Q: I was pleased to hear that Reba McEntire is receiving the Kennedy Center Honors this year. Has any other country music star gotten them?

— Wayne Douglas, Providence, Rhode Island

A: Oh, yes, though it didn’t happen until a dozen years or so into the event’s history. The other country recipients have been Roy Acuff (1991), Johnny Cash (1996), Willie Nelson (1998), Dolly Parton (2006), George Jones (2008) and Merle Haggard (2010).

That may not seem like an especially large representation of the country sector, but the purpose of the honors is to commemorate talents who have left a lasting impression on society. That can take a while to build, but we’d expect to see even more country honorees beyond Reba — also given the popularity of that genre, and besides being a prestigious award, the Kennedy Center Honors still is a television show that aims to attract a large audience.

Q: In the ads for the new show “God Friended Me,” isn’t that the same actor who was on “The Mayor” last season?

— Donna Kelly, Reading, Pennsylvania

A: Yes, it is Brandon Micheal Hall … and his casting in the new CBS show means that television writers will have another round of telling their editors, “Yes, that’s really how he spells his middle name.” Hopes were high for “The Mayor” when ABC premiered it last fall, but the ratings were lower than what the network had anticipated, significantly enough for the show never to have returned from the end-of-year holiday break it took. “God Friended Me,” also featuring Emmy-winning “Scandal” alum Joe Morton, premieres Sept. 30.

Q: If a TV program is not being watched, but is being recorded, is that counted as being watched?

— F.R. Baldwin, via email

A: Especially in these days of “Live Plus” ratings — which factor in the numbers for shows that people record for later viewing — yes, those are counted. You’d have to personally visit the home of every person to make sure that their eyes actually were on the screen, but those recording figures have a big role in audience measurements now.

Q: I recently read something about Chris Harrison of “The Bachelor” being connected to the Breeders’ Cup horse racing event. What is that about?

— Don Smith, Macon, Georgia

A: Before he became a host for all occasions, Harrison’s specialty was sportscasting, and he recently told us how pleased he is to be one of several new “Celebrity Ambassadors” for the Breeders’ Cup. That entails his helping to promote the World Championships that will be staged in November, and former “The Sopranos” co-star Jamie-Lynn Sigler also has been accorded that honorary position.

Q: In losing both Paula Faris and Sara Haines as co-hosts, will “The View” continue?

— Teresa Simmons, via email

A: The ABC weekday program has proven to be quite resilient through co-host changes over the years, with each woman at the table bringing something unique … sometimes quite controversially. Though Barbara Walters is no longer affiliated with the program, it continues to live up to her concept of what she wanted it to be, a gathering of women with individual and thought-inspiring views on topics of the moment.

There’s also another reason “The View” is destined to stay in place. With “The Chew” about to disappear completely from ABC’s daytime schedule, in favor of a third hour of “Good Morning America” titled “GMA Day,” the network probably doesn’t want much more change to the lineup — at least for the time being.

Q: When is “Criminal Minds” coming back?

— Paul Stacy, Stuart, Florida

A: The CBS crime drama is slated to start its 14th season Oct. 3, and it will be back that night with a milestone … its 300th episode. Typically, the series has been the last to be renewed, since it’s a co-production of CBS Studios and ABC Studios — which can make for some tricky negotiating. We know from talking many times to series star Joe Mantegna that he always keeps the faith about the show being renewed, though, and that has paid off again this time.