Grand Ole Opry Unfairly Attacked After Morgan Wallen Appearance
When Morgan Wallen was caught using the N-word in a playful moment with a friend on a Ring doorbell camera on January 31st, 2021, he put himself and country music by proxy in a terrible position. Any and all ramifications Morgan Wallen faced subsequently were of his own doing, and fair game. We all know the seriousness of using that word, and Morgan Wallen was already on thin ice due to previous high-profile trespasses.
There is no excusing Morgan Wallen’s actions, and those attempting to make excuses for him by bringing up how others are allowed to use the N-word overlook how that word has been used to demean an entire race of people for centuries, and should never be uttered by a white individual, in jest or otherwise. It is fair to contextualize that Morgan Wallen did not use that word in anger towards a black individual, and that the specific phrase that he uttered is common parlance in hip-hop songs, and this was likely the origination and reference point of his utterance, not naked racism.
Still, the Morgan Wallen incident offered an opportunity for a teachable moment. But instead, the incessant obsession over the incident, and the criticism of every single move this young man has made subsequently has turned this situation into a circus, and has now bound so far beyond rightful repercussions for the seriousness of the original incident, it is seeding allies for Morgan Wallen out of country fans who would otherwise find both his music and his person reprehensible, and even bringing in people completely repulsed by country music to his side.
Not only are these viral instances of Morgan Wallen admonishment ineffective at injuring his continued popularity, they are actively working to feed it as his fans see both the obsession and overreaction, and work to counterbalance it with their full-throated support, while the Streisand Effect fueled by the media’s obsession continues to swell attention to Morgan Wallen overall.
The Grand Ole Opry is currently facing sharp criticism for allowing Morgan Wallen to perform on Saturday night’s Opry on January 8th. The first detail that everyone must understand is that Morgan Wallen was not a scheduled performer for Saturday evening’s Opry. This is a critically important point that is being overlooked by many in the fracas. He did not have his own performance slot, nor was his name used to promote the presentation, or the broadcast. Morgan Wallen was not booked by the Grand Ole Opry as a performer. If it had been, the Opry would have seen a lot more attention on the evening due to the popularity of Morgan Wallen, and the support he enjoys.
All that Morgan Wallen did was jump on the stage and guest on the song “Flower Shops” that is a current single for the artist Ernest who was a scheduled Opry performer. Morgan Wallen is a featured artist on the radio single of the Ernest song as well.
But of course, the situation has been used to attack the Grand Ole Opry for inviting Morgan Wallen onto its stage, or at least, allowing the collaboration to occur, with many going directly for the heart of the Grand Ole Opry without any context of where the Opry is in 2021.
In 2021, and under the new management of Dan Rogers, The Grand Ole Opry has been making very specific strides towards being more inclusive to artists from the wide panorama of country music, and not just along racial lines, but also along racial lines specifically. In fact, you can make the case that in 2021, The Grand Ole Opry presented its most inclusive and forward-thinking year ever when considering who was given debut slots, who performed overall, and who was selected as new Opry members.
Independent artists who for years have been paying dues in country music finally had opportunities to debut on the hallowed Grand Ole Opry stage in 2021. Jason Boland and the Stragglers who’ve been around for over 20 years finally enjoyed their Grand Ole Opry debut on December 7th, 2021. So did Flatland Cavalry, who happen to have a Latin frontman, and who played their Opry debut on October 22nd, 2021.
Looking at the new members of the Grand Ole Opry in 2021, it has been a banner year for country music women. Carly Pearce, Rhonda Vincent, Lauren Alaina, and Mandy Barnett all became members in 2021, as well as two groups with female members, The Isaacs, and (*cough*) Lady A. All of 2021’s new Opry members were either women, or groups that include women.
And as for the Black performers who apparently are supposed to be broken-hearted and feel excluded from the Opry because Morgan Wallen jumped up on stage for one song, 2021 was an unprecedented year for both Black performers, specifically Black women, and even more specifically for Black debut artists.
Consulting with Grand Ole Opry historian Byron Fay of the excellent Fafare’s Opry Blog, here were the appearances by Black artists on the Grand Ole Opry in 2021.
Jimmie Allen – 5 Appearances
Brittney Spencer – 4 Appearances + Debut (May 14th)
Darius Rucker – 3 Appearances – Grand Ole Opry Member since 2012
Wendy Moten – 3 Appearances
The War & Treaty – 3 Appearances
The McCrary Sisters – 2 Appearances
Tony Jackson – 2 Appearances
Keb’ Mo’ – 2 Appearances
Willie Jones – 1 Appearance + Debut (March 5th)
Allison Russell – 1 Appearance + Debut (May 28th)
Amythyst Kiah – 1 Appearance + Debut (June 29th)
Tiera – 1 Appearance + Debut (August 17th)
Valerie June – 1 Appearance + Debut (September 21st)
Breland – 1 Appearance + Debut (November 5th)
Charley Crockett – 1 Appearance
Rissi Palmer – 1 Appearance
Yola – 1 Appearance
Louis York – 1 Appearance
Dom Flemons – 1 Appearance
Looking at this list, it’s difficult to assert that the Grand Ole Opry is being exclusionary or insensitive to Black performers as many of the critics of the Morgan Wallen appearance asserted. Jimmie Allen is also considered by some Opry observers as a possible candidate for an upcoming invite to full Grand Ole Opry member status. Also, by saying that the Grand Ole Opry does not support Black artists, and not contextualizing how 19 separate artists made 35 total appearances including seven debut slots just last year works to erase the contributions Black artist are making to the Opry institution.
Allison Russell, who made her Grand Ole Opry debut on May 28th, 2021 said amid the latest Morgan Wallen imbriglio, “The rot of bigotry permeating mainstream country is rough. But take as #bellhooks said, ‘Sometimes people try to destroy you, precisely because they recognize your power—not because they don’t see it, but because they see it & they don’t want it to exist.'”
Rissi Palmer, who made her first Grand Ole Opry appearance in 2007 and also appeared in 2021 said in part, “I believe now is the time to watch and move. Watch how people are responding and reacting and move accordingly. Systems only work when we continue to participate in them. The moment we stop and divest, they lose their power. I can’t say this enough: let’s stop running into a burning building. Let’s create platforms and systems that celebrate and welcome us.”
One such organization attempting to do that is called The Black Opry, who sent a letter to the Grand Ole Opry after the incident, which first mentions “possible programming opportunities for The Black Opry,” but goes on to state, “at this time I’d like to express that I no longer have any interest in participating with the Opry in any capacity unless there is some clear form of accountability and structural change.”
Unquestionably, the Grand Ole Opry has a checkered past when it comes to race, like so many other institutions of American society. The Democrat Party was where the Confederacy grew from, and later Jim Crow laws and segregation. But just like the Democrat Party, the Grand Ole Opry has moved on from that history, and deserves to be judged upon its actions in the here and now.
Currently, The Grand Ole Opry is the only major country music institution giving opportunities to independent country and Americana bands like Flatland Cavalry, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, and Saving Country Music’s current Artist of the Year, Charley Crockett. Mainstream radio, awards shows, and major labels certainly are not. The Grand Ole Opry is the only institution supporting women in a disproportionate capacity, as illustrated with the new members it inducted in 2021. And let’s also not forget that the Grand Ole Opry is the only major country music institution older country music artists past their years of commercial prominence on radio, awards shows, and major labels can depend on for performance slots.
And most importantly in this context, The Grand Ole Opry is the only major institution giving performance platforms to Black artists such as Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Wendy Moten, Valerie June, Yola, and so many more that mainstream radio would never play, and major labels will never sign. The Opry should be receiving applause for its leadership in this matter, not the widespread condemnation it’s currently receiving.
The reason certain individuals continue to overhype and overplay the Morgan Wallen situation is because it’s a useful attack vector in their attempt to usurp power from these institutions that they can then take for themselves. And if their efforts are ineffective, they will work to destroy these institutions for all time. That’s why attempting to appease these actors will continue to be purposeless. This is not about Morgan Wallen, or even race. This is about Twitter engagement, this is about certain journalists using Morgan Wallen to push their media brands and to produce click bait, and this is about certain artists and organizations using Morgan Wallen to garner attention—or sometimes—raise funds.
And not only do these attacks continue to be ineffective, they are actively counter-productive to removing Morgan Wallen from popular country, or attempting to make country music a more inclusive space. Once again, Morgan Wallen was the biggest story in country music in the days after his brief appearance on the Opry stage. As long as he continues to dominate headlines, his reign at the top of country music’s streaming and sales charts will continue, and artist who could upstage him will remain at a disadvantage, starved for press coverage as the media and Twitter continue to obsess over Morgan Wallen.
The Grand Ole Opry is for everyone, as long as they have a love of country music in their hearts. It should be a place of inclusion, and of redemption.
Clint
January 10, 2022 @ 7:00 pm
Morgan made a huge string of mistakes….and I really hope he regrets them. But I think everyone has made different mistakes they wish they could take back. People jumping on him like Isabel just look like petty human beings. Just let Morgan move forward with his career and if you dont like him, dont buy his music or concert tickets.
anon
January 11, 2022 @ 7:17 am
this video sums it up pretty well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLnsLJeeDpc
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 1:17 pm
Damn. Isbell really trying to bad mouth dearly departed King George? As if he could get any more unlikable.
Farmer
January 10, 2022 @ 7:08 pm
I seen Jason Isbell had to put his 2 cents in. Morgan made a horrible mistake but once again Isbell had to insert himself into it. A lot of the “activist” artists just look for something to shoot off at the mouth about.
Hooty
January 10, 2022 @ 7:13 pm
To be fair Morgan did cover his song, and it’s quite possible he feels like his art benefits his success and platform
Not saying he is totally in the right as this is just incitement rather than proper engagement but he does have a connection to Morgan specifically
GrannyM
January 10, 2022 @ 11:03 pm
And he benefits monetarily from Morgan. When you are a writer, you get royalties for life. Isbell evidently dosen’t have the brains God gave a goose. He will not be selling much of his work if he continues to crucify Morgan, and he sure doesn’t have a voice to be popular.
Jbird
January 11, 2022 @ 5:29 am
Then why is he popular?
Jay
January 11, 2022 @ 8:18 am
Jason donates all proceeds from Morgan’s cover to the NAACP. Morgan Wallen sucks. He sucked long before this incident. He’s never even released a song that he alone has written, and yet chodes from coast to coast line up to defend his shitty, Florida Georgia Linesque catalog. Clowns.
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 8:52 am
“Jason donates all proceeds from Morgan’s cover to the NAACP.”
Has the NAACP opened their books to the public to prove this?
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 8:57 am
For the record, I have reached out to the Nashville NAACP to attempt to refute or verify this. I’ve never heard back.
Greg
January 11, 2022 @ 5:13 pm
Giving money to a large, corrupt non profit that does nothing to help anyone goes a long way towards explaining why Isbell makes totally illogical statements and is full of hate.
Joe Mama
January 11, 2022 @ 11:43 am
Isbell has basically become the modern generation’s Steve Earle. He’d definitely take that previous sentence as a compliment too. They’re both a couple of insufferable, self-righteous bellends.
Canuck26
January 11, 2022 @ 12:32 pm
Who make great music
Joe Mama
January 11, 2022 @ 1:51 pm
Possessing artistic talent and having a conceited personality tend to go hand in hand for many successful songwriters/musicians. I’ll give it to Steve Earle; his insufferable attitude is a major reason why Copperhead Road is such a great album. I’ll even concede that I’m grateful for some of his music. He’s still a schmuck though.
Kevin Broughton
January 11, 2022 @ 4:52 pm
Insufferable. Indeed.
ML54
January 12, 2022 @ 7:23 am
Plenty of people on this comment board who are insufferable.
CG
January 21, 2022 @ 10:33 am
Isbell is pure liberal trash.
Hooty
January 10, 2022 @ 7:10 pm
I’m kinda curious in a scenario where a bouncer told wallen he wasn’t allowed on the premises and Ernest is waiting for wallen to show up by surprise in an awkward silence lasting several seconds
Besides me joking around, Wallen is showing growth which we should acknowledge and constant breathing isn’t going to solve anything with the issues that do remain at large. Rather than just use this an opportunity to heal, it’s just trying to leave a permanent scar. This goes both ways, we need to allow Wallen to continue with caution, but we also need to stop attacking those who attacked him in the fist place (Maren Morris, Jason Isbell, Mickey Guyton) it goes both ways. All most learn to forgive but not forget if country music is to move forward in a proper manner
David
January 10, 2022 @ 7:27 pm
Hard to forget or forgive those people if they keep spouting off whenever the opportunity arises. I doubt many will bother to mention them at all if they just keep quiet.
Karen Wilkerson
January 10, 2022 @ 8:23 pm
The article put out by Grand Ole Opry is satisfactory to me. Thank you for putting some sense behind the division that is being created by continuing to put Morgan Wallen in the spotlight in a negative manner over something he has apologized for several times. Move on and work together and time will tell. Do the work and do the time. Enough is enough
Jake Cutter
January 10, 2022 @ 7:27 pm
Wut?
Jake Cutter
January 10, 2022 @ 7:11 pm
“…. his reign at the top of country music’s streaming and sales charts will continue….”
Didn’t he end 2021 topping all of music, not just country?
As far as this story goes…When a guy performs one song on a stage after he apologizes for mimicking “black culture” by saying a word in private among friends, who later has the number one song in “black culture” – is the best example of “terrorizing” you can find to fulfill your savior complex – I guess the demand for boogeymen has far, far outstripped the supply. But go on Jason and comrades…you are all heroes ahead of your time!!
Janella ward
January 10, 2022 @ 7:13 pm
The difference between Morgan Wallen & many many many others..mostly those that are whining about him being allowed on Grand Old Opry is….he got caught…running off at the mouth. He’s apologized…take it or leave it! As the writer above said like him or don’t buy his music or don’t. NOONE & I MEAN NOONE is perfect EVERYONE makes mistakes…He…as many others do…deserves to be forgiven. Remember people…GLASS HOUSES….
Swampthing
January 13, 2022 @ 7:30 am
I would challenge you to find me five Black people on this earth that would willingly sit down and listen to morgan wallen after hearing one of ‘his’ songs, only I have to imagine nobody here talks to anyone who isn’t white with enough regularity to try. You’re talking absolute nonsense. He topped the country charts because of the disgusting reactionaries that turn on what passes for country radio and think “he’s just like me!–a talentless waste of air who just really wishes he could say racial slurs without anyone being mad– ah, yes, a maverick visionary for his generation”
Blockman
January 13, 2022 @ 3:55 pm
Oh so you are speaking for all black people now? It is only white people who made his collab with a black rapper number one? Is that it? GOOD DAY.
B
January 14, 2022 @ 8:23 pm
The only people who love that song are middle aged white women, black people made it clear they don’t like wallen and rightfully so, if u don’t believe me then go on twitter and listen to their opinions instead of talking over them, as many white people love to do unfortunately
Janella ward
January 13, 2022 @ 9:39 pm
Swampthing is it? How about changing it to Richard Noggan as it seems to fit your agressive response. With that being said ALL of us are entitled to our opinions just because you missed your nap today don’t take it out on me????
David
January 10, 2022 @ 7:22 pm
Yep people just need to learn to move on. I don’t personally agree with usage of terms or words. I think a bad word is a bad word for all people. While racism and such will always exist, having different expectations of different races just keeps the divide open. In the end here though, it’s only going to get better if all move on from this.
Di Harris
January 10, 2022 @ 7:25 pm
“The Grand Ole Opry is for everyone, as long as they have a love of country music in their hearts. It should be a place of inclusion, and of redemption.”
DOGGONE, TRIG. B-R-A-V-O … !
Jason Isbell – calling you out.
Time to stop being a candy ass.
Grow up.
Wallen sings much better than you.
He has set the bar higher.
Strive to become better. And, a better man than you are now. Time for you to mature into a gentleman.
thegentile
January 11, 2022 @ 8:29 am
morgan wallen sings better? lolololololol.
Redder Shade of Neck
January 11, 2022 @ 1:12 pm
Morgan uses Autotune. The harmonies on “Whiskey Glasses” for instance are fake.
Di Harris
January 11, 2022 @ 1:59 pm
Was referring only to Morgan & Ernest’s performance at The Opry, Saturday night.
From the link that Jake Cutter provided, under the most recent Dierks Bentley article, on SCM.
Morgan not only sounded good.
He sounded Really good.
Not familiar with the song, Whiskey Glasses.
Great Caesar's Ghost
January 12, 2022 @ 12:04 pm
Fake harmonies are not, sweet Jesus, I just listened to “Whiskey Glasses.” That’s a fucking terrible song.
Ridiculous.
ML54
January 12, 2022 @ 7:25 am
“Wallen sings much better than you.” Prize for today’s most ridiculous comment goes to….
Corncaster
January 10, 2022 @ 7:28 pm
“Still, the Morgan Wallen incident offered an opportunity for a teachable moment.”
I disagree in the strongest possible terms. Seeing things in terms of “teachable moments” is exactly what politicizes everyday life and divides people into the rival sneers of us vs. them.
Keep your powder dry for the battles that deserve it.
Jake Cutter
January 10, 2022 @ 7:45 pm
Wrong! Denying that the “education” is needed is only proof of needing the “education.” Don’t resist.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 10, 2022 @ 7:57 pm
Seriously Corncaster, you are correct. Like, what kind of teachable moment is it?
“Today kids, we’re going to teach you how not to behave in a colorblind society. It’s imperative that we revert to divisiveness, and view every single deed we do through the prism of race, in perpetuity. We must undo the sad reality that you are so non-racially minded, that you think you and you’re white buddies can enjoy Rap. You must stop treating other races as if they are absolutely equal to yours, because that’s progress, don’t you see.”
Blockman
January 10, 2022 @ 10:22 pm
The popularization of ‘teachable moment’ is one of my least favourite additions to modern vocabulary along with ‘discourse’ and ‘intersectional’ among others.
Swampthing
January 13, 2022 @ 7:43 am
If I could only have a penny for all the old white men crying in here about being asked to consider the experiences of people in society that aren’t old white men. Shameful self-absorption. I’m imagining you haven’t actually learned a thing since childhood when you were taught “everybody has the same chance at the American dream” so I wouldn’t go whining about “teachable moments”– no one thinks people like this are learning anything anytime soon other than what happens to the withered psyche of a person no one will talk to because they keep ruining Thanksgiving with how much they hate everything but themselves and their own way of life. And especially scary “new” words like “intersectional”. Way to advertise that you’re a grown, presumably functional adult that didn’t know what the word ‘discourse’ meant til you got mad at some teenager on the internet using it.
Rusty
January 13, 2022 @ 10:41 am
Take your racism somewhere else
Blockman
January 13, 2022 @ 12:10 pm
If it wasn’t obvious before you should know I’ve been educated at a top University which is where I noticed certain types using those words. I could throw out the names of insufferable Liberal philosophers responsible for much of the intellectual decline such as Focault but that is likely beyond your intellectual capacity. I imagine you rely on Twitter and Salon articles for your worldview which is where your error is. Also, I’m not even halfway to retirement age quite yet. I know you people love to write off everyone that disagrees with you as ‘old uneducated white males’ but sadly for you that’s not the case. Though I guess you can’t expect much else from intellectual light weights such as yourself than the vitriolic inflammatory display you have put on here. Back to the swamp you go. GOOD DAY.
Swampthing
January 13, 2022 @ 1:03 pm
You spelled Foucault wrong, intellectual heayweight.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out.)
January 10, 2022 @ 7:35 pm
…”There is no excusing Morgan Wallen’s actions, and those attempting to make excuses for him by bringing up how others are allowed to use the N-word overlook how that word has been used to demean an entire race of people for centuries, and should never be uttered by a white individual, in jest or otherwise.”….
I, Honky, The almighty King and ruler of Crackershire, publicly excuse one Morgan Wallen, of growing up on Rap, and using Rap language with his buddies going back to middle school. Morgan is not responsible for where and how he was raised. And although there is shame in the fact that young crackers all over rural America would rather listen to Rap than Porter Wagoner, I cannot justifiably hold them accountable for being unsupervised by their parents as youths.
Having excused Morgan of these charges, I also cannot allow him to perform on The Grand Ol Opry, because Rappers cannot be permitted on that sacred stage.
-The King
Rusty
January 11, 2022 @ 7:08 am
I agree honky. If you don’t want folks saying certain words, stop saying them yourself in the songs you sing. And for anyone who claims they’ve never even uttered the word, you are either a liar or have lived under a rock your whole life
Trainwreck92
January 11, 2022 @ 10:00 pm
I’m a year older than Wallen and grew up in a similar culture (rural East Texas for me, rural East Tennessee for him). I was raised on country music from the 40s to the 90s, but expanded my listening to other genres, including rap in my teens, yet that word is not in my repertoire. And that’s with me being exposed to it in both rap and in real life, used by outright racists, many of them being my family members. Somehow, though, I’ve figured out that it’s not a word I ought to use. Wallen should’ve learned by now too.
Swampthing
January 13, 2022 @ 7:52 am
The first comment I’ve seen from a reasonable person. It’s a word that when coming from people that look like me has only been used to cause immeasurable harm, and no amount of exposure growing up in a majority Black county listening to rap with everybody else is going to make me feel like it makes sense for that word to pass my lips. It’s a shame to see so many grown folks arguing about a matter that’s more than settled. I think this article is a bit of a waste of time given that clearly the people who didn’t have a problem with Wallen’s behavior continued to listen to him. Why not call it “we pretended to care about Morgan Wallen being a racist long enough now this is getting ridiculous” which is the actual sentiment at the core of it. It’s disgusting that an institution at the heart of country music history would say “we do not care about how we make Black people feel with this decision; they are not a part of this world and aren’t welcome here” — that is what allowing Morgan Wallen onstage conveys. Total lack of integrity, professionalism, or reasonable consideration.
Wilson Pick It
January 10, 2022 @ 8:09 pm
He seems like he has tried to make amends, and so I think you gotta give him some kind of path to redeem himself. I don’t know exactly what that might look like, but after a while the shunning becomes counter-productive. How about let’s find a way to bridge racial divides and turn this into a teachable moment if we can.
Divisiveness is so 2010’s. It’s a new decade and we’re going to need to work together with everything going on right now.
JM
January 10, 2022 @ 8:10 pm
Genuinely laughing out loud… King Honky, you are a national (well, at least regional) treasure.
Tom G
January 10, 2022 @ 8:11 pm
The problem is that that word is even in Morgan Wallen’s vocabulary, private moment or not.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 10, 2022 @ 8:25 pm
I agree, Tom. I wish rural kids were never exposed to Rap. It’s embarrassing.
Tom Gosse
January 10, 2022 @ 8:55 pm
Not to age myself too much but I grew up on NWA and 2 Live, and there is a difference between being exposed to music and understanding it.
Blockman
January 10, 2022 @ 11:58 pm
Which one are you? Exposed or understand?
Luckyoldsun
January 11, 2022 @ 8:02 pm
@TomG–The NWA I grew up on was ruled by Harley Race.
And he had 30 different ways to suplex you in case you forgot.
63Guild
January 10, 2022 @ 8:23 pm
I’m just glad in times like these we have the white savior that is Isbell
glendel
January 10, 2022 @ 8:26 pm
so to summarize, Morgan Wallen jumps on the hallowed Opry stage with Ernest, a “county” Caucasian hick hopper who has written songs for Sam Hunt and FGL, but doesn’t jump on the hallowed Opry stage with Dom Flemons, an African-American old-timey banjo player. how’s that save country music? yikes.
Trigger
January 10, 2022 @ 8:28 pm
Huh?
Tom
January 10, 2022 @ 10:35 pm
Have you even listened to Ernest’s music? At all? Because Flower Shops, American Rust, his cover of Islands In The Stream with Hailey Whitters, and most of his Locals Only album are certainly not “hick hop”.
And God forbid he write songs for other mainstream artists to pay the bills when he’s still an up and coming artist, trying to break through.
Robert's Country Blog
January 11, 2022 @ 12:42 pm
What happened to the duets album Hailey was going to release with Ernest ?
Tom
January 14, 2022 @ 9:29 am
Unfortunately, that project got canned. Ernest just wasn’t really into it outside the Islands In The Stream cover.
Joe
January 10, 2022 @ 8:30 pm
It’s not much to add to the conversation but still worth noting the first performer the “Opry” as we know it ever introduced on-air was a black man in the great Deford Bailey. Whatever questionable choices they made with him as a performer later in his career, I am downright delighted to be able to still hear his songs and performances broadcast on various WSM programs to-this day. I feel like this is true of many types of artists the Opry has featured over the decades, and really is worth something.
MH
January 10, 2022 @ 8:36 pm
“The Black Opry” Lol
Judging by the “Black Opry’s” letter to the Opry, it looks like they were never serious about playing the Opry to begin with.
J
January 10, 2022 @ 9:03 pm
It’s disgusting what Morgan said. I have never been into his music.
I used to like Tre Burt’s music, but when I saw what he wrote about Jewish people on Instagram about 5 months ago, I stopped supporting him. And Tre Burt has some song talking about the white man that he released last year.
Things that make you wonder.
Conn
January 10, 2022 @ 9:07 pm
I can honestly say I have no clue about this dude’s music. I will just assume he plays shitty pop country. Didn’t know his name before this stupid controversy started. Yes its not cool to throw that word around and in many scenarios would get your ass kicked. Just seems like lots of self righteous folks jumping on a bandwagon.
Bubba
January 10, 2022 @ 9:27 pm
I’m so fucking tired of the backlash for Morgan. It was a year ago and he’s done everything under the sun to apologize. Even Black Country artists are tired of this cancel culture bullshit. I’m so glad that everyone single one of his concert dates are sold out so he can make some damn money. I love that all these “perfect” self righteous assholes act like a person makes a tiny mistake so they must pay for it for the rest of their life. So annoying.I wish you didn’t write this article because I just got all pissed off again.
Cobra
January 11, 2022 @ 8:17 am
“Cancel culture” is just a right-wing term for complaining about consequences of actions. I didn’t see any right-wingers complaining about “cancel culture” when Colin Kaepernick couldn’t get signed in the NFL after he peacefully took a knee.
No, the term “cancel culture” is reserved only for privileged white folks who get caught using racial slurs or assaulting women. Then it’s “oh, he made a mistake, he apologized!”
People don’t used racial slurs “by mistake.”
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 8:25 am
Colin Kapernick could not get a job in the NFL because he couldn’t make his way through receiver progressions on a consistent basis. That’s why he’d been moved to 3rd string before he took a knee. Well-documented, often mischaracterized incident, just like many being used to attack country music.
Cobra
January 11, 2022 @ 8:44 am
If that’s the way you want to spin it, Kyle. Whatever helps you sleep at night.
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 10:49 am
Damn, Trig. It must be frustrating having to deal with people like this who have confused themselves about reality to such an absurd degree.
Cobra
January 11, 2022 @ 11:36 am
You’re deluded, pal. Might want to check and see if you have COVID. I’m told it has some negative mental impact. One former patient was so deluded that he thought he won an election that he lost by 7 million votes.
(PS. I bet Trigger won’t let this comment past the “moderation”)
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 11:55 am
I’m only approving to say that you, The Gentile, and MH need to stop with the back and forths. Nobody wants to see this shit. STOP IT. You’re ruining these comments sections for the rest of us.
Wilson Pick It
January 11, 2022 @ 10:53 am
Kaepernick was cancelled. Then President of the United States ordered all his followers to call for National Anthem protesters to be fired from the NFL. That’s cancel culture. Maybe his lack of skills is what finished him off in the end, but they absolutely tried to sabotage Kaepernick.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 11:15 am
Fair point. Yes, you can make a strong case that Kaepernick was “cancelled.”
My point was he did not have the skill set anymore to compete at the pro level in football, and this has been well-documented by agnostic football experts who know about such things. I was simply challenging the idea that he could be a 1st string quarterback in the NFL if he hadn’t taken a knee. A third-string, maybe. But then it wasn’t worth it to the team to bring along the media circus. I think this is an example, like in country music, where you have folks outside of the discipline bringing their political beliefs in without any proper context or ground-level knowledge.
He got make whole by Nike.
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 8:54 am
LOL @ Cobra.
The fact that you think Kaepernick couldn’t get a job in the NFL because he took a knee proves you’re a gullible clown.
Cobra
January 11, 2022 @ 9:00 am
LOL @ MH, the fact that you think I give two shits about what you think proves you’re a gullible clown.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 9:10 am
Let’s please keep it to substantive discussion, not petty back and forths. Thank you.
Rusty
January 12, 2022 @ 6:10 am
Hello Cobra I have a serious question for you. You say people don’t use racial slurs by mistake. I agree you say what you say on purpose, but it’s not always in a hateful way toward anyone. Isbell is a big topic on this section due to his comments. If Isbell used that word in his life is it unforgivable? His song White Mans World makes it seem like he has been that guy…”Wishing Id never been one of the guys/Who pretended not to hear another black mans joke”… I just want to know that if someone you know has used that word would you forgive them or write them off forever?
Swampthing
January 13, 2022 @ 8:02 am
The distinction here is that the manner Morgan Wallen used it made it clear it’s a regular part of his lexicon and I’m guessing from the comments section here it’s probably a regular part of some of these folks’ lexicon too, or it wouldn’t get them so worked up when people don’t like to hear them say it.
Rusty
January 13, 2022 @ 10:25 am
Nobody is getting worked up because folks don’t like to hear people say it. They’re getting worked up because it’s ridiculous all of the hate Wallen has gotten for using a word with his buddy over a year ago. Nothing is “made clear” over internet videos and comment sections. You assume too much
D Ray White
January 10, 2022 @ 9:37 pm
Morgan Wallen is the white trash Nickleback of pop country music. People are dumber for listening to that trash.
Di Harris
January 10, 2022 @ 9:55 pm
Isbell Stans!!!
Blockman
January 10, 2022 @ 11:12 pm
How about that fumble call Di?
Di Harris
January 10, 2022 @ 11:16 pm
I Couldn’t believe it
Di Harris
January 10, 2022 @ 11:25 pm
& that’s about as deep as i can go with any knowledge about football.
98% (at least) unknowledgable about the game.
Got caught up in Dawg football around October.
Dear friend of the gang, from jr. high school is a rabid Dawg fan. His alma mater. A lot of us jumped in, with him in Spirit, around the country, to watch the game. He is currently on a geology job in Charlotte, the rest of us aren’t.
Going to leave the football expertise to you guys!
Happy the Dawgs won
Blockman
January 10, 2022 @ 11:57 pm
Haha yes that is understandable. The recovery was legit in my opinion but shouldn’t be called fumble in the first place. But it didn’t matter in the end. I never followed or watched college ball given where I live but no Monday Night NFL on so gave it a watch. Was a good game! I’m glad your team won.
thegentile
January 11, 2022 @ 8:31 am
you two should get a room.
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 10:14 am
You’re not invited. Tough.
Doug Carter
January 11, 2022 @ 10:21 am
Indeed. I find the lengthy, off-topic personal conversations more annoying than the political and religious blathering, but it never seems to be deleted or scolded.
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 10:41 am
You’re not invited either. Thegentile is awfully lonely though maybe you two can get together 🙂
Doug Carter
January 11, 2022 @ 11:02 am
At the risk of being pot kettle black, since I (nor, for that matter the gentile) asked for an invitation, it doesn’t follow logic that you would tell us we were not invited. Saying “fuck off” would have been acceptable. I’m assuming you did it to set up your implication that we would benefit from a sexual encounter.
I haven’t made a gay joke in probably 40 years. Based on that I’m guessing your a teenager. Or maybe 28, like Morgan Wallen was with the N-word. Hell, maybe you’re him.
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 12:20 pm
Your words not mine. Who am I to say you would benefit or not. The fact you made a gay joke 40 years ago means you should be cancelled. Thanks for outing yourself. Bigot.
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 12:39 pm
Also it is really quite telling that you think it’s ok to imply a heterosexual relationship between strangers on the internet but not a homosexual one. Do you think there is something wrong with being gay? I think it’s time you do some self-reflection, bigot.
Doug Carter
January 11, 2022 @ 12:44 pm
You are denying that you implied we should get a room and have sex? What a cowardly liar. At least have the nerve to admit you made a sophomoric gay joke. Sad. Bigly.
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 1:05 pm
Okay, bigot. I’m not continuing this conversation any further. You’re clearly a homophobe both by your own admission and hypocrisy. I will leave you now to reflect on why you think implying a heterosexual relationship is fine but a homosexual one is not. Grow up.
D Ray White
January 11, 2022 @ 12:57 pm
Nah, Di just someone who doesn’t care to listen to hick-hop collaborations and laundry list pop country tunes, no matter who is singing them. I’ll take about all the bluegrass, Outlaw, Red Dirt, and decent song writer tunes I can get, but have little patience for trash.
Morgan may have a good singing voice, but so do many others. He’s not bringing anything of substance to the game, and just reinforces lame stereotypes about mullet-headed bigots and trashy folk listening to country. His biggest musical accomplishment to date is covering someone else’s song. Sammy Hagar would have called Wallen about as deep as a kiddie pool. Call me back when he pens and sings anything that sounds remotely original or contains actual substance. I’ll wait…
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 10, 2022 @ 9:38 pm
Dadgummit, Jake, out of curiosity, I went and listened to the studio version of “Flower Shops”, so that I could actually hear it.
I like it a whole lot (takes a drink of Clorox). It’s really good.
Jake Cutter
January 10, 2022 @ 10:14 pm
Same here. Dang Streisand effect!
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 10, 2022 @ 9:48 pm
….. “The Democrat Party was where the Confederacy grew from, and later Jim Crow laws and segregation. But just like the Democrat Party, the Grand Ole Opry has moved on from that history, and deserves to be judged upon its actions in the here and now.”…..
Here and now, the good old Democrats advocate for segregation. The United States can’t put racism in the past where it belongs, because the good old Democrats need it to exist. They need groups they can manipulate.
Dude Trig, you are such a goober on this political stuff.
Jake Cutter
January 10, 2022 @ 10:32 pm
Racism is not dead, but it is on life support — kept alive by politicians, race hustlers and people who get a sense of superiority by denouncing others as “racists.”
-T. Sowell
Swampthing
January 13, 2022 @ 7:59 am
Would love to see a survey of Black folks in the nation — “What do you think it is that’s at the center of racism in America?” I’m sure they’d all come back with “calling out people being racists”. Go home, silly ass.
Blockman
January 10, 2022 @ 10:13 pm
Wallen just collaborated with some black rapper ‘Lil Durk’ who also encouraged other black rappers to work with him. Is that Isbell clown going to criticize the black rapper for being an Uncle Tom or race traitor? If people in the black rap community are willing to work with him and support him then what are these clowns getting worked up about? Being offended on others behalf is patronizing and infantalizing of minorities. Typical white saviour Twitter bullshit.
Isbell – I know you hang on my every word. I stared at your wife’s ass the whole time during your Ryman show with my mouth open and eyes glazed over like I was hypnotized. She made eyes with me and I know you noticed. You were cooler when you were fat and got high on cocaine instead of high on your extremist liberal ideas. I know you like your dopamine rush of being a Twitter warrior. Fly me to any Wal Mart parking lot and il fight you irl.
Wrench Tickler
January 11, 2022 @ 6:43 pm
So you’re there staring at her, while he gets to sleep with her? I know who the winner is in this equation.
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 7:34 pm
She thinks of me though. I’m on that psychic warfare trip.
Doug Carter
January 12, 2022 @ 2:37 pm
True. When they tour in France, she thinks of you every time someone says ‘’shower’’ in the native language.
Blockman
January 12, 2022 @ 3:49 pm
Do you mean French? Or is ‘native language’ the preferred term these days? Anyways, have you finished your reflecting and come to apologize for your bigoted and homophobic comments, young man? I’m all ears and open to forgiveness (I know that is an alien concept for you people).
Wrench Tickler
January 12, 2022 @ 4:02 pm
On that involuntarily celibate trip more like.
Blockman
January 12, 2022 @ 4:07 pm
Personal insults are often the last line of defense in a failed argument. Thanks for proving my previous assertion correct.
Trigger
January 12, 2022 @ 4:15 pm
They are also unwelcome when we have such a contentious topic such as this, and I would ask everyone to please make salient points, or move on.
Blockman
January 12, 2022 @ 4:32 pm
Sorry, Trig. I literally have no idea what I’ve done or said to attract such senseless personal attacks. I won’t debase myself to their level though.
Blackwater
January 10, 2022 @ 10:14 pm
The people complaining aren’t putting a dime into country music anyways. Ignore them shithead Karens that do nothing but scour the internet to find something to complain about.
Karen wilkerson
January 11, 2022 @ 3:09 am
I find offense to using my name Karen in such company as Isbell…???? ???? lol
WuK
January 11, 2022 @ 1:10 am
Isbell, not one to talk? Not one who has an unblemished past, is he? Some have done far worse than Wallen and got away with it. He was wrong, no doubt about it. No doubt drink played a part, something Isbell will know about? Wallen made a mistake and hopefully he has learnt from it but he has to be given a chance. It is unfortunate that the is so much talk about colour and not the person or the music. Doesn’t such talk cause more division? I have never cared about the colour of a person’s skin, I do care about the person and their music. Let Wallen move on.
Eduardo Vargas
January 11, 2022 @ 3:49 am
I don’t care for Morgan Wallen’s music but the guy apologized multiple times for his behavior- what more do these people want? Honestly these individuals need to be confronted if they even believe in forgiveness in the first place- because their behavior shows they aren’t truly Christians.
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 4:24 am
Darius Rucker, Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown.
All have profiles on the Black Opry website.
Why haven’t they used their influence to get the lesser known artists on the Opry stage?
Because those three have “played the game” and are on major labels.
They know it’s a game.
Black Opry doesn’t.
It has nothing to do with racism.
It’s about playing the game.
Ricky Patrick
January 11, 2022 @ 5:54 am
I don’t know if he’s made amends or apologized yet, but if he has then everyone just needs to move past it. The real crime here is that those two were playing on the Opry stage at all. I can’t for the life of me see how people like either of their music.
TheBeav
January 11, 2022 @ 6:25 am
This entire article is literally the equivalent of saying, “Well I have some black friends, so my occasional racism is okay…” Let’s go over the whole incident again and then give a laundry list of well here’s all my black friends who have played the Opry. None of that excuses allowing him to play their stage… you either make a stance or you don’t.
Travis
January 11, 2022 @ 7:11 am
You would be correct if Morgan’s actions were coming from a racist perspective; but they weren’t. This article is saying that the Opry is getting undeserved criticism and here’s some examples showing that they are actually doing more than most of, if not all, mainstream country music institutions.
TheBeav
January 11, 2022 @ 7:29 am
Yes, you understood the assignment. What you just said is also saying “Well I have some black friends…” You said “This article is saying that the Opry is getting undeserved criticism and here’s some examples …” — in other words, I’m allowed to be occasionally racist as long as I prove my non-racism by telling you I have friends of color. That does a complete disservice to people of color, and the exact reason it shouldn’t be said. It is the gray area of this type of thing that makes the difference, not the actual words written… there’s a larger unsaid theme being conveyed. Some people just don’t realize what they’re doing because they’ve always reacted that way.
Travis
January 11, 2022 @ 7:45 am
I guess you failed to understand the main point of my comment which was the Opry isn’t being racist, or occasionally racist. They’re being accused of being racist by morons looking for attention. I say this as someone who couldn’t care less about Morgan Wallen. He was trying to emulate black speech to be cool. That makes him an idiot, but far from racist.
TheBeav
January 11, 2022 @ 8:35 am
The point being missed is that the idea of “I’m not racist, I have black friends” or “Some of my best friends are black” is an old and tired refrain that’s been reinforced by Hollywood and others for a long time. White and black friendship does not and will not end racism. The point is that the article is one big undertone of that idea when taken as a whole. Look beyond what the incident was, look at the context of the entire premise.
TheBeav
January 11, 2022 @ 7:33 am
That was supposed to say “…examples (of my black friends)…” I used arrows and it removed it after I posted.
Janella ward
January 13, 2022 @ 9:22 pm
To the Richard Noggan that replied by EMail regarding challenging me to find 5 people actually used the word Black people that would sit down blah blah blah. Richard, it’s funny how you & others can run off at the mouth w/out having the balls to put your name on it…your real name you have to hide behind a monicker…not my fault you missed your nap today????
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 11, 2022 @ 7:16 am
Now that I realize what a great song “Flower Shop” is, I hope the Opry has him on the next 7 Saturdays in a row to perform it.
Cool Lester Smooth
January 11, 2022 @ 7:52 am
The opening paragraph, describing Wallen shouting the n-word as “a playful moment,” really says all you need to know.
TheBeav
January 11, 2022 @ 8:20 am
Yes, and the other one in there was putting “young” in front of “man”. We know what you’re saying without saying it. Morgan is plenty old enough to know what he said.
I was going to add both of these to my original comment, thanks for confirming I wasn’t alone in my thought.
Cool Lester Smooth
January 11, 2022 @ 10:22 am
I mean, Jesus Christ – Wallen’s a 28 year old man with a fucking kid!
But, y’know @boys will be boys!@
Real useful point of reference in terms of “Cancel Culture”: Natalie Maines was younger in 2003 than Wallen is now.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 8:44 am
Agreed. Because the default notion that Morgan Wallen must be a 100% dyed-in-the-wool racist/white supremacist without rigorously testing that accusation due the severity of the claim is the exact reason his attempted cancellation isn’t only failing, it is fueling his popularity. It’s being perpetrated under false notions without context.
Cool Lester Smooth
January 11, 2022 @ 10:13 am
Literally no one is calling him a “100% Dyed-In-The-Wool Racist/White Supremacist,” haha.
That’s just a strawman you’ve latched onto because Isbell was mean to you on Twitter like a year ago.
The point is, and always has been, that the Nashville power structure which systematically destroyed the Dixie Chicks’ commercial careers couldn’t give less of a flying fuck about a white man shouting the n-word on camera.
Less than a year, and one mealy mouthed “I was drunk/That’s not who I am” apology later, he’s playing the fucking Opry…and you’re throwing a damn hissyfit that people have a problem with it.
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 10:19 am
White-knighting for Isbell. He doesn’t even know who you are. Absolutely pathetic. Find a new genre and website little guy.
Cool Lester Smooth
January 12, 2022 @ 2:00 am
…lol.
Cool Lester Smooth
January 11, 2022 @ 10:19 am
Like, if you were creating a hypothetical to illustrate the point “Cancel Culture isn’t real, it’s just a bogeyman used by the intellectually lazy in order to distract from the fact that they can’t actually defend their positions” it would be a white man shouting the n-word on camera, seeing his sales rise in response, and then playing the Opry less than a year later.
Just be honest and say “I can’t handle Jason Isbell talking about me on the internet the way I talk about other journalists on the internet, so now I have a petty vendetta which demands I oppose any and all his stated positions, no matter how reasonable.”
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 10:46 am
Jason Isbell wasn’t mentioned once in this article. Nor were “other journalists.” Who I did mention were Allison Russell, Rissi Palmenr, and The Black Opry, because I wanted readers to be exposed to those Black perspectives on this issue, and to elevate their voices, not Isbell’s. He is a side player to all of this, who jumped in late.
I’ve been very consistent while covering this issue. Yes, Morgan’s sales rose in response, but the media, and the folks trying to “cancel” Morgan Wallen are complicit in that action from overblowing everything, like him guesting on one song on the Opry.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 11, 2022 @ 8:20 pm
Dude, Jester, you don’t believe cancel culture exists? One dude dodging a bullet, that never had any powder in it to begin with, isn’t proof it doesn’t.
I mean, I love leveraging whatever power I have to cancel people who seek to destroy my way of life. Is that not a form of cancel culture?
Cool Lester Smooth
January 12, 2022 @ 2:02 am
Trigger…you really didn’t have to.
It’s pretty clear where your opposition to Wallen suffering any adverse career consequences whatsoever from shouting the n-word on camera comes from.
Cool Lester Smooth
January 12, 2022 @ 2:06 am
And your continuing to regurgitate the “It’s all the outrage’s fault that his sales keep rising and he’s suffered no career consequences!!!” bit is a grimly hilarious variation on “Stop making me hit you.”
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 8:55 am
The Beav,
Time and time again over the last couple of years, I have seen the media and many on Twitter attempt to downplay, gloss over, and at times, outright erase black contributions to country music in order to characterize it as more racist than it might be, when it truth, they’re they ones engaging in racist behavior. It’s insulting to the artists featured on the Opry in 2021 to boil them down to “some black friends” being used as token. I’m sorry, but the list compiled shows strong representation from the Black artist community that undermines the notion that the Orpy is racist, and so the list must be undermined. What an insult to these artists, and the opportunities they were afforded.
Kevin L
January 11, 2022 @ 7:40 am
Seriously?
With the music and artists solely responsible for the Ryman’s and the Grand Ole Opry’s legacy long departed from the scene, these entities are a mere shell of their former selves.
At this point, the walls of the Ryman Auditorium have been affected by the stench of many of the acts allowed through its doors in recent years. A tarnished old church anymore.
The Opry is, in and of itself, primarily a publicity machine for whatever commercial average rock-disguised-as-country artist or band is being ‘sold’ by their teams (and commercial radio) to the unwary ears of the general public.
That said, this guy they are ranting about is hardly a deal-breaker what with the current trends.
In the minds of veteran musicians and listeners, whom supported real country music for decades, it’s a sad situation there in Gnashville.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 8:49 am
Seeing this perspective a lot, especially on Facebook. The point of this article was not to defend Morgan Wallen. It was to contextualize how in 2021 (and 2022), The Grand Ole Opry is the ONLY legacy/mainstream country music institution that is regularly featuring independent artists, older artists, and yes, black artists. Folks that think the average night on the Opry is Blake Shelton and Dan + Shay are not paying attention. The average night at the Opry is Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, and a cool independent artists getting their deserved debut. This is not 2010, or even 2015. Dan Rogers is transforming the Grand Ole Opry under our noses, and the fact that it’s being ignored, and undermined by pointing out one song performed by Morgan Wallen is unfortunate.
Kevin L
January 12, 2022 @ 11:46 am
” The Grand Ole Opry is the ONLY legacy/mainstream country music institution that is regularly featuring independent artists, older artists, and yes, black artists”
Not even close to my point.
If they want to be a giant coffeehouse or Indie rock joint, move it down to Broadway.
Cobra
January 11, 2022 @ 7:41 am
The criticism is completely fair. Less than two years ago, they tweeted this:
“Racism is real. It is unacceptable. And it has no place at The Grand Ole Opry”
https://twitter.com/opry/status/1270489547231674369
To then have someone there who uses the language he did is unacceptable.
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 8:31 am
LOL.
It’s about making money.
Morgan Wallen makes money.
The Opry makes money.
Together, they make more money.
And you give them both publicity which results in more money.
The vocal minority is so dumb.
OysterBoy
January 11, 2022 @ 8:36 am
The dude apologized. What do you want? A televised crucifixion? Perpetual banishment to an island somewhere?
Cobra
January 11, 2022 @ 8:48 am
Personally, I’d like to see the same thing happen to him that happened to Colin Kaepernick after he peacefully took a knee to PROTEST systemic racism.
If Colin Kaepernick can be exiled by the NFL for protesting racism, I have no problem with Morgan Wallen being “permanently banish[ed] to an island somewhere” for being a racist.
Does that answer your question?
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 9:23 am
LOL @ Cobra again.
The NFL is so full of systemic racism that each team organization pays its employees, who are predominantly black I might add, millions of dollars a year.
Sooooo racist.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 11, 2022 @ 8:39 pm
Fortunately Cobra, it doesn’t work that way. We’re in the age of power now. The team with the most power, wins. You all can cancel Wallen, once you have the power to do so. I am thrilled that Kaepernick doesn’t get to play anymore. I’m also thrilled that Wallen does.
You all made the rules, and by gosh, we intend to play by them. You’re all just lucky I’m not in charge of the country. I’d take state control over all media, and pay Morgan Wallen to sing the National Anthem at 7 PM central, 7 nights per week, on every channel. Kaepernick would be forced to stand, hand over heart, until he publicly renounced his worldview.
Rusty
January 12, 2022 @ 10:12 am
1. Colin Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers…OPTED OUT. He then couldn’t cut it with any other team, which is the reason he’s not in the NFL anymore.
2. Kaepernick is half white, so which half is the NFL racist against?
3. Saying a word doesn’t make you racist. Actively degrading a race, persecuting them, bringing them harm, those are all things that would make you racist. If he had looked directly at a black man and said You’re a (that word), then what you wish for would happen. Nobody would like him anymore
4. People like Morgan Wallens music. Nashville, The Opry, Radio, everyone in the industry could cancel him, but folks will still like his music. All he’d have to do is turn independent and he’d be selling out shows and selling albums again.
kevin wortman
January 11, 2022 @ 8:05 am
I remember looking at a world map in elementary school and seeing a country called Niger. The whole class chuckled all day. Lighten up.
Doug Carter
January 11, 2022 @ 10:29 am
You, and your up-voters, are aware the country is pronounced “Nigh- jer”, yes?
Luckyoldsun
January 11, 2022 @ 7:57 pm
@dougc–Actually, if you watch broadcast or cable news programs, you’ll see that it’s been decreed that the country’s name be pronounced “Nee-ZHAIR”–because its official language is French. All the American and British anchors and field reporters now pronounce it that way.
You’re definitely still allowed to pronounce Niger Innis’s name as “NIGH-jer.” I’m not sure about the Niger River.
Corncaster
January 12, 2022 @ 3:29 pm
Um, it’s pronounced Nee-ZHAIR by the people who actually live there.
Doug Carter
January 12, 2022 @ 4:28 pm
Hahahahaha! That’s the best you two have? Neither the pronunciation I learned as a boy, nor the contemporary French pronunciation, are the same as the N-word that the original poster referred to. What is your point? That I didn’t use the French pronunciation? In a battle of wits, you’re unarmed. Sad. Bigly.
Luckyoldsun
January 13, 2022 @ 3:29 am
Take it easy, Duggie, it wasn’t addressed to you. I was commenting to Corncaster. Don’t worry. It’s way over your head.
Luckyoldsun
January 12, 2022 @ 4:31 pm
Um, and Italy is pronounced Italia by the people who live there and Poland is pronounced “Polska” by the people who live there and–Germany, for that matter, is called “Deutschland” by the people who live there) and the French pronounce Paris “Paree”…., but it didn’t suddenly become a p.c. requirement that English speakers change what they’ve been calling those countries or cities for the last hundred-plus years.
Doug Carter
January 12, 2022 @ 5:40 pm
What? Are you concussed? This reply, like your previous one’s, have nothing to do with with some random comments section dude thinking Niger is pronounced like the an-word. What are you on about? You are making no sense.
Lilli stern
January 11, 2022 @ 8:08 am
My observation about African American musicians wanting to now all of a sudden demanding to become part of the Grand Ole Opry and the “country” genre is simple. BECAUSE THEY CAN. Or else…..
TheBeav
January 11, 2022 @ 8:39 am
Tell me you’re racist without telling me you’re racist.
Banjo King
January 11, 2022 @ 8:14 am
Don’t care. These people only want to pay attention to country music when they can use it to push their issues. This should be a non story for anyone who actually regularly reads this site.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 8:41 am
The name of this site is “Saving Country Music.” If folks are actively trying to destroy it or its legacy institutions such as the Grand Ole Opry, it’s imperative someone speak up, and offer fair context to the situation. They are hoping fears of being labeled “racist” compel our silence.
That said, yes, what always remains the most important is focusing on the music itself.
Banjo King
January 11, 2022 @ 9:51 am
Per usual, you’re correct. And I did not mean to come off dismissive to you. I just hate getting caught up in these nonsense stories that don’t have anything to do with why we’re actually here perpetuated by people who don’t care about us. But yes, of course it is important to protect these institutions of ours. I just meant I feel like this article in general isn’t really for those of us who regularly frequent your site, but for those up in arms about nothing looking to tear country music down.
Seak
January 11, 2022 @ 8:20 am
The frustration with Wallen is he did literally none of the stuff he said he was going to do re:growth or education, and yet the country music industry hasn’t held him accountable to follow through on his promises. But whatever, he’s an individual & focusing on the individual is generally a way to avoid systemic issues.
An example of systemic issues is the lack of any Black musicians in the opry house band, as multiple people pointed out as part of the conversation (and yes Black Country musicians do exist in Nashville).
The opry wants to position themselves as a leader, great, but that means more then just marginally increasing the number of Black performers in a given year.
(Also I’m not sure how saying the opry has a growing commitment to independent and women artists has much to do with their commitment to racial issues, Lady A being a particularly galling example, where the opry was also called out)
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 8:37 am
“The frustration with Wallen is he did literally none of the stuff he said he was going to do re:growth or education, and yet the country music industry hasn’t held him accountable to follow through on his promises.”
How do you know he hasn’t?
Is it because he doesn’t broadcast it on social media?
Even if he did, you still wouldn’t believe him.
Forced accountability is fake as hell.
Why should inauthenticity satisfy anyone?
seak
January 11, 2022 @ 9:12 am
I actually believe that people can grow and change, and that often the catalyst for that are “rock bottom” moments that force us to take stock. Also, in all walks of life, accountability is important.
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 9:25 am
“Rock bottom” moments that force us to take stock.
The thing about you is, you would keep digging through those rocks and demand more.
Nothing satisfies you.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 8:38 am
“The frustration with Wallen is he did literally none of the stuff he said he was going to do re:growth or education, and yet the country music industry hasn’t held him accountable to follow through on his promises.”
I have seen this same line delivered on Facebook, Twitter, and other places, and it is categorically and verifiably false, and it is being perpetrated by false reporting, specifically by Rolling Stone. The report they posted that Wallen hadn’t donated most of the money he pledged was debunked by both myself and USA Today:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/rolling-stone-falsely-reports-morgan-wallens-post-n-word-donations/
He also met with black leaders in the music community including BeBe Winans, Kevin Liles, Eric Hutcherson, and has also offered now three public apologies.
That’s not “literally nothing.” And the fact that the media portrays it as such is continued false news that is only fueling Morgan Wallen’s supporters that he’s receiving a raw deal.
As I said in the article, Morgan Wallen deserves whatever repercussions he has coming to him. But the overreach is fueling his popularity, not injuring it. With every recreational outrage cycle, his popularity only grows. He sang as a #2 on one song at the Opry, and the result is this? You’re making him a martyr.
Jake Cutter
January 11, 2022 @ 8:58 am
Seak incorrectly states he did “literally none of the stuff…” to make up for his transgression. Cool Lester denies that Morgan was being playful, despite video evidence that he said it to a friend of his in obvious jest. Cobra uses the debunked Kaepernick example.
Anyone see a pattern here?
seak
January 11, 2022 @ 9:21 am
Trigger, as you conveniently ignored in your response, Wallen only matters as a piece of evidence. Whatever he does or does not do, he’s only an individual. People want to listen to him? Go ahead, whatever. It’s much easier for the industry to make this about an individual, because it allows them to keep the same systems in place.
What matters is how the industry as a whole, including the Opry, operate. Lady A, who you included in your story as evidence of the Opry being more diverse (as if all diversity is the same), are another piece of evidence in how country music systems deal with racial issues. So is the lack of any Black musicians at the Opry. And systems don’t change unless you continually push back. I don’t want Morgan Wallen to be “punished” I want Black individuals to have an equitable shot at a career in all aspects of country music, a genre they helped to found.
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 9:28 am
“I want Black individuals to have an equitable shot at a career in all aspects of country music, a genre they helped to found.”
Did you ever stop and think that those individuals just suck at their craft?
Seak
January 11, 2022 @ 9:48 am
I’m not sure what’s worse, this comment implying that an entire Race of people sucks at a genre that they, in part, created…or that someone actually liked it
Cobra
January 11, 2022 @ 9:49 am
Did you ever stop to think that you’re a racist piece of shit?
And no, Jake Cutter, my example has not been “debunked” except by right-wing nut-job Trump supporters.
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 9:56 am
So you just want people to be hired because of their race and race alone.
How racist of you.
MH
January 11, 2022 @ 9:58 am
Additionally, do you want more people from the British Isles hired in the Opry band or just black people?
If you don’t, you’re racist.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 10:02 am
“I want Black individuals to have an equitable shot at a career in all aspects of country music, a genre they helped to found.”
So do I. That is why I think it is important we don’t mischaracterize the one mainstream country music institution that is actually going out of its way to highlight quality black artists in the Grand Ole Opry. They are taking the lead on this issue. In fact, maybe that’s the reason they’re being attacked, because others want the glory for themselves. They need the Grand Ole Opry to be racist, or their Twitter efforts are marginalized. So they marginalize the work the Opry has done, and the black artist who appear there.
Lady A was a bad pick as a new Opry member, and I condemned it at the time:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/lady-a-is-a-bad-pick-as-new-grand-ole-opry-member/
Nonetheless, the point stands that ALL of the Opry’s new members in 2022 were either women, or groups with women. THIS is leadership. And have they received any credit for that? Have they received any credit for taking the lead in elevating black voices in the mainstream? Of course not. All that people want to talk about is Morgan Wallen, because that’s what drives engagement on Twitter.
seak
January 11, 2022 @ 1:25 pm
Trigger, I was going to post a longer response, but you know it doesn’t matter. Look at this comments section. Being called out for racist remarks helps Wallen’s sales bc a large portion of the country music community thinks it’s totally fine, doesn’t want to face consequences for their own actions/remarks, and doesn’t want to face the reality that Racism exists, see Raelynn. Instead they think that all Black musicians are just crap, and that’s why the band is all white people, such that a Black person would get hired only because of their skin color.
As long as that’s the case, nuanced discussions about systems, aren’t really worth it.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 3:28 pm
As long as the intellectual and media elite continue to refuse to see they are directly culpable in Morgan Wallen’s continued success by constantly making him the top story in country music and using dramatizations and outright lies to do so, Morgan Wallen will remain #1. My guess is he knew this would stir the media and Twitter, just like Jason Aldean’s wife and her anti-Biden T-shirts. You’re being played. I don’t like Morgan Wallen. I wish he would go away. Most of the commenters on this site feel the same. They hate his music. But even more, they hate the effort to try and destroy his career on false pretenses.
Harping on the Opry’s backup band is a weird one. If that’s all you got in the arsenal, you’re stretching. But for the record Jerry Pentecost, The McCrary Sisters, and other have done their stints in that position, so I’m not even sure that’s true.
Di Harris
January 11, 2022 @ 3:47 pm
“You’re being played. I don’t like Morgan Wallen. I wish he would go away.”
Careful.
You want good country musicians, that can deliver?
Wallen does.
I wish Carly Pearce would go away.
She would have Fallen Flat On Her Face, if not for Ashley McBryde propping her up, during their live duet.
One of the only reasons Pearce got into the Opry was because she had been an employee of Dolly’s. The other reason is because she is E. Trashville’s newest barbie.
Wallen sings better than Pearce, as well.
Much better.
Cool Lester Smooth
January 12, 2022 @ 7:23 am
Again with the “Stop making me hit you” justifications.
…and with you changing the goalposts because you can’t refute seak (or anyone else’s) actual point:
That a white man facing exactly zero career consequences for shouting the n-word on camera, while other folks see their careers immediately destroyed for far lesser offenses, speaks to a deep institutional racism within the power structure of mainstream country music.
It’s. Not. About. Morgan. Wallen.
Jason Aldean faced exactly zero consequences for doing blackface…and then played the Opry less than a year later.
Trigger
January 12, 2022 @ 8:34 am
Wait, so now Morgan Wallen faced no consequences? That’s as categorically false as saying he put out no effort to make amends. And other folks did worse stuff but faced less consequences? Nelly has been accused of raping three women. CMT is out there giving him specials and awards. He had his own float at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. You’re trying to fit facts around your opinions, as opposed to vice versa. This is what everyone is doing. That is why a guy who hates Morgan Wallen is being forced into the strange position of defending Morgan Wallen. Because as a journalist, I must present the facts.
Di Harris
January 12, 2022 @ 8:46 am
Let’s hear Cool Lester talk about Jimmy Fallon doing blackface.
Lil
January 12, 2022 @ 11:57 am
Cool Lester… “zero career consequences”??? Where have you been the last year? His music and videos were pulled off all radio and streaming sites, his label suspended him, he was banned from ALL award shows and made ineligible for almost all awards, awards he might have won… you cannot say he had absolutely zero consequences…
Cool Lester Smooth
January 13, 2022 @ 2:16 am
That’s easy enough: Fuck Nelly and fuck Jimmy Fallon.
Anyway, this article isn’t “Presenting the facts.”
It’s sniveling water-carrying for Mainstream Country.
The thesis is:
“How dare these black artists have an issue with the Opry, and say that while they may be including more black artists in the past year, incidents like this show that they’re ultimately complicit of the racist power structure of mainstream Nashville!
“They should sit down, shut the fuck up, and be thankful for the scraps the Opry has started giving them!!!”
Blockman
January 11, 2022 @ 10:37 am
Why does the Opry need black musicians in its backing band? How about clowns like Isbell and others making a fuss on Twitter add full-time black musicians to their bands? A token stereotypical female back-up singer doesn’t count. If DAC could do it surely they can. I guess demanding others do it is easier than actually having to do anything yourself. Let’s see a black guitarist in the 400 Unit. While I was more focused on Isbell’s (white) hotwife I am quite sure the guitar man was looking quite pale.
thegentile
January 11, 2022 @ 8:34 am
“When Morgan Wallen was caught using the N-word in a playful moment with a friend on a Ring doorbell camera on January 31st, 2021, he put himself and country music by proxy in a terrible position.”
how playful!
BP
January 11, 2022 @ 8:37 am
This is just another case of where the national, woke, progressive media does not get their way and has a hissy fit. How can people keep listening to his music when we told you he was cancelled. He is guilty of being ignorant, immature and somewhat stupid. There is no evidence that he is racist.
Matt Dylan
January 11, 2022 @ 9:08 am
Morgan like fellow jellyfish i.e. Patton Oswalt lacks spine and needs to grasp, you can’t comply your way out of tyranny, never apologize when you did no wrong
Everyone knows for a fact there was no malice or racism in his use of the N word, then again todays University graduates aren’t educated so much as indoctrinated and live ignorant to the fact that More Whites were brought as slaves to North Africa than Blacks brought as slaves to the United States or to the 13 colonies from which it was formed, White slaves were still being bought and sold in the Ottoman Empire, decades after Blacks were freed in the United States , that’s knowledge from Thomas Sowell, who just like Larry Elder, Candace Owens, The Hodge Twins, Gothix, Allen West, Brandon Tatum etc etc gets zero support from the frauds at BLM despite the fact they are all Black.
stop letting the real racists who are pushing for segregation at school as if it was 1822 instead of 2022 and using anti White code words like ‘Diversity’ turn you into useful idiots for the Bolshevik Back Bigot party.
the only crime Morgan Wallen is guilty of is having no backbone.
Moses Mendoza
January 11, 2022 @ 9:29 am
Jesus Christ
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 11:36 am
There may have been no malice in Morgan Wallen’s use of the N-word, but it was still was wrong, and he should have apologized. This is what many of Morgan Wallen’s defenders are getting wrong.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 11, 2022 @ 6:55 pm
It wasn’t wrong. If you want to exist in a world when it was, I suggest you invent a time machine and go back to some time in the 20th century.
Jake Cutter
January 11, 2022 @ 8:01 pm
All due respect Honkey, I get where you’re coming from most of the time, and think in this case as well, but what’s the point? I don’t think you would ever use that word or that you actually think it’s good for a white person to use it. I believe you’re trying to make a point about how bankrupt our culture is, which it is, but that doesn’t make it right.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 11, 2022 @ 11:29 pm
Jake,
The reason I don’t use that word is because I was raised not to. If I were to use it, it would be directed towards a black person, and with the intent to offend.
I feel like I’ve explained this a dozen times on here, but do you not realize that the young people today are fortunate enough to have grown up in a post-racial society? Race means so little to today’s young people(under 30), that they emulate each other’s cultures, almost to the point of there being a mono-culture. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Rap culture seems to be the most popular. Young people of all races refer to each other as ni**ers, in a friendly way. It’s just the way it is now. I would actually prefer if cultures didn’t mix, honestly, but they have.
So when I say Wallen did nothing wrong, I’m not giving my personal opinion on the word, as it relates directly to me, my behavior, or my vocabulary. I’m saying that when measured by the unwritten social guidelines of the world he grew up in, he did absolutely nothing wrong. He beclowned himself by apologizing.
Obviously, the Pasty-Whites are a creepshow; that goes without saying. But Trigger is in the wrong here, too. It’s wrong to try to drag these young people back in time, and force them to regress. It’s immoral, and Trigger should stop. They’ve moved on, and so should Trigger, and all other do-gooders.
Separately from all that, Jake, I reject the premise that ni**er is the most offensive word in the history words. This notion is stupid, and based on the idea that blacks in America are somehow special among the historically mistreated throughout human history; as if NOBODY in the history of the world ever had it worse than blacks in America. The ONLY reason this idea exists, is because of how great America is. America is so great, that we really feel bad for what happened; but that doesn’t make it the worst thing that’s ever happened.
So, I just think people need to get over it. It’s a word. So what? Tell me why we should all think it’s wrong, Jake. Also, tell me how long we should think it’s wrong. 50 more years? 100?
Di Harris
January 11, 2022 @ 11:56 pm
Honky,
Going to step in here.
I understand how extremely offensive the word is. And, how hurtful it can be when it is said with hate and venom.
Words and statements used around the world, that are exclaimed with malice and hate are counter productive to the human condition.
Here’s to hoping that we all can take a couple seconds to check ourselves, when we are dealing with each other.
Jake Cutter
January 12, 2022 @ 8:09 am
I’m going to agree with you and also double down that you’re wrong.
Yes, it’s just a word. Yes, young people often use it as a term of endearment (I’ve been called that several times by black people – as a term of endearment). Yes, we should be in a place where we all understand that. Of course the “pasty whites” are grasping at any straw they can find to keep racism alive (look as this example that they have to over exaggerate so they can make pretend they are revolutionaries), and for all the reasons you’ve mentioned. Yes yes yes. But despite being called the word myself, I would never ever say it back or to other people, of any race, at all. You’re talking about how things SHOULD be and I don’t disagree, but I’m pretty certain, that outside of this philosophical hard line being discussed on a blog in theory only, if, IRL, you were confronted with this, you would not partake, and if you saw white people using that word in public, especially with black people present, you would know it’s not appropriate. Should it still be that way? Maybe not. But it is. I don’t think you have your finger on the pulse of this one, like you think you do.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 12, 2022 @ 12:55 pm
…..”I understand how extremely offensive the word is. And, how hurtful it can be when it is said with hate and venom.
Words and statements used around the world, that are exclaimed with malice and hate are counter productive to the human condition.”…….
Di,
If your intent was to push back on something I said, I think you failed. Although I think you’re being a little dramatic, or maybe overly sentimental, I don’t disagree with your words, as typed. Perhaps you meant something other that what you said?
Di Harris
January 12, 2022 @ 1:30 pm
“If your intent was to push back on something I said, I think you failed.”
Honky, wasn’t pushing back at all.
NOW, if you want to accuse me of being sentimental, overly compassionate, you have scored a bullseye.
Part of that is because i am female, but part of it is because have a huge heart
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 12, 2022 @ 1:39 pm
……”But despite being called the word myself, I would never ever say it back or to other people, of any race, at all.
You’re talking about how things SHOULD be and I don’t disagree, but I’m pretty certain, that outside of this philosophical hard line being discussed on a blog in theory only, if, IRL, you were confronted with this, you would not partake, and if you saw white people using that word in public, especially with black people present, you would know it’s not appropriate. Should it still be that way? Maybe not. But it is. I don’t think you have your finger on the pulse of this one, like you think you do.”……..
See Jake, I think you’re misunderstanding me. I’m not suggesting everyone should just start calling each other ni**ers. Right out of the gate, I made it clear I don’t use the word, nor would I. I hate Rap, and Rap culture, and would reject any attempt by someone to pull me into that. There isn’t any scenario that I would ever encounter, where I’d use the word. I’m not comfortable with the word, because of the time and place I grew up.
But, and this is huge BUT, today’s young people are NOT uncomfortable with it. They weren’t raised, by and large, in a divided society. Their heads aren’t filled with rules for how to navigate a racially sensitive world, because they weren’t raised in one; and that’s not only how it should be; that’s how it is.
I see myself as one of the few people who are willing to advocate for actual progress, true progress. Part of that includes acknowledging when it’s been made, and then being willing to accept it and move on. The Pasty-Whites serve as a dead weight on the world, desperately trying to drag us back to the 1930’s. Trigger, and maybe you as well, occupy a middle ground, in that you want to pull society back to the late 20th century. He’s not dead weight, and his intentions are good, but he’s unwilling to completely come to grips with progress. And I get why he’s the way he is, but that doesn’t make it okay. So as long as I’m not banned from this site, I’m going to run my mouth about it.
Jake Cutter
January 12, 2022 @ 2:48 pm
If you read my comment carefully, I think we’re mostly on the same page and mostly agree. I’m just saying that while yes, many young people have moved past the historical pain of the word (which is a good thing), many have not. Out of curiosity yesterday I browsed some hip hop forums discussing Morgan and yes many seem totally fine with it and many still don’t.
And while you’re knowledgeable about a lot of things, including actual country music, and I always appreciate your comments, please excuse me if I don’t take a guy from AK who goes by the name “King Honkey of Crackershire” on a country music website as the authority on what the majority of black people are ok with. ????
Whatever you don’t lump me in with the hyper-race-obsessed white knight saviors that, I agree, are taking us backwards.
King Honky Of Crackershire (Let’s find out)
January 12, 2022 @ 3:11 pm
Jake,
What gave you the idea that I’m from Alaska? I’ve never even been there.
Jake Cutter
January 12, 2022 @ 3:41 pm
I meant AR, my bad.
It's OK to not like people
January 11, 2022 @ 9:22 am
I just don’t like Morgan Wallen. I don’t like his music, and I don’t like him. This was before “the incident,” and I still feel the same. He’ll open his trap and say something dumb again, guaranteed.
Noneya
January 11, 2022 @ 9:54 am
This guy performs at the Opry but Hank hasnt been reinstated. Weird.
Thom's Country Bunker
January 11, 2022 @ 10:03 am
Some interesting comments here – for what it’s worth, I believe that playing music for a living is a great privilege and getting to hit the BIG stages like the Opry is BEYOND privilege. It’s actually a gift. A goose that lays golden eggs, often given without relation to merit, talent, dues paid or anything other than luck, timing and who you know. That’s the game. That’s the industry and that’s okay, actually.
However, saying racist shit should kill that goose. I don’t care if it was a private moment, a drunken mistake or in jest. As acknowledged in this piece, that kind of behavior is too damaging. That doesn’t mean the dude shouldn’t continue to play music for a living. No one should be pulling his records off the shelves or cancelling his shows but you SHOULD lose that your Opry spots. That’s what folks get angry about, that kind of consequence-free living for those that the top when people who do have merit, talent and dues paid still gotta take the scraps.
Hank Williams still ain’t a member.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 10:38 am
I agree with all of this, but it’s also important to contextualize that Morgan Wallen didn’t have a performance slot. So when people characterize that Morgan Wallen was “invited back to the Opry” or similar characterizations, that is disingenuous. Morgan Wallen was NOT afforded an Opry spot. He didn’t take a spot from anyone, because he didn’t perform in a spot. He performed as the #2 on one song during Ernest’s performance slot.
This is a really important detail to underscore. For 80 years, the way the Opry has worked is members are assigned segments to host, and artists are assigned slots to perform in. The artists are able to then invite guests up if they wish. I don’t know if the Opry knew Morgan Wallen was going to be invited up, but it’s important context that Wallen wasn’t assigned or announced as anything Saturday night. He just sang on one song.
Now, the Opry did send out a tweet when Wallen hit the stage. That probably wasn’t smart on the Opry’s part. But if the Opry knew was going to perform, I think they took the stance Jimmie Allen, Eric Church, and others have taken. Isolating Morgan Wallen will not solve this problem. There must be a path for redemption. That is why I ended this long-winded article the way I did.
I am a strong supporter of Reinstate Hank, and I have called out the current management of the Opry on this issue specifically. What is Reinstate Hank? It’s recognizing that Hank Williams screwed up, but ultimately he should have been let back into the fold. If we don’t offer the same path to Morgan Wallen, we’re being hypocrites.
…not to compare Wallen with Williams, obviously. But you see my point.
Thom's Country Bunker
January 11, 2022 @ 10:53 am
I really respect your opinions and trying to keep a civilized conversation going here (I swear you must have worn your fingertips down to the bone on this site!) I just feel you’re letting The Opry off on a technicality.
They know who this guy is and someone there must have foreseen how putting him up there would be received (though it’s also possible that they didn’t – which is a whole other conversation). Yeah he didn’t get a slot but he didn’t sneak in the back door and storm the stage either. The Opry is run with military precision. They know what they’re doing… though sometimes, that’s also debatable
Mark
January 11, 2022 @ 10:13 am
Thank you for the perspective. In regards to Morgan Wallen’s music, I could go either way. He has some songs I enjoy (Whiskey Glasses, Sand in My Boots & 7 Summers). Others I despise (Up Down, The Way I Talk). If Morgan Wallen naturally fell off the radio- I don’t think I would have noticed or missed him.
With that said, at the time of the incident I had 7 Summers on a couple of my playlists- which I removed. His comment disgusted me, and I felt like I needed a break from his music. I started listening to artists like Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer. It shined a light on the real problem with country music- that there is not enough diversity.
Wallen apologized and had major repercussions with reduced airplay, and there is no way to know if long-term this made an impact on selling/streaming. Obviously, not for “Dangerous,” but for future releases.
By the time they started playing Morgan Wallen on the radio again and he had apologized I was able to enjoy some of his music again. Please keep in mind I am a causal fairweather listener of Wallen. Wallen had devoted fans (a lot of whom are very young) that really connected with his music.
It is not fair to tell people what they should listen to. If you are offended by the music- change the channel. If you are offended by the record label, venue, or radio station that is promoting it- please boycott it. But nobody should be able to dictate what others should/shouldn’t listen to.
I thoroughly enjoy the music of John Lennon, Ryan Adams, Michael Jackson and so many more incredible offers who have done or have been accused of doing some horrific things that go against my moral code. I am still able to enjoy their art form. I also enjoy The Highwomen, who had their own inclusion controversy with Mickey Guyton.
On the other hand, Lady A’s battle with the Original Lady A did not sit well with me. It tainted the music (that I already mostly did not enjoy). Therefore, that was enough to push me into the arena of not enjoying their music as a whole. I can’t help or make sense of why I feel this way. The reason I mention this is because it is 100% valid to not like or not want to support Morgan Wallen in any manner. It is acceptable to get up and leave at the Grand Ole Opry if he plays. However, you cannot condemn those who chose to listen to the music.
Loopin
January 11, 2022 @ 10:23 am
Wow, this comment section. I loved this blog but some of these comments are appalling. If these commenters had to deal with the tiniest issues black Americans have had to deal with forever, they would lose their shit. They don’t. And they won’t. And they probably will never reflect on any of this. Gross.
Thom's Country Bunker
January 11, 2022 @ 10:27 am
So many of y’all think it’s about the individual. It’s not. It’s about the institutions. (which is what the black community have been trying to talk about for decades!)
It would be so easy for The Opry to simply say, ‘if you commit an act of racism, violence against women, homophobia etc… you don’t get to play on our stage anymore’. That would be so simple and so effective. It wouldn’t stop anyone making a career from music but it would send the correct message and we could avoid all of this malarkey
Luckyoldsun
January 11, 2022 @ 11:03 am
What this really demonstrates is how the mainstream media and the mega-corporations that control the commercial music and radio businesses are forcing the homoginization and (figurative) “deballing” of the entertainment industry. Seems only black artists (hip hop stars, Dave Chapelle, etc.) and feminists are allowed to step outside the lines. Country music artists can sing about being hell-raisers, renegades, rebels, and rogues, but they’d better not BE any of those things. Hank, Lefty, Jones, Jerry Lee, Cash, Haggard, Willie, Waylon would all be banished today for their personal offenses. Heck, 40 years ago, David Allan Coe could play the Opry and nobody cared or objected. Now, Morgan Wallen !!! is a problem. (It’s not even like this guy runs around using the n-word. He used it on one occasion, not intended to be public, and not even in direct reference to any black people.)
thegentile
January 11, 2022 @ 11:48 am
doesn’t everyone hate when definitely the only time you’ve used a word just happens to be when you shout it in the middle of the street and it gets recorded?! gosh, what bad luck.
Luckyoldsun
January 11, 2022 @ 2:33 pm
Knock it off!
Now a young country music star is supposed to act–off stage and in private with other friends of his age–like the type of person you’d bring to meet your demure grandmother. There are few popular artists in history who would pass muster under today’s woke alleged standard. Sinatra? Elvis? Lennon? Louis Armstrong? Chuck Berry? No way!
It’s not like Wallen goes around calling black people the n-word or using it publicly. He called some white friend of his a n-word in some mutual ranking-out among friends.
He apologized.
I bet the Opry could invite the black dude who punched out Rhianna–Chris Brown– to perform there and it wouldn’t draw the level of protest as this silliness.
jorge
January 11, 2022 @ 11:23 am
Let’s follow the woke model, because we know it has worked so well for the Golden gloves and other entertainment venues. Let’s make everything about race.
(Still) The Ghost of OlaR...
January 11, 2022 @ 11:56 am
New year…same BS.
OysterBoy
January 11, 2022 @ 12:37 pm
Just stopped by to say I’ve purchased my Morgan Wallen tickets to see his upcoming show at the Cajundome. And I don’t even like him. Frick all ya’ll!
Travis
January 11, 2022 @ 1:27 pm
This is the other issue with stuff like this. There’s always idiots who feel they’re smarter than the supposedly ‘woke’ people, so they go out of their way to support someone that’s unfairly criticized for one thing, but still likely a pretty crappy person overall.
Speter
January 11, 2022 @ 1:47 pm
It’s woke to want a rich white guy to take the time to educate himself and apolgize?
This makes you racists as well, “Travis”.
Al
January 11, 2022 @ 1:46 pm
“the Morgan Wallen incident offered an opportunity for a teachable moment”
Here’s a clue: When Black country artists say it’s time to forgive then you know Wallen has done something to make it right. He should have called very Black artist personally to apologize and get educated. He could also be inviting interviews where they ask hard questions about racism, the N word, the Confederate flag, etc.
But none of this has happened. He’s essentially avoided the hard work an gotten on with making money.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 3:20 pm
“He should have called very Black artist personally to apologize and get educated.”
That’s exactly what Morgan Wallen did. Specifically, he spoke with BeBe Winans, Kevin Liles, and Eric Hutcherson after the incident. This was conveyed and widely reported when Morgan Wallen made his second apology. However, with this latest spat, the media is falsely reporting that Morgan Wallen never did anything to make amends. Also, the false reporting from Rolling Stone that Morgan Wallen did not donate the $500,000 he pledged is making the rounds once again as well. Rolling Stone corrected the story, but people still want to believe it’s true because it fits their presupposed narrative.
This is just as much a media issue as it is anything. There was a huge viral feature on Jason Isbell in Buzzfeed in December, and it falsely claimed Morgan Wallen did nothing after the incident to make amends. Now, that is what everyone believes. The constant pushing of false information surrounding this issue is the reason the more the media and Twitter try to injure Morgan Wallen, the more popular he becomes. Because they’re doing it on false pretenses, and this motivates his supporters.
“When Black country artists say it’s time to forgive then you know Wallen has done something to make it right.”
Jimmie Allen, who was highlighted in this article for playing the Opry five times in 2021 and is likely to be one of the next Grand Ole Opry members, forgave Morgan Wallen for the incident in MARCH OF 2021! That’s 10 months ago. The artists that are refusing to forgive Morgan Wallen never will, because they need him as their boogey man to blame any of their failings on the white supremacy of country music.
Link to the Jimmie Allan quotes:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/jimmie-allen-says-some-critics-of-morgan-wallen-exploiting-incident/
Lil
January 11, 2022 @ 4:56 pm
Yes! Thank you Trigger for being one of so few to say the TRUTH! I have seen that Rolling Stone article all over Twitter and people using it to “prove” how horrible of a person Wallen is.. “he didn’t do enough”, he didn’t do what he promised”. This… THIS is why people will keep supporting him… because of the continual lies made about him and even berating his fans. In some ways I wish his label would come out and specify more what all he has done but I know it will NEVER be enough. They need someone to blame for all the bad and evil in country music. I really respect Jimmie Allan for speaking out and being supportive. It’s too bad more people don’t listen to him instead of Jason Isbell.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 6:32 pm
Just checked on Twitter, and links to the debunked Rolling Stone article have been shared at least 27 times since the Morgan Wallen incident by people who haven’t even read the correction since it’s at the bottom. They are forming their opinion around verifiably false information. I saw this on Facebook a couple of times yesterday, and when I did, I stopped down to correct it. But I can’t do it 30 times. This is why these false reports are so damaging. People use them as the base of information on Morgan Wallen. He should sue Rolling Stone. This is truly dystopian shit what’s going on in media these days.
Lil
January 11, 2022 @ 9:27 pm
Wow that’s extremely disappointing that it is getting shared so much and I wish he would sue them or speak out about it more but it probably wouldn’t matter. Every time I saw that RS article I shared the USA Today one trying to correct it but people just started picking apart that one too and I realized it doesn’t matter … they will believe what they want. I mean, I don’t know Morgan Wallen so I can’t say what kind of person he is, but to say he’s racist or didn’t do enough or base an opinion off an article that is so clearly biased is really ignorant and unfortunately a lot of people just read the title and think it’s the truth.
Joe Mama
January 12, 2022 @ 9:59 am
I imagine the people sharing the RS article didn’t even take the time to read it either. It’s been used all over social media to push various agendas. I agree that Wallen should sue RS for libel. I didn’t feel bad for the Morgan at first, but after witnessing how the media and other individuals on social media have used him as their own personal “whipping boy” to further their twisted agendas against rural culture and country music, I can’t help but feel terrible for the guy. He really has attempted to make amends for what he did, but people don’t give a damn. They want to crucify the guy.
Lil
January 12, 2022 @ 10:32 pm
Also have noticed this comment getting circulated all over the internet in all the AP articles about this:
“Wallen’s surprise return and performance came the same weekend as Grammy-nominated country star Mickey Guyton tweeted about a racist commenter.”
What does this have to do with Morgan Wallen? Is that his fault?? Somehow he MUST be to blame for all since it happened the very same weekend that he sang a song on a stage. He had nothing to do with that but they just have to throw that in there since he is to blame for all racist remarks. The media is ridiculous..
Dan Da Hootenanny
January 11, 2022 @ 2:08 pm
If you feel like donating to a very worthy cause I suggest the Arnold Shultz foundation which is from the charitable wing of the International Bluegrass Music Association. This fund helps support activities increasing participation of people of color in bluegrass music. For those who don’t know, Arnold was the African American blues/country guitarist who performed with and mentored Bill Monroe when he was a child. Arnold spent 1/2 his time in Western KY and the other 1/2 on riverboats along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. I’ve donated to them and will continue to do so.
RJ
January 11, 2022 @ 5:09 pm
I love grace and mercy and there is a large stick in my eye. I love all of you on both sides of these arguments and just hope that many of your hearts soften because a lot of these feelings on this stream simply are not healthy.
Thank you Trigger for caring enough to entertain so many unfortunate concepts.
CRay
January 11, 2022 @ 5:22 pm
The people have spoken, in large numbers and they want to hear MW’s music. Sorry Isbell has a bruised vagina about it maybe he should just mind his own business. The more people try to force their views on people the more they will resist, both ways.
liza
January 11, 2022 @ 5:22 pm
“Consulting with Grand Ole Opry historian Byron Fay of the excellent Fafare’s Opry Blog, here were the appearances by Black artists on the Grand Ole Opry in 2021.”
These numbers are meaningless without a comparison to at least several previous years and to the number of performances by white entertainers as well as the percentage of each in the genre.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 5:41 pm
These numbers are not “meaningless.” This is a bad faith argument because they refute the claim that the Grand Opry is a den of racism and white supremacy. If you only had three or four Black artists perform over the year in maybe half a dozen spots, perhaps you could claim tokenism. Giving opportunities to 19 separate artists, including seven Opry debuts, and dozens to total performance slots is not tokenism. No organization rooted in white supremacy would ever do that.
The real comparison is to compare these numbers to country radio, and country award shows. As the article claims, the Grand Ole Opry is the only legacy organization in mainstream country that is supporting Black artists in these kinds of numbers. It doesn’t mean there can’t be more. It just proves that Black artists are not being excluded.
All that said, I agree that a more broad analysis would paint a deeper picture about Black participation at the Grand Ole Opry, as well as the current trends. Perhaps that’s something that can and will be put together in the future. This list came together from data Byron Fay provided to me on the spot, and then I cross referenced and filled in debut dates, to publish with an article that needed to go up yesterday when this topic was being discussed. A deeper analysis would take more time, and may be forthcoming in the future.
wayne
January 11, 2022 @ 5:28 pm
Late to the party, but I hope Wallen becomes the top artist in 2022 is sales and concert attendance.
Shove it up all the woke white liberal offender’s rectum. And hope Isbell gets it sideways.
And for the black artists in so-called country music, it IS better than what it used to be. You can start being successful once you cease to be a victim. Take the bull by the horns, sing real country music, and quiet the politically correct posturing and just see how much we will tune in.
thegentile
January 12, 2022 @ 11:06 am
man, i love how phrases like “shove it up all the woke white liberal offender’s rectum” and “hope isbell gets it sideways” is considered a great addition to the discourse around here. trig likes to talk a big game about moderation being equal but i haven’t seen anyone say anything near as egregious about wallen getting through (and i doubt anyone even made a comment like this at his expense).
Blockman
January 12, 2022 @ 2:38 pm
Oh, there it is. ‘discourse’ I knew it would make an appearance here from someone like you. The fact you aren’t banned for your ignorance and the spite you have for everyone that doesn’t fall into your hateful and limited worldview shows moderation is more than equal.
thegentile
January 12, 2022 @ 2:50 pm
oh thank god morgan wallen didn’t say the word ‘discourse’. you wouldn’t know what to do with yourself, blockhead.
the fact that the word ‘discourse’ elicited this reaction – compared to say, i dunno… the n word – is truly astounding.
talk about ignorance, spite, hatred, and a limited worldview. shameful. truly.
Blockman
January 12, 2022 @ 3:56 pm
Yes – that is exactly what I was talking about. I’m glad you have basic reading comprehension. You have put on quite a shameful display here indeed. It must be tiring running around looking for opportunities to display such anti-social behaviour. You could use some warm milk and a nap.
BDE
January 11, 2022 @ 6:11 pm
This site’s gone from writing articles about badass David Allan Coe moments to crying about Morgan Wallen jokenly calling his friend a word Coe used in his songs. Sad!
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 6:16 pm
You mean, the only site that is pointing out the what Morgan Wallen said was done jokenly, and is being called racist for doing so. I’m not sure you’re attune to what’s happening here.
Jake Cutter
January 11, 2022 @ 7:04 pm
You take a lot of shit from both sides, and it takes a lot more guts to speak the truth and be attacked than to sling mud like the dishonest, indignant activists do from their more than comfortable positions. The heroes and villains are totally reversed, and you’re right, this is dystopian shit. Thank god there are still a few people fighting the good fight, or else all would be lost. Thank you Trigger.
Trigger
January 11, 2022 @ 7:48 pm
Thanks for reading Jake.
Kevin
January 11, 2022 @ 7:32 pm
“Used the N word in a playful moment”
Lol
There’s no way you’re not trolling with that line. Has to be a honeypot to catch people who Don’t read the whole article.
Spectrum Pulse
January 11, 2022 @ 8:43 pm
I’ve sat on this whole mess for a decent bit and I’ve come to the following conclusion: Morgan Wallen’s marketing team is the best in the goddamn industry and is making out like a bandit, and everyone looks worse in its wake.
Because let’s deconstruct this: the Opry had to know that ERNEST was going to perform ‘Flower Shops’, a legitimately good country song that’s one of the best things he’s written. And while he’s fully capable of performing it all by himself (because Wallen has neither a writer’s nor producer’s credit on the song and really doesn’t add anything special to it), I’m willing to put money on someone on Big Loud saying Wallen should be on it because he’s a name, it’ll draw clicks and attention and ‘controversy’, and continue his image rehab tour. Hell, if I’m being really cynical, given how invested Wallen seemed to be in the Opry, it’s probably a factor as to why ERNEST got on that stage to begin with, there’s a relationship there.
But Wallen’s team is smart – they have to know there’s going to be backlash especially given all the work the Opry has tried to do in recent years to rehabilitate their image, especially with Black performers, so Wallen becomes the story, and the backlash comes in, and then pieces like this are written that are the backlash to the backlash and the debate becomes an utter cesspool (see the comment section). All of this drives more attention and discourse towards Morgan Wallen, who is once again the story…
And I’m not gonna lie, for as many LENGTHY issues as I have with the Opry (Hank Williams is a starting point, but I haven’t forgotten how dirty they did Neko Case either), it seems like they got played for patsies. They probably think by platforming plenty of Black and independent artists that they’re doing the right thing – and they are, which is the overarching point I think Trigger wanted to make, so that anger isn’t taken out on a flawed institution that’s at least trying – but they probably didn’t think far enough to consider that by giving Morgan Wallen their platform as well, it creates a mixed message of who is welcome in the unbroken circle, and puts an asterisk on any of the old systems getting better or changing, because it tells Black artists this is who they’re willing to welcome too. And for a stage that prides itself on exclusivity like the Opry does… look, nobody is entitled to a platform, so it matters who winds up getting one, when, and why, especially one with the historical significance of the Opry, which is the big reason why folks like Isbell were so disappointed in how all of this fell out.
And coming out of all off that… seems to me that the only winner is Morgan Wallen and his PR team who get that much more traffic and marketing off the people who want to work the cancel culture conversation, even as ironically it proves that once you get to a certain level of fame, nobody is truly ‘cancelled’. Black and independent artists lose trust in the Opry, who’ll feel that it’s not worth the trouble to extend an olive branch given the backlash, and ERNEST gets stuck in the crossfire with a good song that nevertheless will wind up crushed by association. Everyone loses except industry hackery who manipulate well-meaning folks, and for as much as this site promotes the independent circuit, I wish more folks didn’t fall for the spin.
Di Harris
January 11, 2022 @ 9:55 pm
” …and ERNEST gets stuck in the crossfire with a good song that nevertheless will wind up crushed by association.”
Oh, i don’t think Flower Shops is going to wind up crushed, at all.
ERNEST & Wallen did a very good job, live, with that song Saturday evening.
Spectrum Pulse
January 11, 2022 @ 10:05 pm
Yeah, about that – the song charted this week at #68 on the Hot 100, which seems to be a strong debut for a country song, especially from a relative unknown… until you look into the fine details. Radio support seems to be non-existent, there’s limited streaming at best, which means the only place the song picked up tangible traction was on sales.
In other words, like when Morgan Wallen has previously gotten sales boosts – as his team is normally way more streaming savvy to build groundswell – it’s built of a moment of controversy tied to the performance at the Opry. It’s a moment, and one that doesn’t seem to have the support to last. And for Wallen that’s fine, he’s got enough other songs charting to hold momentum, but for ERNEST?
Yeah, as good as the performance and song might have been, I’m not seeing the data to drive his career, and if this is the new leaf he’s turning, he got a raw deal.
Di Harris
January 11, 2022 @ 10:13 pm
“Radio support seems to be non-existent, there’s limited streaming at best, which means the only place the song picked up tangible traction was on sales.”
But this could be good, couldn’t it?
Seriously asking.
Like Trig has pointed out, some artists are now gaining major support, by flying independently.
Lil
January 12, 2022 @ 8:15 am
It’s hitting radio January 24th. Ernest already has quite a large following and then add in Morgan Wallen.. I think the song will do just fine lol
Amador
January 11, 2022 @ 9:56 pm
I like his music, but he’s a grown-ass man. He should have the foresight to know that it doesn’t matter who you say shit to in public it can always get out and as someone on a higher platform, he needs to be warry about what he says in public.
That being said, I’m inclined to agree with the article. Calling him racist takes what happened wildly out of context and while I think he needs to feel scorn so he can learn from it the way people are doing it now won’t help. So many country music fans are closed-minded and only think “Hur DUR Cancel CULTURE” and refuse to see it from any other perspective.
Di Harris
January 11, 2022 @ 10:07 pm
“So many country music fans are closed-minded…”
That is your very narrow and erroneous opinion.
wayne
January 12, 2022 @ 8:09 am
Speaking of flat-face Isbell, I wanted to see how diverse and inclusive his band make-up is.
Alas, to my dismay and utter astonishment, it appears there are no black musicains in his band. I mean, come on, are there no black musicians that are capable of playing in his band? Would there be any females in the band if not for his wife?
Maybe he can address that the next time he flies in a jet going to a climate change or Bernie Sanders rally.
Meanwhile, Morgan Wallen and rapper Lil Durk collaborate on Broadway Girls (a hit by the way). Lil Durk says of Morgan, “Ain’t no racist.” Glad to see Morgan being diverse in his musical collaborations and showing others the way. Of course, flat-face says nothing of this because it doesn’t fit his narrative. I am so sick of his shit.
Jake Cutter
January 12, 2022 @ 1:20 pm
I’d say it’s kind of a bad look to signal yourself as a savior of a monolithic group of people, while meanwhile Morgan goes on to not only collaborate with a member of said monolithic group, but scores a number one song in the process – but it doesn’t really matter. Isbell will get pat on the back by certain key artists and journalists and continue the crusade undaunted. And I’m not sure how much sway Lil Durk has anyway….Now….if Kendrick does ultimately end up working with him….that could get interesting.
wayne
January 12, 2022 @ 1:48 pm
Jake,
I agree. I think Morgan comes out of this in great fashion. It was proved last year and starting this year as well with the collaboration. He has a heck of a marketing and PR team. It will be intersting to see how this unfolds.
NattyBumpo
January 12, 2022 @ 9:24 am
In this bizzaro work we are in some of my kids black friends call white kids the n word and vice versa. It’s weird to me and I don’t like it but this is how these 20 somethings and teens talk now.
JB
January 12, 2022 @ 9:46 am
As a country music devotee/“convert” (ie there is nothing “country” about my background, upbringing etc unless you count the fact that I happen to have been born and raised in the South), and having literally since birth been surrounded mostly be liberal/progressive people who mostly hold country music in contempt (don’t worry, I converted a few over the years), I can with complete confidence say that…well, a lot of those people suck just as much as you might think when it comes to there attitudes towards country music, in case you don’t personally know many. I’ll leave it at that.
I have a story of going to the Opry with some relatives that would do a pretty good job of illustrating how much some of these people I know hold country music in contempt, but their reactions to the experience were so unhinged and, frankly, hateful, that I’d rather not put it out there.
(Also, as far as race goes, I know a few people who have negative preconceived notions about country music who are not white, but they are all from parts of the world where country music doesn’t really exist in a meaningful way, and I sort of give them a “pass”. Otherwise, the “haters” (of country music) I have known have almost all been white. Never met a black person who expressed a strong negative feeling towards country music…)
B
January 12, 2022 @ 1:46 pm
There was a boy tending the sheep who would continually go up to the embankment and shout, ‘Help, there’s a wolf!’ The farmers would all come running only to find out that what the boy said was not true. Then one day there really was a wolf but when the boy shouted, they didn’t believe him and no one came to his aid. The whole flock was eaten by the wolf.
D Kl
January 12, 2022 @ 5:50 pm
Everyone should think we have phone cameras this could happen to anyone no matter who you are what color your skin is let’s move on and get on with our lives we’ve got enough going in the world without nitpicking
Hard Times
January 13, 2022 @ 5:13 am
While saying Wallen used the word in a “playful” moment may be accurate, “drunken” moment may be a better fit.
Swampthing
January 13, 2022 @ 8:15 am
I think it’s pretty telling that Trigger characterizes the inclusion of Black artists at the Opry as some kind of generous gesture towards the Black community. Ask yourself why you’re having to pick through and count each time a non-white was at the Opry. I’ve never known anyone who wasn’t racist to have to tally up all the Black people they’ve ever met. This is the context for this discussion–how can anyone think right now is the time to give up the ghost on not letting white people onstage that throw around that word? It’s clear even from Trigger’s rambling, unnecessary contribution to a conversation only a handful of people are having (and too late) that the attitudes of the Opry (and Trigger) are not that Black people by the quality of their music deserve to be onstage. They are onstage so that they get less backlash when they let Morgan Wallen back on for a song. First a song, I’m guessing, and next year a full feature. Why not? Who better to represent such a hypocritical institution and such a festering mass of imbeciles so desperate to fling out the N-word because it’s the one thing Black people have that they can’t?
Timmy
January 13, 2022 @ 8:28 am
I don’t know how many NASCAR folks are here but I imagine a few. Every time I hear about Morgan Wallen, I think of Kyle Larson. If you don’t know his situation, look it up real quick. The situations are almost exactly the same as far as casually using the slur, only Kyle Larson did it sober and live on an iRacing deal during Covid. He was the next big thing in NASCAR at the moment. Lost his ride, sponsorship, support etc. He’s back now, and killed it this year to become the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. The difference I see in these two cases? Kyle Larson went above and beyond to clear his name and demonstrate his character. It’s one thing to say “I’m not really like that” and it’s another thing to walk the walk. For better or worse, I don’t think Morgan Wallen has “walked the walk” when it comes to showing people they’ve got the wrong impression of his character. He’s done tons of mainstream press after the Cup Series win and every single interview brings up his use of the slur and he faces it head on. I’m sure some of the folks that are anti-Opry, anti-Wallen, etc. would also still be anti-Larson at this point, but it doesn’t change the fact that a multimillion dollar organization let him try again after he demonstrated his character, so did society, and so have the media after he’s let them exhaust themselves asking about his life from every possible angle. I think Wallen could have (and still could) learn a lot from Larson.
Lil
January 13, 2022 @ 3:16 pm
I understand what you’re saying. I don’t know NASCAR so I don’t know if the situations are exactly the same. It seems like the Morgan Wallen incident is part of a much larger debate of racism in all of country music.
In some ways I do wish that he would speak out more, show his character and how he’s changed. I’m not sure why he hasn’t. But I also think that it may open him up to more criticism. People would probably says it disingenuous. He has already issued apologies, had a public tv interview which he was criticized for.. I think it may never be enough for people no matter what he does. I’m very interested to see how this year goes.. if he’s invited to anything and what he will say.
KenW
January 13, 2022 @ 9:10 am
Hmmmm…seems easy to make a big deal over the obvious offense of inappropriate language by a person of social relevance but the issue that concerns me is the fact that footage from a Ring doorbell was somehow accessed and made available to the masses. THAT is the larger issue that should concern folks.
Trigger
January 13, 2022 @ 9:18 am
Very “1984.”
Trevizan
January 13, 2022 @ 7:08 pm
The best text I read about this case.
I’m not a fan of Wallen’s song. Opry for sure knew about his apperance.
Truth been said, people are crazy in front of screen trying to fight a lot of virtual fights and forgeting to fight their own fights. People paint 100% of perfect and pure life, and judged every single mistake. Forginess, world need to remember this. Stop this hate and fight and do a good eye to eye conversation.
I agreed about “The Grand Ole Opry is for everyone”, but I would say everyone from USA. Really hope that this “open borders” comes not only for genders or race, but for talent and love for music.
Isbell's Bells
January 13, 2022 @ 8:12 pm
Morgan Wallen was imitating Black people, not intending to denigrate them.
Van Jones can go on tv and spout biological racist nonsense like “White people have a virus in their brains…”
And some racist j*ackass can mow down dozens of people in Waukesha Wisconsin and the whole incident gets memory-holed. And now Cool Lester Smooth is whining about “White Privilege” because Morgan Wallen made a brief appearance at the Grand Ole Opry (which has almost zero relevance in the wider culture anymore). What a bunch of B*llsh*t.
Amanda Fields
January 15, 2022 @ 9:30 am
If someone tells you that something you’re doing or something you’ve done is hurting them, please listen without criticism. Believe them and look for ways to help end their suffering. If you are not for those suffering, you are against them. Let’s encourage compassion in one another!
Amanda Hills
January 15, 2022 @ 10:15 am
No. This is not how compassion works. Compassion is willing the best for the other person, not endless revenge trolling and demanding that one submit to some reeducation program because they made a social faux pax.
“Compassion” is being abused for political ends. We all know “compassion” doesn’t work the way you describe someone objects to being called “privileged” due to the color of their skin, even if they may have suffered more than most people in this country.
As people have pointed out above, this isn’t an interpersonal relationship issue. The word was said in a context where it was not offending anyone nor intending to denigrate anyone. Someone passed along Ring camera footage with the intent to defame Wallen. Yes, as an entertainer he should expect reduced privacy, but this is absurd.
It’s almost 100% certain that Wallen has faced more grief than he has given in this instance.
CG
January 21, 2022 @ 10:36 am
Isbell and the rest of the liberals in country music also think George Floyd is a saint. Let that sink in.
Denvis
March 26, 2022 @ 7:10 pm
I’m impressed with how much I don’t care about a mean word, who says it, how it is used nor who it offends. Crackers crack me up.