So What Was Lyle Doing When the Collarbone Broke?

So what was Lyle Lovett doing riding a motorcycle in Mexico last weekend--a ride that resulted in the broken collarbone that caused him to miss accepting two awards at Wednesday’s Grammy ceremony?

It turns out Lovett, a motorcycle fan since his teens, was in Mexico with his father and friends last Saturday preparing for a segment of ESPN’s “Moto World,” to have been taped in March. Because of the injury, that taping is now postponed until the end of May.

About his Grammy victories Wednesday with Asleep at the Wheel in the country duo or group vocal category and with soul legend Al Green in the pop vocal collaboration category, he said by phone from his home near Houston:

“One of the exciting things in this business is that you get to work with people you like and admire. . . . I got to open some shows for Asleep at the Wheel when my first record was out (in 1986), so I was really pleased when Ray (Benson) asked me to be involved in that project. . . .

“And the thing with Al Green. He’s such a legend. I was so intimidated in a way, really, to go into the studio with him. To get recognized for what we did together is just unbelievable to me.”

Once the collarbone is mended, Lovett is expected to resume touring and then enter the studio to work on an album that is due in the fall.