Again Blake Shelton Leads List of Opry Deadbeats, So Why Are They Building Him a Restaurant?
Every year, Grand Ole Opry historian Byron Fay of the Fafare’s Opry Blog posts an end-of-year run down of the amount of appearances both Opry members and non Opry members make on country music’s most hallowed stage. And every year his list becomes a matter of great intrigue due to the increasing amount of current country stars shirking their obligations to the Opry, while older country stars have been stepping up to fill appearance slots like never before.
Once again in 2016, the current mainstream artist leading the pack of delinquent members is Blake Shelton who couldn’t find the time to make even one appearance in 2016 at the Grand Ole Opry, let alone the 10 or so appearances current members are expected to make. Country fans shouldn’t be surprised by this; it’s pretty much par for the course from what we’ve come to expect from Blake. Lorrie Morgan called out Shelton in 2016 for not paying his proper dues, and his lack of appearances also became a topic of discussion after the blowup over Blake’s now notorious “Old Farts and Jackasses” comments.
So it all begs the question, if Shelton can’t even give the Grand Ole Opry one measly evening of his time in 2016, why are they enshrining him in a restaurant in downtown Nashville’s booming Lower Broadway district?
Announced earlier in January, Blake Shelton is partnering with the Opry and its parent company—Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc.—to open a 26,000-square-foot, two-story bar, restaurant, and retail space called “Ol’ Red” after the early Blake Shelton hit song. At least they’re not calling it “Hillbilly Bone.” The location will also include a performance space, dance floor, VIP and private event spaces, and a 6,000-foot rooftop area. It is expected to open in 2018.
“I couldn’t be more excited that my friends at the Opry and Ryman Hospitality Properties are making it happen,” Blake Shelton said in a statement. Perhaps he gave the Opry a discount on the naming rights to pay off some of his back Opry dues.
So who played The Grand Ole Opry if Blake Shelton and other current mainstream country stars didn’t? Here were the Top 10 Opry performers, their age, and the amount of appearances they made in 2016:
1) Mike Snider – 121 , Age 55
2) Connie Smith – 97 , Age 75
3) Jeannie Seely – 96 , Age 76
4) John Conlee – 81 , Age 70
5) Bill Anderson – 77 , Age 79
6) The Whites – 72 , Age 86 (Buck White)
7) Riders In The Sky – 67Â Ages 67-70
8) Bobby Osborne – 55 , Age 86
9) Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers – 53 , Age 68
10) Jesse McReynolds – 44 , Age 87
As you can see, the vast majority of the Opry’s top performers are in their 70’s or older.
Who else out of the Opry’s 61 official members actually played 10 or more appearances in 2016, which is considered to be the standard for retaining Opry membership?
Ricky Skaggs-31
Vince Gill-23
Del McCoury-22
Lorrie Morgan-14
Montgomery Gentry-11
Carrie Underwood-11
Pam Tillis-11
Diamond Rio-10
Once again, Carrie Underwood was the only major country music star with charting singles on the radio that actually paid her Opry dues, just like in 2015 and in virtually every year since she was inducted. Why isn’t the Opry building a restaurant in tribute to her?
Who were the Opry members who appeared, but came in below the 10 appearance threshold? According to Fayfare’s Opry Blog, some of the usual suspects on this list each year actually made a decent effort to appear in 2016, including recent inductees Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts with 8 appearances each, Darius Rucker with 7, and Brad Paisley with 5. Keith Urban and others help bring up the rear with only 2 appearances in 2016.
Charlie Daniels; Craig Morgan; Old Crow Medicine Show; Marty Stuart-9
Little Big Town; Ray Pillow; Rascal Flatts-8
Trace Adkins; Darius Rucker; Josh Turner; Steve Wariner-7
Oak Ridge Boys-6
Roy Clark; Terri Clark; Brad Paisley-5
Joe Diffie-4
Dierks Bentley; Alison Krauss; Loretta Lynn-3
Patty Loveless; Martina McBride; Ronnie Milsap; Charley Pride; Keith Urban-2
Joining Blake Shelton with zero appearances were Travis Tritt and Clint Black, though both have appearances scheduled already for 2017. Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire both have shown little interest in making Opry appearances lately, and Emmylou Harris also made no appearances in 2016. Garth Brooks actually did appear on the Opry in 2016 after an extended hiatus due to retirement.
Who were the biggest performers in the ranks of non Opry members?
Charles Esten-24
Jimmy Wayne; Carly Pearce-21
Mark Wills; Chris Janson-17
William Michael Morgan; Exile-16
Jackie Lee-15
T. Graham Brown-14
JT Hodges; Flatt Lonesome-13
Mo Pitney-12
Darryl Worley; Michael Ray; Craig Wayne Boyd; Ray Scott; Scotty McCreery; Lindsay Ell; Mandy Barnett; Restless Heart-11
Lee Greenwood; Jim Lauderdale; Holly Williams; Smithfield; Love and Theft-10
The list of high-performing non members is always a good barometer for who may be considered for future induction, especially after the Opry appears to have made a dramatic shift in its membership direction. Possibly due to the lack of dues paying by newer mainstream members, the Opry decided to invite Crystal Gayle and Dailey & Vincent to become new members in 2017. They hypothetically replace Ralph Stanley and Jean Shepard who passed away in 2016, though there is no set amount of Opry members they are beholden to.
Another interesting wrinkle to the Grand Ole Opry going into 2017 is the departure of long-time manager Pete Fisher. Who could be tapped to lead the institution moving forward, and if they’ll be more stringent on artists such as Blake Shelton to honor their performance obligations remains to be seen.
Of course if the Grand Ole Opry is going to build a restaurant, they’re going to use a popular name to attempt to attract business. But just like in 2016 when the Grand Ole Opry decided to make a movie about the Opry and included many of the artists who regularly renege on their performance obligations and exclude many of the artists who regularly appear, the Opry appears to be rewarding Blake Shelton’s bad behavior by putting his name on their new restaurant.
January 19, 2017 @ 9:29 am
. . . because no one is gonna eat at the Mike Snider restaurant. Not that there is anything wrong with Mike Snider.
January 19, 2017 @ 7:02 pm
Blake is an overrated narcissist! Who wants to go to some overrated fake Honky Tonk it’s just going to end up being a horrible tourist attraction with horrible things probably for sale.
January 19, 2017 @ 9:41 am
Because the Opry wants to attract people who are at best casual country music fans, and Blake fits the bill, and his brand works with the concept (as opposed to say Carrie). I am happy that they’re also putting an outpost in Tishomingo though.
Shrug, I decided a while ago that I’m going to stop getting offended on others behalf if they’re clearly not bothered. The Opry clearly doesn’t care about its own membership requirements, so I’m not going to care for them. And even if you look at the biggest performers from non-members, it’s not people on the radio (WMM aside). Those people are already doing a lot of performances. It’s probably actually more egregious that people like Reba, who are big names, but not current, aren’t putting in their appearances (the 50-60 generation basically).
January 19, 2017 @ 10:05 am
Reba, Dolly, even Garth, and some of the older artists who are not playing the Opry currently spent decades paying dues to the institution and have lent their names to the Opry on dozens of occasions. Blake Shelton has never fully committed to the Opry. Like Lorrie Morgan said, he wasnts the prestige of being an Opry member, but he doesn’t want to do anything for it.
January 19, 2017 @ 10:23 am
Again, if Opry doesn’t care, then it’s on them. (and I suspect if Opry decided to care again, you might see booking habits of some of these artists change…or not)
January 19, 2017 @ 10:49 am
I don’t care if the Opry doesn’t care. This wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve cared more about the Opry than the Opry appears to care about itself. What I care about is that there’s artists out there that would die to have the opportunity to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It would be the honor for their lifetimes. Go look at the faces of Dailey & Vincent when they were invited a few weeks ago. And then here is Blake Shelton, with more money and fame than 95% of country performers could ever imagine, and he thinks so little of his Opry membership that he can’t show up once in a calendar year, and has never fully met his Opry obligations since being invited.
Just make any effort to show that you care, and then I’ll get off of Blake’s back.
January 19, 2017 @ 11:06 am
Don’t get me wrong, I wish artists actually cared about showing up, but it’s just hard to care as much when the institution itself clearly doesn’t. I also think make it about Blake is a mistake, but that’s more a philosophical approach…I don’t like making general policies about individual people…it tends to lead to bad policies. And in this case it’s clearly an entire group with the exception of Carrie. (and mad props to her).
That being said, the fact that Merle Haggard wasn’t a Grand Ole Opry member also makes me sad…(again not about Blake), but a way for people who maybe tour more, or who don’t live in Nashville, to have a membership category might be cool.
January 19, 2017 @ 11:13 am
Irony is Blake used to play the Opry, before they made him a member. But Blake confounds me, I think he knows more about country music history then 90% of the artists in Nashville. His favorite stuff of his own to play is the old stuff (& he includes a bunch of it in concert). And then he puts out non-country music, and blows off the Opry.
(actually he doesn’t confound me, he enjoys being a big star and the class clown…and this is what he did to get it)
July 12, 2020 @ 1:21 am
I don’t care about Blake Shelton anyway. I personally would not go to see him. He really is a joke and shouldn’t even be a member. He’s on TV and that’s what counts, its all about the money.
January 19, 2017 @ 9:56 am
The answer to 99 out of 100 questions….money. Blake being branded with a downtown Nashville bar is an instant money maker.
January 19, 2017 @ 9:57 am
The lack of respect for the Opry from the current members is just ridiculous. God Bless Carrie. This is an attempt by Warner/Blake to show he is still “country” even though he and his music is becoming more pop every cd. In Nashville, an Opry restaurant should be enough of a draw w/o a star. Anyway what I find hysterical is that Miranda partnered up w/ the Love & War restaurant chain in her hometown to have a live music venue last year & now BS is doing it in Nash. Not a single original bone in his body. LOL
January 19, 2017 @ 10:00 am
There is no excuse for this. Carrie Underwood was as busy as anyone last year, but still had the integrity to fulfill her commitments. And I doubt she dragged her feet doing it.
January 19, 2017 @ 10:06 am
Honest question: With Ryman hospitality owning the Opry, are they “counting” appearances at Ryman owned properties as Opry “appearances”? For instance the NY Opry outpost, the Ryman theater, this new bar whenever it gets opened? Etc.
January 19, 2017 @ 10:25 am
The design of the place is a monstrous eye sore..I guess $$$ talks & pandering is getting more important.
January 19, 2017 @ 10:33 am
Sad for the opry members who fill or attempt to fill there requiremeants… nothing like rewarding bad behavier to attract people in who don’t give two shits about the opry to sell dinner and a few drinks what a corporate mentality for a once great institution…….. in all honesty they should limp the opry through the next 8 years that way they can say it lasted 100 years then shut it down that’s whats gonna happen anyway if the members don’t start fulfilling there obligations because the ones keeping it alive now from week to week are gonna be dead orto old to play
January 19, 2017 @ 10:36 am
Naming a restaraunt bar Ol Red is stupid. Dumb name and a so so song. Not so young country turd Shelton doesn’t care for the Oprey anyway. Its for old farts, remember? But go head build it and let the masses support it. This will free up room at actual Landmark Honky Tonks like Roberts and Nashville Palace for real country fans. I go to Nashville every year and my personal goal will be to never enter Ol Red. Let it become like Tootsies, so over run with tourists that you can’t even get in the door. It’s a financial win for every one involved. All the lemmings can instagram selfies of themselves waiting in the 3 hr line to buy an overpriced cocktail and brag to their other lemming friends ” we are so cool…we are at Blakes place!”
January 19, 2017 @ 10:41 am
Ol’ Red sounds like an awfully big venue, is Nashville turning into Disney World for Drinkers..?
I still can’t figure out how Blake’s latest album won the People’s Choice award for best album of last year.
But an award based on video views, polls, and sales, sounds more like winning a participation trophy, with little interest in content or peer reviews.
I still remember reading that being on the ‘Opry’ was one of Elvis’ most fervent wishes, when he was starting out..Times change..
January 19, 2017 @ 10:51 am
I’m baffled by the concern about No-Show-Shelton shirking his Opry commitments.
He’s not singing country music , he bad-mouths the “ol farts” that it made it possible for him to even exist in a genre where he doesn’t belong and , he’s NOT a great singer . He’s part of the problem poisoning the genre .
What’s the concern ? Isn’t it a blessing for the traditions of COUNTRY music and the Opry that he remains MIA ?
January 19, 2017 @ 10:55 am
Only if he would relinquish his membership to somebody who will actually take it seriously. It’s not about the music, it’s about the respect of the institution, and the precedent Shelton is setting for his other current mainstream peers by not showing up. COncerns about Shelton’s music is a fight to be fought on a different front.
January 19, 2017 @ 11:19 am
”Concerns about Shelton’s music is a fight to be fought on a different front. ”
I’m not so sure that Shelton NOT appearing at the Opry isn’t helping that fight along, Trigger .
And I’m not clear on why he should or shouldn’t relinquish his membership ” card” , as it were
If there were only so many memberships issued I could understand that sentiment. I don’t understand why the Opry , if its serious about preserving traditions , can’t see that there are so many artists more deserving of membership than the Blake Sheltons they are cow-towing to .I think this is completely on the Opry , not BS ,for not doing a better job of policing itself in this respect: An artist gets a polite warning for shirking responsibilities , next time he’s out . Why should that be so hard to uphold IF the Opry is to be taken seriously ? Am I missing something in terms of the number of cards available or Opry policies in general . If an artist/act is a no-show two years in a row , revoke their card . They haven’t ” paid their dues . Every veteran’s club and every fitness club in North America has a similar policy . If you don’t pay your dues , you aren’t a member . Can’t ” play ” here . Simple ….no ?
January 19, 2017 @ 11:50 am
“Ol’ Red ” IS a George Jones Song….
January 25, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know that. “Ol’ Red” is the ONE Blake Shelton song that I’ve always liked. Now I don’t have to listen to his version anymore. Another reason to listen to less BS and more Jones.
Thank you sir.
January 19, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
Just an FYI – Charles Esten from “Nashville” topped the list with the most performances for a non-member with 24. It was featured in a paragraph on Byron’s article, right above the list of performers in ascending order.
January 19, 2017 @ 12:11 pm
Hey! It’s that reality show dude! Which Kardashian is he banging again?
January 19, 2017 @ 12:23 pm
I would kill to play the opry one time let alone at least have to play 10 times a year!! It’s absolutely shameful to not meet those requirements. “Grand Ole Opry Member” is not just a title but an honor you gotta live up to it. But every Friday and Saturday night I would rather hear John Conlee and Mike Snider on there than Blake or anyone like that so I guess that’s a good thing out of this.
January 19, 2017 @ 8:02 pm
When I last went to the Opry, I honestly went because of Jim Lauderdale. How he’s not a member, I have no clue, or Elizabeth Cook for that matter (or a long list we could name). John Conlee, who I also saw, must get tired at age 70 singing “Rose Colored Glasses” 81 times, that’s taking one for the team. Ronnie Milsap was there too and I mean this in the nicest manner, I was concered about his health his whole time he was on stage.
Despite how it has become corporate, I love the history of the Opry and what it could be. The Opry membership is going to need a better succession plan as many of the senior citizen members shouldn’t be the ones playing 50 shows a year while the 20 to 45 yeear olds are playing 1 to 10 times.
January 19, 2017 @ 12:46 pm
So they named a restaurant after a song George Jones originally recorded, Kenny Rogers covered, and Bleak [sic] Shelton soared to resounding number 14 on the charts with?
I guess it’s dog themed? And the idea of dogs in heat fucking enhance one’s dining experience how?
And BS needs the money why?
smh
January 19, 2017 @ 12:54 pm
The Opry partnering with Shelton is doing more for country music than the people playing their 10 shows at the Opry. How many people are traveling cross country or flying in from Europe and Asia like they do for Shelton’s shows to come see Mike Snider at the Opry? You don’t like Blake’s style of country, nothing wrong with that but he has a huge following and those people like to travel, spend money on albums, buy expensive show tickets. Get them to Nashville with Ol Red and let the smaller artists who get to play at that venue benefit from his popularity. It’s a win for all.
January 19, 2017 @ 1:07 pm
That’s plain stupid if he refuses to meet the opry requirements he should not be a opry member let alone be rewarded with a partnership, Have you ever been to Nashville you can go downtown in the middle of the week in the middle of he winter and business is booming… No need for them to kiss that phony fucks ass its a total kick in the teeth to what the opry is supposed to stand for and those who devoted the biggest paying night of the week of there careers to do there part to keep the opry alive for the last 90 plus years
January 19, 2017 @ 1:20 pm
I have been to Nashville in the middle of winter thank you very much. Since when is increasing your business a bad thing? You guys with your antiquated views that just because you don’t like something it has no right to exist need to give it a rest. Nashville itself is evolving. and so is country music like every other genre. Right now pop country is still king like it or not. Throwing a tantrum is not going to change but again, why not use it’s popularity to benefit other artists?
January 19, 2017 @ 2:52 pm
In case you didn’t know the Grand ole opry is radio show that has ran since 1925 every weekend and members like fake Shelton don’t support it.. older artists in there 50s 60s 70s and older are keeping it alive buy showing up to play as they did in there heyday when they were popular…. I kinda say anymore Fuck the grand ole opry for sucking these peoples assess for doing nothing they will get what they deserve when these older artists are dead soon there wont be a grand ole opry if nobody plays it…
January 19, 2017 @ 3:24 pm
And perhaps that could be why the Opry is trying to adapt because they don’t just want to die out.
January 19, 2017 @ 1:20 pm
Carrie is arguably as big as Blake in terms of overall stardom, and honestly probably more well-known in terms of music outside of the country demographic. Yet almost every single year she has been a member she has hit the 10 mark, including last year when she had a kid, and this year when she was on a huge tour as well. Being popular doesn’t absolve him of his responsibility to show up to the Opry. And that goes for every mainstream artist who isn’t pulling their weight. If Carrie Underwood can consistently do it, so can Blake, Keith, Darius, LBT, etc.
January 19, 2017 @ 1:33 pm
Can’t argue with you on that but I’m with Seak05, if the Opry doesn’t care why are people not being affected by their policy getting so angry about it? Nobody is being kept out of the Opry by non performing members. There’s no quota. Maybe the Opry decided that their past policy of mandating certain amount of performance no longer works for them and that’s why they’re going in a different direction.
As far as Carrie’s popularity goes, she’s popular but she doesn’t have the personality to carry such a big venture. They needed somebody who is popular and can help them sell the concept.
January 19, 2017 @ 1:59 pm
People care b/c it is NOT right. Shelton as a current star SHOULD be setting an example & at least attempting to fulfill is commitment to the Opry. His tv gig pays him $18 million/ yr & he can’t swing coming to Nash for like 5 days (usually 7 & 9 pm shows)? His continued lack of appearances is telling. Guess he thinks he can just throw money on it & make it all better. Guess he is learning stuff out there in LA after all.
January 19, 2017 @ 2:44 pm
He certainly could be playing more if the Opry demands it from him but that doesn’t seem to be the case. As for your learning stuff in LA, they must be teaching the same thing out in Nashville since a good portion of artists of his caliber who don’t meet the quota live there. Am I wrong in detecting some kind of bias against him on your part?
January 19, 2017 @ 2:20 pm
I have given up on Nashville a long time ago. Now only the occasional spark of creativity is allowed to flicker there. The rest is usually snuffed out by money, ego, reputation, image, or lack of mass appeal. If they want to let the opry die, what can be done. When the last generation of legends, John Conlees generation passes, they’ll let the opry pass too. I am more interested in the hollers, the woods, the deserts, The mountains and the plains than the urban center of Nashville.
Blake is a logo, a brand and has as much to do with country music as Gwen Stefani.
January 19, 2017 @ 2:48 pm
By giving up on Nashville you’re dismissing a lot of great artists who are currently making music there. When did country music become so dramatic?
January 19, 2017 @ 2:59 pm
It became dramatic when ignorant fools started taking everything written literal. Obviously this is just a blanket statement not meant to be taken as written in stone. But it sounds better than “I don’t like Blake, I don’t like the way opry is, and I don’t like the way Nashville has become”. I guess I’ll just write my comments like 3rd grader so they don’t need an interpreter.
January 19, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
Or you could be a lot less dramatic and get your point across that way.
January 19, 2017 @ 3:39 pm
Probably the reason they didn’t give Carrie Underwood a restaurant is there’s no good song of hers to name it after…
Before He Eats?
Jesus Take the Meal?
No thanks! LOL
January 19, 2017 @ 3:40 pm
Hold on, they could have called it “All-American Grill”
Damn you Opry! Blake doesn’t deserve this.
January 19, 2017 @ 4:40 pm
Hahahahahahahahaha…..hooohohoooheeeheeehahahaha! Killin me! Good ones Nate.
January 20, 2017 @ 10:47 am
Smoke Break Grill could’ve also been a pretty solid name.
January 19, 2017 @ 3:45 pm
because the Opry lacks conviction
January 19, 2017 @ 5:00 pm
You don’t have to like Blake or his music but he is doing more for country music that anyone has in a long time if not ever. He is introducing country music to millions ever week on national TV not be mention bringing back older country music. If you count how many times over the last few years he or one of his artists has performed older country music on the show. I think his international exposure representing country music far exceeds stepping on the opry stage 10 times a year. Also his almost 20 million followers aren’t hurting either. I think it’s a little easier for artists living in Nashvile to fulfill there commitment than someone who has to spend 6 months out of the year on the West Coast promoting country music.
January 19, 2017 @ 5:21 pm
Well Ryman Hospitality Properties (aka formerly Gaylord) is in this equation to make money.
That’s why they shuffled their hotel management duties off to Marriott and simply kept the properties and changed name to Hospitality Group.
That’s why they sold CMT and TNN, they were fully aware that their “brand” wouldn’t be on the air anymore in the future.
Only asset still owned (with more of a local character) is WSM, which still broadcasts from the Opry. But seriously have you streamed WSM lately on your computer and actually listened to the Opry?
That’s also why they changed who is playing the church of Country Music, the Ryman. Coming up, Tesla, ZZ Top, Tedeschi Trucks (3 nights in a row). But the place is “seated,”
so for the young whippersnappers they needed a venue to compete. Out of town groups are moving in (as in Whiskey Flatts out of San Diego who announced a huge entertainment center Food, Bar, Dancehall) catering to people who were born after Randy Travis got blackballed by radio, when the whole creative re-resurgence of more traditional sounds of the mid-80s started to get drowned out by bombastic arena shows and being pushed to the side streets and on to lower broadway. Remember 2017 is the year kids being born in 1995 turn 21 and are ready to drink. Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey just called it quits – one reason, kids can’t sit still anymore for more than two hours, according to owner Feld. So give the kids a Nashville playground, it’s like at McDonalds, but involves alcohol, obnoxious behavior and run of the mill music. And Blake will be their daddy for one night and will count the money at the end of the night and share it with Ryman Hospitality. Win-Win for all parties involved, but for the real Country Music fan.
January 20, 2017 @ 9:22 am
Wow, great explanation.
Turn those sentences into lyrical phrases and you’ll have an authentic country song.
January 19, 2017 @ 5:30 pm
Well, Blake Shelton may not be good for country music, but he’s damned good for Corporate Nashville (said with utter disdain).
January 19, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
Pretty much what I tried to imply. One thing I forgot to mention is that RyHosp (by then still Gaylord) also closed Opryland. The whole thing has nothing to do with country or not country; all that matters are the numbers below that famous line.
I remember when George Jones used to have albums that sold in the 50’000 and it was considered a hit. That’s why many artists released two to three albums a year, obviously some with a lot of filler songs on them to make money. The albums being certified Gold or Platinum were on the market for several years, sometimes even a decade. Only his outstanding and one of the best albums ever “I Am What I Am” took only “roughly” three years, an official release date is not available, but as far as I know it came out some time in 1979 or 1980.
Country wasn’t necessarily to make “beaucoup” of money, but to pay enough to have sustainable careers. That is now all gone.
January 19, 2017 @ 6:44 pm
I love Blake Shelton and his music, but when u as a artist have been inducted to the Grand Ole Opry U AS a inductee HAVE A Responsibility to make all your commitments just as u do for your concert tours.
Some people only have the funds for 1 trip to Nashville and a lot of people have to make a choice to see a certain artist at a concert or spend there money to go an see several artist at one venue like the Grand Ole Opry.
ALL GRAND OLE OPRY MEMBERS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE you should be proud to do your part to continue and be Proud to support the mother church of country music for further generations.
As a child my family went to the Opry every year. I can attribute this to my love of all music , but the variety of different types of country music that I have come to enjoy in my life todsy.
SO IN CLOSING MAY ALL ARTIST THINK ABOUT WHEN U STARTED OUT WERE U ARE NOW AND WHAT YOUR TRACK RECORD WILL BE.
January 19, 2017 @ 6:54 pm
kick his ass out, if you have any self-respect
January 19, 2017 @ 7:07 pm
one performance means 1 million dollars for Blake Shelton and George Strait or Garth. Carrie is the anomaly here not Blake, He is the busiest country music singer in the history. He barely has time to do tours past 5 years. To those who say he is pop country, PLEASEEE, with his THICK okie accent it doesn’t matter what lyrics he sings. He will always sound country. Also he uses country band, sings about farming in his ranch, what in the heck this obsessed hater trigger guy want him to do?
January 20, 2017 @ 9:30 am
Have you lost your mind? You actually think Blake the joke is busier than Garth or Carrie Underwood?? He’s pathetic, a corporate clown almost single handedly responsible for ruining current country. He can’t sing a lick. He and Miranda need to die a tragic death.
January 20, 2017 @ 12:21 pm
” He will always sound country. ”
No disrespect High Fifth , but the fact that a vocalist ”sounds” country is the root of the whole Bro-Country problem in terms of duping people into believing they are listening to COUNTRY music . That forced twang ‘n drawl borders on cartoon-like offensive and lyrically that music is the furthest thing from country in terms of arrangements /instrumentation , sentiment and narrative. Blake’s vocals may ‘ sound’ country but he hasn’t released a country song in years . If you and others LIKE what Blake is doing , all well and good , but to say he’s introducing people to COUNTRY music is just displaying an ignorance of REAL country music and perpetuating the hoax.
July 29, 2018 @ 5:23 pm
He wants him to fulfill his commitment. And like most artists, he has time to do what he wants to do, and the Port isn’t one of them. Sounds as if you are an Open hater… You know, that 6th grade word you laid on him because he criticized Blake? And no, Libtard, it is not hate, it is criticism, a word for adults.
January 19, 2017 @ 9:21 pm
So will sangria will be the house drink?
Place sounds fucking awesome. I’ll make sure to hit it before any Ryman show
January 20, 2017 @ 2:37 am
Forget the CMAs, The ACMs, The Grammys, & even the Hall of Fames. I’ve always been of the opinion playing the Opry, much less actual membership, is the highest honor in ALL of music. I’d truly be more moved by that than a Nobel Prize or Congressional Medal. And I’m just a fan. Someone who actually gets to play it, much less are honored with membership should be of similar mind.
Besides the fact I hate, loathe, abhor, etc the majority of the “artists” currently feigning Country Music and their lampooning of the entire genre, having the audacity to flip off the Grand Ole Opry (which they had no business getting within arms reach of to begin with) on top of it all is beyond all their other inexcusable transgressions. If anything these idiots should be held to even greater expectations as far as dues and responsibilities go than the Greats of the past. It’s an absolute travesty that so many of these “big stars” of today have it as easy as they do when it comes “work”, traveling, pampering, and $$$, that they aren’t held accountable when the shirk what very little they are expected to do (especially when it’s a privilege) YET are met with no consequences, but more adulation. Legends, actual Giants, pioneers, and some of the greatest talents of all time were sacked for not playing 26(!) shows a year when most of them were playing 200+ shows a year on the road and traveling by bus for WAY LESS money. And what about the members who met the 26 minimum? Their efforts and careers are being trivialized by letting these inferior people get away with this.
Just to think of how much that membership would mean to the artists, young & old, who are keeping the music alive really scalds me. Someone like Joey Feek, who not only would’ve appreciated it but truly belonged there. Rrrrrrr. Super irony Ray Price (who as sick as he was called that SOB out for the “Jackass” comment) was canned in ’64, but BS is just skating by year after year after year (& since when did the Opry EVER fund any of the many eateries in Music City that used to be there? like Minnie Pearl’s or Hank Jr’s?!) Stating the obvious but Keith & Brad are no Chet Atkins and none of the pop tarts inducted in the last 10 years could’ve made a patch on Faron Young’s behind. Bottom line: If it was good enough for Kitty Wells (THE QUEEN of Country Music), it’s sure as hell good enough for Hootie. GOOD RIDDANCE!
January 20, 2017 @ 6:17 am
he’s too busy in making gossip headlines these days..NO wonder he has no time for other stuff…
January 20, 2017 @ 7:10 am
The problem with the Opry is the problem with Nashville and “country music” in general: they want to be pop music. That is, they want to be cool, be trendy and hip sooooo bad, yet they cannot see the forest for the trees when it comes to attaining such. They continously fail to see that the key to coolness is originality (see Johnny Cash). Instead, they promote one shitty pop artist after another, and recruit rap and hip hop artists for crossover performances, and any other gimmicks their shitty PR departments can conjure up. The Opry is a sinking ship. I respect it’s history and legacy, but I wouldn’t go there if I was given a free ticket, regardless who was playing. They have bastardized and shamed country music, to hell with them. I’ll spend my money here in Texas at Gruene Hall, Floore’s Country Store, and Luckenbach Dance Hall.
January 20, 2017 @ 12:37 pm
yes – I agree, but their reasoning is not anti-country – it’s anti lower sales and the intention to return shareholder value aka making a fast big buck. That’s all there is too it. And it’s not just Ryman Hospitality – it’s the business in general. We have come to the point where true artistry doesn’t county anymore. If traditional country would sell like the overpriced hot croissants at 7-Eleven, they would do it. They do everything to make money – and in the basics there is nothing wrong with that idea.
But what we see now is – artistically true to the form records sell maybe 10’000 pieces (Stapleton and Simpson excluded) and – lowest common denominator crap – don’t go but go and watch Lady Antebellum’s new video, if you can scratch through my vomit – sell a million in four weeks. Money it is.
So go see your local people who stay true to their music, trying to build a sustainable career and not just a 15 minute flash in the pan. They are out there and you know it. It’s the Arty Hills, the AJ Hobbs’, the Margo Price’s and a ton of artists out of Texas. Also support people like Jon Pardi, William Michael Morgan, Candi Carpenter, Brandi Clark, it’s not like the labels aren’t trying but they need to see that greenback by the end of the day!
January 20, 2017 @ 2:27 pm
”…. don’t go but go and watch Lady Antebellum’s new video, if you can scratch through my vomit – sell a million in four weeks….”
Just when we thought this act had all but shrivelled up and were blown away by the winds , they release new crap even worse than the rest of the crap they’ve released. This has NEVER been a country group in any way shape or form . ” Need You Now” , their ‘claim to fame” was pop top to bottom sung by a third rate trio . Catchy , hooky …yeah ….hooky like a MacDonald’s ad .All hook and NO nutrition , no passion , …like most pop songs and almost ALL ” country” radio songs now . I think its more than humourous , its ridiculous that Lady A is trying to sustain a flagging ” country ” career TRYING to sing ” soul” songs with those soul-less voices . WTF ! WHO is the gullible market supporting this act ?
LADY A are cut from the same cloth as Little Big Town and The Band Perry when it comes to frantically searching for an identity to appeal to the Wallpaper-Music fan and veering further and further from any kind of sincere, passion-based identity every time out . They are glorified jingle singers , hired hands with NO artistic vision , NO consistency in style ,musically , nothing to say and with the possible exception of Kelley , extremely unremarkable , generic -sounding vocals and harmonies. These groups are excellent examples of acts who’ve completely surrendered to a label/management approach to molding an act for a market . Even using the word ” act” is a misnomer with Lady A as they HAVE NO ACT ! Their stage presence is boring , lacklustere and has no focus whatsoever . Likewise with their videos. Generic and boring .
No music fan , in these times , is more undiscerning and as outright gullible as today’s ” Country ” music fan and LADY A is a perfect example of that gullibility . This new single is the absolute shits . A 3 minute joke …and their fans get what they deserve.
Play it and they will come .
January 20, 2017 @ 8:06 am
I think ol red is something that needs to be in L.A.we’re Gwen is cause she’s nothing but a home wrecker and Blake has a ready made family she probably came up with the name he did his 1st wife like this and he also said Miranda saved his life just like he said about Gwen Miranda is the most beautiful woman at least she don’t have to spend lots of money to stay young looking Gwen is fake as hell no wonder Gavin cheated on her and I don’t believe Miranda cheated on blake he needs to take old red some were else
January 20, 2017 @ 11:54 am
would have been a more interesting story if “homewrecker” Gwen had taken up w/ Miranda instead of Blake. Then the restaurant could be called “Eat at the Y”
January 20, 2017 @ 10:36 am
put Marty Stuart in charge of the whole Opry thing
January 20, 2017 @ 12:42 pm
while I do like your idea – just fyi – Marty is doing a great job with the Hall of Fame. Actually the non-for-profit HoF does a better job trying to keep the roots alive than any business oriented model. And unfortunately the Grand Ole Opry is run as a business.
January 20, 2017 @ 10:45 am
What really bothers me about this is that is that a majority of the members tried to show that they care for the Opry while Blake didn’t even try.
January 20, 2017 @ 3:27 pm
I can’t stand Blake Shelton so not defending him at all.
The grand ole opry needs the names more than the performers need the opry it’s not 1925 anymore there are plenty of other ways to be heard and seen so the Grande ole opry should be happy to have anyone.
January 22, 2017 @ 11:57 am
Is it possible that some of the ‘stars’ who don’t fulfill their Opry obligations, can’t really sing live anymore?
So much of music now is autotuned to death, and over-produced, maybe the Opry doesn’t have all the hi tech gadgets these singers require?
Even live concerts these days are sometimes more about special effects and backup than they are about the main performers. Not to mention, so many of them can’t really play their instruments with any skill..
April 11, 2017 @ 9:40 pm
Wow. 1) Blake has a great voice. 2) I’m sick of narrow-minded people who think that country music shouldn’t evolve at all. I love the old stuff & love a lot of the new stuff – although I can’t stand Sam Hunt – but just because I don’t like him doesn’t mean he isn’t singing country music. Why is country the only genre that is so busy trying to tell people they aren’t really country? That’s a sure road to extinction. I like music! If you don’t like certain artists, don’t listen to them! Like why is that so hard to figure out? 3. If you’ve ever watched The Voice instead of sneering through your beer, you will have seen that there are a lot of young artists on it singing a lot of traditional country songs – and some of them have been just great. Why is it so hard to be supportive of that? And see that it’s an excellent way for people who have never been exposed to country music to grow to like it. I’ve seen hundreds of instagram & fb posts by peope saying that’s how they got introduced to Johnny Cash or Waylon Jennings. You don’t have to like Blake as an artist or as a person to acknowledge that he has still done a great job in introducing new fans to country music. 4. It’s obvious there are many stars not meeting their obligations to the Opry & I would love to see Blake there more. But what’s going to be funny is if/when Blake does start coming closer to fulfilling his obligations, y’all will be pissed because you hate his music. Either complain about his music or his lack of obligation fulfillment, but not both. You can’t have it both ways.
April 4, 2018 @ 9:00 pm
Wow! I am blown away by the negativity of the comments, folks sure can be harsh and judgmental. Its really not complicated, if membership requires a certain number of appearances at the Opry, hold folks to that. But as folks get older you may want to reduce the numbers required. As for Blake, he has done more for drawing in new fans then anyone in the past 10 years! He is talented, funny and committed to country music. His concerts are the best as he performs what folks want to hear, interacts with the audience the whole time and makes you feel like he is having a good time because you are there. Lighten up, appreciate him and his success and stop being so damn petty.
September 3, 2021 @ 10:39 am
The Grand Ole Opry is overrated just likd Nashville.