never saw him open his mouth or crowd in at the mike. And when will Kix Brooks start contributing his voice a bit more to Ronnie Dunn's vocals? What happened to Boot Scootin' Boogey? Is CMA ashamed of Minnie Pearl and Stringbean, Grandpa Jones and Roy Acuff? The closest thing we have to all that is Allison Kraus, and she doesn't sound anything like she did ten years ago when their was some blue in their grass. Why didn't Vince Gill sing, since he wasn't hosting this year? Porter Wagoner, who died last week barely got a mention and Hank Thompson, (The Wild Side of Life) who passed on Tuesday and last performed on October the 8th at age 81, got no mention at all. Both are members of the Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame. Such a pity And to compare Jason Aldean to Johnny Cash is like comparing rocks to diamonds or sows ears to silk purses. Where has all the Country music gone? Gone to pop stars, everyone.