New FOX TV Series to Portray Country Music’s Fictional First Family
Well this could be interesting. Premiering on January 30th, 2022 after the NFC Championship football game, the latest drama series with country music as the centerpiece will premier on FOX. Called Monarch, it will star Susan Sarandon as the ailing “Queen of Country Music” Dottie Cantrell Roman, Trace Adkins as her husband Albie, and British actress Anna Friel as Nicolette “Nicky” Roman, who is the heiress to what is characterized as the “First Family of Country Music.”
Sold as a “Texas-sized, multigenerational musical drama about a family synonymous with authenticity,” apparently there is some big family secret behind their success that must be protected at all costs, including with (don don don!) murder. The Romans apparently live in Austin, but spend ample time in Nashville tending to the family business.
We’ll have to see if this turns out anything like ABC’s country music drama Nashville that premiered in 2012, which was tolerable for a few episodes, but had to keep killing off central characters because of budgetary restrictions and still ended up on basement network CMT for its final two seasons, while the Hayden Panettiere character slept with every male character on the show except the gay guy. We did get Charles Esten out of the deal though, who’s been a reliable last minute fill in for the Grand Ole Opry in recent years.
The Monarch series is created and written by Melissa London Hilfers, and also stars Beth Ditto, Josh Sasse, Meagan Holder, Martha Migareda, Emma Milani, Iñigio Pasual, Eva Amurri and Adam Croasdell.
Some of the initial plot lines that have been leaked include an episode where the Trace Adkins character is piss drunk on a cruise ship and gets kicked off and left behind in Jamaica after beating the shit out of his own celebrity impersonator. Another episode centers upon how the Susan Sarandon character helps cost Hillary Clinton the 2016 Presidential Election by endorsing Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
…oh wait, those are actual, real life stories. My apologies.
It will be interesting to see if there are any real world implications tied to the airing of Monarch. ABC’s Nashville did result in some pretty sweet royalty money for a few songwriters, and perhaps raised some awareness about systemic injustices in the country music industry. But ultimately the hackneyed story lines and incessant heartstring pulling just made the show a bit unbearable.
If the Monarch soundtrack features some cool folks and it helps shine a spotlight on more traditional country, it could be kind of cool. There has never been a worse song picker in the history of country music than Trace Adkins (“Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” “Brown Chicken Brown Cow”). But the guy probably has one of the best voices currently in country music. Adkins also has some 21 film appearances, and scores of TV appearances under his belt, so he’s somewhat seasoned as an actor.
Meanwhile Susan Sarandon is not known for signing onto subpar projects, so perhaps it’s a promising sign she is involved, even if her character is fighting off some illness that will allow her to bow out gracefully if and when she chooses.
Anyway, figured we should all at least be aware this is going down as country fans. Whether it will actually be worth paying attention to is yet to be seen.
October 30, 2021 @ 9:18 am
“Some of the initial plot lines that have been leaked include an episode where the Trace Adkins character is piss drunk on a cruise ship and gets kicked off and left behind in Jamaica after beating the shit out of his own celebrity impersonator. Another episode centers upon how the Susan Sarandon character helps cost Hillary Clinton the 2016 Presidential Election by endorsing Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
…oh wait, those are actual, real life stories. My apologies.”
This made me laugh. Sometimes real life writes the best scripts
October 30, 2021 @ 9:22 am
if Beth Ditto doesn’t play a Patsy Cline-like character, it will be a missed opportunity.
October 30, 2021 @ 9:34 am
I like Trace Adkins but I’m not sure he’s got the acting chops to be a co-lead on a major series like this. And the age difference between him and Sarandon sounds a little weird.
That said I’m interested in checking this out. It’d be cool if music-wise it gravitated more towards what they use on Yellowstone, rather than what they used on Nashville during the final couple years.
Loved Nashville back in the day. I actually thought it improved a good bit after the move to CMT for those final two years. Even now it’s on 24 hours a day on one of those free channels on my smart tv and I still enjoy it when I put it on.
October 30, 2021 @ 11:40 am
The age thing has a Randy Travis, Lib Hatcher vibe going on.
October 30, 2021 @ 12:29 pm
Maybe that’s part of the plot.
And let’s be honest. Trace Adkins is 59. But that’s a hard 59 years.
October 31, 2021 @ 11:03 am
Actually, I think he looks as old, if not older than she does in that trailer— especially considering that her character is supposedly suffering from a terminal illness.
October 30, 2021 @ 11:03 am
“Another episode centers upon how the Susan Sarandon character helps cost Hillary Clinton the 2016 Presidential Election by endorsing Green Party candidate Jill Stein.”
“But let’s not get political, folks. This is a country music website.”
Throw Down, I’m Ready
October 30, 2021 @ 12:15 pm
I’m wondering if Trace and Susan are familiar with each other. If they aren’t, behind the scenes might be fun.
Back in the Bush days, Adkins was one of Bill Maher’s favorite people to argue with.
October 30, 2021 @ 12:59 pm
LOL……….if I live to be 100 I’ll never forget his quote to Bill Maher week of 9/11. I think Bill asked the panel “why do they hate us?” and Trace in that accent says something like “Who cares, why don’t we just bomb the bastards?”. Every time I see him I think of that.
October 30, 2021 @ 1:03 pm
Trigger,
Can you please delete the above comment and any other comment of mine that you aren’t willing to post uncensored?
October 30, 2021 @ 1:27 pm
Quit crying.
I didn’t censor your comment. I deleted a phrase you put behind your name that was a literal death threat that could leave myself and this website legally liable, and could literally get the entire site taken down.
October 30, 2021 @ 1:41 pm
A literal death threat? You’d think that as a journalist, you’d know the definitions of “literal” and “threat”. It was a recommendation of legal action that I fully support, but if you don’t want it posted, I’d appreciate it if you’d just delete my entire comment. Will you please?
October 30, 2021 @ 2:12 pm
Trigger,
You know good and dadgum well that no threat was made. You’re a dishonest piece of crap for saying there was on the record, for everyone to see, and then deleting my attempt to clarify your slander. I’m a lot of things, but maker of death threats is not one of them. You’re a filthy, filthy liar.
October 30, 2021 @ 2:26 pm
The only thing I have deleted here was some text you put in the name thread on your first comment that was of the nature of content I have been advised by legal counsel to not allow to be published and hosted on this site because it could pose a liability, fair or not, and that had absolutely nothing to do with this discussion. That’s it. I have posted every single one of your comments verbatim. And no, I’m not sitting right beside my computer, waiting with baited breath for you to post your next comment, so it might take some time.
My advice would be to try and enjoy your Saturday, like I am attempting to do.
October 30, 2021 @ 2:43 pm
Trigger,
I consider my handle to be part of my comment.
I apologize for jumping the gun with the very last comment; I thought you had deleted my reply. So I retract.
I work Saturday nights, but thanks.
October 30, 2021 @ 2:47 pm
One more thing. If you’re not going to be sitting next to your computer with baited breath to approve my comments, then I demand that you either hire someone to do so, or take me off perma-mod, which you’ve had me on for the better part of a decade.
November 1, 2021 @ 3:54 am
The phrase is “bated breath”. I’m not surprised that cracker used typed “baited”, but Kyle? Come on, man.
November 1, 2021 @ 9:50 am
Jeez. I believe the spell checker got me. I was trying to spend some quality time outside and was typing with my thumbs.
November 1, 2021 @ 8:51 am
Douglas,
I copied Trigger’s spelling. I’ve heard that phrase, but never used it before, and put zero thought into the correct spelling prior to quickly including it in a smart-Alec, half-serious reply. I get that being a haughty, internet pseudo-intellectual gives you a sense of self-worth, but don’t you think the grammar policing is so 2014? Like, isn’t there a newer way for you to make yourself feel superior to people you’ll never meet? I’ll bet you tell 20 people per day that that it’s “they’re”, not “there”. Don’t you ever get tired of it?
November 1, 2021 @ 5:44 pm
Fake name cracker, I am not a pseudo-intellectual. I am a pedantic curmudgeon, or a curmudgeonly pedant, take your pick. You also put little thought into your above reply, as it’s “smart aleck”, not “smart-Alec”. You are correct that my sense of self-worth comes from pointing out your flaws. I actually have met you. Your frequent posts here are enough to give someone a clear sense of who you are, unless it’s all a bit, of course. You don’t really think I tell 20 people a day that it’s “they’re”, not “there”. That’s hyperbole and you wouldn’t actually bet any significant amount of money on it because you know you’d lose. Besides, I tell them it’s “their”, not “there”, a more common error. I will never get tired of it, as it brings me joy, just as you will never get tired of being a cowardly fake name MAGA-esque arse because it brings you joy. Say hi to your pal Di “Throw Down” Harris.
November 2, 2021 @ 7:22 am
Yes, Captain Perception, I used hyperbole to make fun of the sad reality that your self-worth comes from correcting grammar errors of anonymous people online.
You should call Apple and complain to them that IOS spells things like “smart-Alec” incorrectly. They need to know how much they’ve hurt you, Douglas.
No, I’m definitely not doing a bit. Your confusion in that regard probably stems from your membership in cult. I’m not in your cult, which makes me your enemy. I know, it’s hard to comprehend. Try not to worry about it too much; you’ve got lots of spelling to correct.
November 2, 2021 @ 7:34 am
*a* cult
Sorry to steal your thunder, Douglas.
October 30, 2021 @ 1:49 pm
I like Susan, she is a good actor, so depending on what the show is like, I may check it out. If it is a good drama series, I may watch, if it is too soap opera like, like Dallas, then I will pass.
October 30, 2021 @ 1:58 pm
I’ll bet they’re going to have a blast shooting this.
October 30, 2021 @ 2:28 pm
: D Hi Honky, last comment was meant for you.
It got lost somewhere in the queue.
October 30, 2021 @ 3:06 pm
I wasn’t a fan of the “Nashville” show because it was very soap-y, and from the description it sounds like this new show is going to be that way too.
But I will say that “Nashville” had a handful of good songs to come out of it, plus I am thrilled that Chip Esten seems to be somewhat a part of the country music world now (being the huge “Whose Line Is It Anyway” fan that I am).
October 30, 2021 @ 5:23 pm
Screw this fake Hollywood sh*t.
Just make a documentary film about an eastern Kentucky boy named Tyler Childers who tries to get a record made to help his poor local elementary school and win the heart of his beautiful English teacher, Senora May, despite the greedy designs of a cosmopolitan Nashville fat cat and his nerdy hot housewrecker of a secretary.
Call it “Purgatory” and take it easy on the CGI.
This ain’t rocket science.
October 30, 2021 @ 6:00 pm
Should I watch it? It seems I am at the precipice of a great crossroads!
October 30, 2021 @ 6:19 pm
Hmmmm,
Wonder who’s going to be firing the “prop” gun …
October 30, 2021 @ 6:23 pm
Just wanted to send Trig some sympathy.
Remember back when we could make a joke without someone finding a way to get offended???
Great article, really bad comments section. Trigger, as a long time reader, you have my vote to start removing more comments, even if it includes mine.
Also, sounds like another annoying show that I don’t want to watch but might have to just to get the references. Might get a song or 2 out of it, wake me up if Jaida Dreyer also gets in there as a writer like she did on Nashville.
October 31, 2021 @ 11:27 am
Censorship kills websites. Go try TMZ or something.
October 31, 2021 @ 1:49 pm
Agreed its not a good thing, but its better to have no comments section than a nasty mess.
I read a lot of websites without comments. I like that SCM allows comments, but I haven’t read much of anything constructive here in a long time, so they are losing their appeal.
I hope they can be fixed, but sometimes you need to prune off diseased wood.
November 8, 2021 @ 9:50 am
@Blackh4t The other option is to just not read the comments if you find them less than useful or distasteful. Just a thought…
October 30, 2021 @ 7:44 pm
I was accosted with the promo for this while being force fed YT ads as I was trying to watch a great video of a guy rehabbing an old 80’s tour bus. It struck me as offensive from the git. Another lame Hollywood production steeped in campy stereotypes of country music culture, designed to validate elitist ridicule and entertain them with Gucci-inspired hillbilly escapism. It’s obvious it will be as obnoxious as Empire was to R&B. Or Urban Cowboy was way back when. Dallas, etc. Demeaning and insipid, and utterly lacking in entertainment value. If you love country music and real life and you watch stuff like this, you just mock your own self and line the pockets of those who consider you willing to fall for anything. I get why Sarandon would do something like this, but Trace should have stuck to raising money for Wounded Warriors.
October 30, 2021 @ 8:09 pm
This looks dumb as shit.
October 31, 2021 @ 5:09 am
I’m sure it’s just the show Empire with country music.
October 31, 2021 @ 11:25 am
I wish this was on HBO so we could see Trace Adkins’ boobs.
October 31, 2021 @ 5:15 pm
It’s on fox. It’s gonna be formulaic generic garbage pandering to the lowest common denominator.
November 1, 2021 @ 6:15 am
I think this show has potential until they start checking off diversity boxes because someone on twitter decides the show is too white. Mark my words, this will happen.
April 17, 2024 @ 7:08 am
Called it.
November 1, 2021 @ 6:40 am
Just what do you mean by this statement?
“systemic injustices in the country music industry.” talking about the trash show Nashville?
Just sick of the garage that country music owes anyone a damn thing. Now there isn’t any real country music but mongrelizing mis mush of rap crap, hippty hop and Honky Donkey banjo evey other verse. They is no essence in any of the junk, no real life stories of how you would feel at different times in your life, you can’t even have a meaningful country dance with anyone anymore because there is nothing there.
Trying mix all these different genres of completely different music has made it a woke joke garabge and killed a real movement that the liberal junkies in Nashville now have been killing over a decade now. Any move with anti American communist Sarandon Saranrap in it is doomed from the start!! I will not waist five minutes of my life on this cluster bomb.
November 1, 2021 @ 7:23 am
I’ve been operating Saving Country Music for 13 1/2 years and have published 6,977 articles. If you think when I say “systemic injustices in the country music industry,” I’m advocating for hip-hop, you need to poke around a little bit more.
November 3, 2021 @ 2:21 pm
That reply was a total cop out. Do better, Kyle. Intersectionality begins with you.
November 3, 2021 @ 2:30 pm
And I was supposed to dignify it with an actual reply?
November 1, 2021 @ 5:19 pm
I cannot figure out why ‘people’ seem to think country music lives are so interesting that they’d merit a TV soap.
Country” stars” never threw TV sets out of windows or trashed hotel rooms or flew the band to meditate with the Mahareshi or drive a Rolls into a pool or paint one in the psychedelic colours of the day or marrying their 13 year old cousins. They don’t spend their intermissions sitting on the stage IN FRONT OF an audience eating delivered pizza (Frank Zappa and the Mothers ) . The Book Of Rock music is chapter after chapter of REAL insanity that REAL rock stars actually lived . Put THAT stuff in a weekly series and you’ve got something .
November 2, 2021 @ 1:06 pm
You always seem to have an excuse. “I copied Trigger, it was spell check, etc.” Typical coward move. Fake name, fake excuses. Just say, “Damn, I didn’t know it was ‘bated breath’ “, etc. What are you on about with cults? I correct grammar a hell of a lot less on line, what 6 or fewer times on SCM? (It’s the only comment section I comment in), than you spout daily nonsense multiple times on one blog. Pot kettle black.
November 4, 2021 @ 5:10 am
I think like some other posters this show may turn out to be trash. I could be wrong, if the people behind it are folks who have a genuine appreciation for country music. But I’m very doubtful that’s the case. I suspect what we’ll be getting is a reboot of shows like Empire with a thin veneer of country. TV is very imitative; if one show is successful then a bunch of clones of that show immediately appear.