When “American Idol” began its newest season on ABC in February. it had decent ratings if not the kind it used to have on Fox back in the Simon Cowell days.

The opening segment on February 14th drew 6.96 million viewers. That was down from last season’s finale by 14%, but the show was still hanging in there.

Producers thought they’d use Claudia Conway, daughter of Trump lackey Kellyanne Conway, as a lure. But that didn’t work out as Claudia, though plucky, was too young and didn’t have the chops.

The show expanded from Sunday to Sunday and Monday shows on March 22nd. Monday shows never do as well as Sunday ones, but you’d think the cliffhanger aspect would keep the Sunday audience. It hasn’t.

Last night’s “American Idol” produced just 4.717 million viewers, down a whopping 38% since the start of the season. Over two million viewers have gradually drifted away.

“American Idol” once created stars like Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and so on. Even minor stars like Phillip Phillips managed to score hits. That’s when the show had a deal with Clive Davis and his J Records — then part of BMG — which had the know how and interest to capitalize on the attention.

But “Idol,” like “The Voice,” hasn’t created a star in a long time. The last ‘name’ winner was Phillips, in Season 11. This is Season 19. Can you name last year’s winner? No? Her name was Just Sam. What happened to her? The pandemic can’t be the answer for everything.

I’ve reluctantly watched some of “Idol” this season. There’s just so much you can take of it. The judges– Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan– are fine. I like them. But the contestants become more and more enervating. They over-sing or under perform, their song choices are terrible, and after a while it all becomes a blur. The show no longer knows how to find a star. They’re too concerned with back stories of poverty, abandonment, and tragedies to find any real talent.

And so it goes. The audience is tired, too. They’re leaving, in droves. Maybe it’s time to wrap this up. (Katy Perry really needs to get back to her career. She’s too talented to waste her good years on this stuff.)

Morgan Wallen is still paying for his TMZ video in which he’s heard using the “N” word.

Despite selling a gazillion albums this winter, Wallen won’t be on the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18th on CBS.

The show will be hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton, the first real Black country female star ever. (She’s even bigger than that. She’s a star!)

They’ve booked 25 stars to perform including Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Ryan Hurd, Jack Ingram, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Carly Pearce, Jon Randall, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, The War and Treaty, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans, and Chris Young.

That’s the creme de le creme of country, but no Wallen. Does he mind? I doubt it. He’s counting his money and wondering where it all went wrong.

Over 25 artists will perform more than 30 songs from three iconic Country Music venues: the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, and The Bluebird Cafe.

Since attending the Country Music Awards last winter may have killed the legendary Charley Pride, the ACM’s note this on a press release regarding COVID:

“The health and safety of the artists, fans, industry, staff and partners involved in the ACM Awards is the number one priority. All guidelines set forth by national, state and local health officials will be closely followed and implemented during the production along with additional safety measures to be instated by dick clark productions and the Academy of Country Music.”

Let’s see who’s wearing a mask on this show.