Here are the ‘Best Cities for Country Music Fans in 2022.’ Boise’s ranking? Total bull

Better cowboy up, Boise.

A new study suggests that Idaho’s capital is more of a city slicker’s destination than a country girl’s paradise.

After reading it, you’ll feel like you stepped in a fresh cow pie.

In honor of International Country Music Day on Sept. 17 (yeah, I’d never heard of it, either), LawnStarter ranked “2022’s Best Cities for Country Music Fans.”

(LawnStarter? Yes. Bear with me.)

Nashville finished #1. Deservedly so. Of course. Austin, Texas, is near the top at #7. Makes sense.

But Salt Lake City is — #3? Wow. OK.

That dirty-hippie haven, Eugene, Oregon, is ranked #9. How is that possible? The Oregon Country Fair is not country.

Obviously, these LawnStarter staffers aren’t just mowing grass. They’re smokin’ it.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, as Willie Nelson would attest. But this article is an insult to Idaho. It’s authored by “Staff Writer.” Clearly, someone was scared to put their name on it.

Boise is ranked ... #73?

Bullcrap.

“We compared over 180 of the biggest cities based on eight key factors, such as the number of country music festivals, access to performance venues, and the affordability of concert tickets,” LawnStarter wrote. “We also gauged local interest in the genre based on Google search data, the number of country music stations, and even the existence of country music museums. See which cities’ dirt roads lead to the top country music scenes below, followed by some highlights and lowlights.”

Want lowlights? Look at the criteria used in this “study.” One is “Most Country Concerts.” The top five? Nashville, Chicago, Denver, New York and Atlanta.

Gosh, there are more concerts in cities with populations of 8 zillion than there are in Boise, Idaho? Who woulda thunk?

For its size, Boise deserves to be near the top. (Not that I’m entirely thrilled about that fact.)

Just look at the past several months:

▪ On Sept. 9, country singer Morgan Wallen set a new attendance record at the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater: 10,518. He also set the record for the venue’s fastest sellout. Kenny Chesney pulled in 10,283 bodies there earlier this summer.

▪ Another local record got set by a country singer in August — this one at the Western Idaho Fair. Billy Currington packed in a whopping 17,800 fans — most ever for one of the grandstand shows.

▪ The top radio station in Boise is country favorite 101.9 The Bull. It’s won four of the past six Nielsen ratings periods among all listeners 12 and older.

▪ Country singer Luke Combs is coming to Albertsons Stadium next year — only the second major act ever to perform there. That’s after Garth Brooks sold out two nights in a row in 2019, pulling in 86,000 fans. (Want to see a pop or rock concert at the stadium? Better move somewhere else.)

Yet Boise is #73? Trailing not just Eugene, of all places, but freaking Portland?

And Madison, Wisconsin?

And Washington, D.C.?

If George Jones were still alive, I’d ask him to ride his mower over to LawnStarter headquarters and set things straight.