NLion ...
I've never been a huge C/W fan either. I followed it quite a bit for a few years beginning around the mid-to-late '80s in the heyday of Clint Black, Reba, George Strait, Garth, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Suzy Bogguss, Holly Dunn and others. George Strait is still going strong according to the charts.
I've never been to FanFare but have seen Reba, Garth, George Strait, and the Highwaymen in concert. I can imagine that seeing Sara Evans up close and personal made FanFare worth your long trip. <g>
When TNN abandoned country music and country radio became more like contemporary pop/rock, I tended to move away from it.
Justin, a Texan with no hat or boots
