Jamey Johnson Ribs Grand Ole Opry for Not Making Him a Member
Membership to the Grand Ole Opry is always a hot button issue among country fans, just as much as induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is. As country music’s oldest and most hallowed institution, an invitation to join the Opry is one of the most honored opportunities a country artist can receive, and something many performers dream of throughout their careers.
When lists of prospective Opry members get passed around, traditionalist and songwriter Jamey Johnson’s name often comes up as a primary candidate. A regular on the Opry already, he has the kind of pedigree the institution should be looking for—strong traditional roots, but with name recognition and mainstream appeal and success.
Many Opry fans and traditional country fans were shocked and disappointed recently when Dustin Lynch was announced as the latest member, being invited officially by Trace Adkins on August 21st. When Lynch was announced, Jamey Johnson was one of the leading names bandied about as a better alternative. It happens to be that 10 days later on August 31st, Jamey Johnson was scheduled to appear on the Opry as part of the evening’s tribute to Roger Miller.
Jamey first came out to perform with Bill Anderson on a song they co-wrote called “Everybody Wants to be Twenty-One” that appears on Bill Anderson’s new album. Then Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys introduced Jamey Johnson for his own segment, and when Jamey took the stage he said,
“I was just talking to Bill Anderson over there on the side and I said, ‘I’m gonna come out here and make this announcement tonight.’ I’d like to announce that I’m the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
This pronouncement from Jamey was met with a roar of applause from the Opry audience. But then Johnson cut in.
“I would like to announce that, but it’s not true. I’ve signed my part of the contract. If we can get them to sign their part it’ll be a done deal,” he said. “We’re working on it. We’re getting there. 13 years now I’ve been playing this ol’ Opry.”
It’s a little hard to tell if Jamey Johnson was trying to be funny, was completely serious, was trying to make a statement, or something in between. But it certainly has stirred the pot for people who think Jamey should be an Opry member, especially if artists such as Dustin Lynch are being invited. Jamey Johnson is a Nashville resident, holds an office on Music Row, and would easily meet the Opry’s performance requirements, unlike many contemporary artists who take the invitation from the Opry, but then rarely appear on the stage.
Jamey concluded by saying, “I love it here. I love all of y’all. Thank you for coming out and supporting this fine institution,” so he clearly wasn’t too torqued on the matter. But it’s also clear Jamey Johnson would love to be a member, and it’s clear to just about everyone who pays close attention to country music that he should be.
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The moment can be heard at roughly 1:59:45 below.
September 17, 2018 @ 7:14 am
If only the Opry would send out invitations to those who have paid their dues and want to be there instead of chasing names
September 17, 2018 @ 4:32 pm
“Chasing names” … what like Dustin Lynch?
Didn’t know he was a “name”. He has like 3 hit songs.. ok. But his album sales suck and he has to coheadline tours with Cole Slaw Swindell to make even. The only reason Dustin hears a cowboy hat is because he is insecure about his height. He is a very small man. Literally and spiritually. He is a poser.
September 17, 2018 @ 6:18 pm
You seem fun
Serious question ask your typical mainstream country fan who are they more familiar with between Johnson and Lynch and I would bet it would be Lynch. The Opry is notorious for extending invitations to mainstream artists that never make dates and have to depend on artist like Johnson to play but yet wont give them recognition such as an invite
September 17, 2018 @ 7:38 am
Great article. If anyone needs to be a member of the Opry it’s JJ. I’ve never even heard of Lynch. It’s a shame the Opry chooses to chase after new Country when their roots should be the traditionalist.
September 17, 2018 @ 12:29 pm
If anyone, it’s Miranda Lambert.
September 17, 2018 @ 1:15 pm
Is this really you, by chance?
https://bulletbluesca.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Miranda-Lambert-black-jeans.png
September 17, 2018 @ 3:42 pm
If you’re asking if I’m Miranda Lambert, well, maybe.
September 17, 2018 @ 5:07 pm
I don’t disagree, but Miranda hardly plays the Opry. Not that the mainstream members do outside of Carrie, but most of them played fairly regularly until they were inducted. Which, yes, is a serious problem that they stop playing after being inducted.
September 17, 2018 @ 6:06 pm
That’s exactly why Miranda should not be a member. No one should be invited unless they are demonstrating respect and loyalty to the Opry by performing 10 times a year on their own, without having it mandated. This Lynch invitation is just plain shameful.
September 17, 2018 @ 7:40 pm
Agreed. In theory I’d obviously love Miranda to be one, but she hasn’t shown any commitment to, or really even any desire for it.
September 18, 2018 @ 4:37 am
LOL. I love your arbitrary 10 times a year stance. That’s actually hilarious.
September 18, 2018 @ 5:42 am
I love your arbitrary 10 times a year stance.
No, not arbitrary.
January 24, 2021 @ 12:41 am
They kicked Hank Williams out and laughed at Elvis so…
September 17, 2018 @ 8:23 am
Pretty genius. “I would LIKE to announce.” Hopefully someone with half a brain also took note of the audience reaction.
Good for him though for still supporting it and praising it, despite their flaws. That’s called maturity – or – being a grown ass man.
September 17, 2018 @ 12:26 pm
Yes, if Opry management is wondering how a Jamey Johnson invitation would be received, they got their answer.
September 17, 2018 @ 8:33 am
The Opry Like country music is fast becoming a joke
September 17, 2018 @ 9:45 am
I mean they never reinstated Hank, so right there is a joke in itself
September 17, 2018 @ 4:24 pm
Or Jimmy Martin. The Opry likes artist that stay between the lines.
September 17, 2018 @ 4:27 pm
Sorry. Jimmy was never allowed to become a member. Didn’t mean to confuse.
September 17, 2018 @ 4:58 pm
Dead people cannot be Opry members. There are commitments members make to doing a certain number of appearances per year. Hank is in no shape to make these commitments, that’s why they have the Hall of Fame.
September 17, 2018 @ 6:14 pm
Are you not familiar with the reinstate Hank campaign that Hank3 helped launch? I get what you are saying, but the gesture is more symbolic then anything. 3 and others gripe has been that the Opry kicked him out for missing dates (ironic in these times) among other things but have no problems in hitching their wagon to his name for publicity and a buck.
September 17, 2018 @ 9:19 am
For me, him (and a couple of others) not being members of the Opry is the equivalent to Warren Zevon not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’ll never take the institution 100% seriously until it happens.
Of course I think the whole idea of a Rock and Roll HoF is kind of silly, but it’s there so why not do it right.
September 17, 2018 @ 10:08 am
That’s ok we know he’s better than that they don’t even know
September 17, 2018 @ 10:39 am
This truly hurt my heart for him. I think he made it absolutely clear that he feels overlooked by the Opry. I’m sure the Lynch announcement hurt his heart too.
September 17, 2018 @ 10:42 am
The Opry and the RnR HoF are businesses.
With no personal knowledge of how people are chosen for Hall’s of Fame, because I don’t care, but sometimes a business makes a business decision.
Art is not a business decision.
I have about 2000 CD/LPs, I curate my own HoF, and it is awesome.
September 17, 2018 @ 1:37 pm
True story.
I’m tilting at windmills with the whole Warren Zevon thing since he’s been dead for 15 years now, but some of the people in don’t hold a candle to him.
September 17, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
Aw, man, you made me go watch the vid for “Keep Me In Your Heart” on youtube.
Shutup! I’m not crying, you’re crying!
Yeah, everyone knows at least one Zevon song front to back. everyone, Werewolves or Poor Poor Pitiful Me or something, and he doesn’t get the respect he should.
September 17, 2018 @ 3:20 pm
Well I’m sittin here playing solitaire with my pearl handled deck
September 17, 2018 @ 3:37 pm
Yeah, brilliant “WTF did he just say” line, I always wondered if Bleu Edmondson was channeling Carmelita when he wrote “Finger on the Trigger”.
Bleu’s song is more urgent and terrifying, Warren’s is more subtle.
“Sometimes when you’re doing simple things around the house
Maybe you’ll think of me and smile
You know I’m tied to you like the buttons on your blouse
Keep me in your heart for a while”.
Jedi-level songwriting.
September 17, 2018 @ 4:56 pm
Dwight does a very simple and respectful cover of Carmelita on YouTube.
Empty Hearted Town might be my favourite.
September 17, 2018 @ 11:04 am
Jamey,
I think you have to be a recording artist to be a member, or you should be.
September 17, 2018 @ 11:49 am
For someone that is passionate about his perceived knowledge of what is and isn’t country music, your knowledge concerning the requirements of Opry membership is quite lacking, despite numerous outlets on the Interwebs posting such requirements.
Do better.
September 18, 2018 @ 6:18 am
You really don’t get it?
September 17, 2018 @ 1:24 pm
Jamey Johnson is a recording artist, just listen to his song “In Color”, pure traditional Country gold!
September 17, 2018 @ 4:05 pm
It might be possible that he’s just pointing out that as of late, there hasn’t been much material released.
September 17, 2018 @ 11:29 am
Mayne Jamey should put out some new music in the meantime….
September 17, 2018 @ 11:58 am
Why?
September 17, 2018 @ 11:49 am
Asking if Jamey Johnson should he be in is like asking if Nolan Ryan should be in the baseball hall of fame. Yea maybe Jamey isn’t a Mickey Mantle of baseball, but he’s damn sure a Nolan Ryan. And Dustin Lynch wouldn’t even be playing on the field….
I love going to the Opry when I’m in town but this just further shows the clown show the membership situation has turned into.
September 17, 2018 @ 12:29 pm
Some artists choose to not be in the Grand Ole Opry because they don’t want to have to live up to the commitments. George Strait for example. But clearly Jamey Johnson wants to be in. And if Jamey Johnson wants to be it, it’s very hard to argue why he isn’t.
September 17, 2018 @ 1:32 pm
Well that would only apply to people like George Straight who actually care about commitments.
I understand the Opry is not the hall of fame, but Jamey plays there more than a lot members and would actually care about his obligations.
I.e. makes no sense why he is not a member.
September 18, 2018 @ 5:55 am
Nolan Ryan? The workhorse who pitched for over a quarter century and all time strikeout leader who is about 1,000 ahead of #2 on the list? I’d say maybe Don Mattingly, who had a few epic hall of fame caliber years but couldn’t continue at that level because of injuries.
September 18, 2018 @ 6:58 am
Pretty funny…. Ok fair point….. but I think you get mine too 🙂
September 18, 2018 @ 8:30 am
Yes, indeed, I do. Baseball analogies are fun, though. Like maybe Dustin Lynch is more like the poor kid on my little league team who would bat first (so that he could get pulled out of the game as soon as possible ) and play his two innings in right field on the hope that nothing would get hit to hm.
September 17, 2018 @ 1:46 pm
Lots of artists should be Opry members! Wake up Opry!!! Jamey Johnson has been there 13 years. Bet Dustin Lynch won’t!
September 17, 2018 @ 2:24 pm
my son and his wife have gotten me interested in JJ….he should be an Opry member. All the things he’s done on and off the stage. it seems maybe the Opry is chasing young country radio instead of the real men and women who are the backbone of country music! btw, who’s that lynch boy?
September 17, 2018 @ 4:25 pm
BooHoo. Cry me a river. He just hurt his chances of ever being invited now…..
September 17, 2018 @ 4:46 pm
If anything he helped it. The response speaks volumes.
October 19, 2020 @ 9:35 am
Htfc
September 17, 2018 @ 5:11 pm
Boo Hoo?
September 17, 2018 @ 6:00 pm
Yes. The world’s saddest song on the world’s smallest violin
September 17, 2018 @ 9:05 pm
I’m sure he’s devastated he might never be a member of that trainwreck of an organization.
September 17, 2018 @ 5:05 pm
Today September 17 is Hank Williams birthday.
September 17, 2018 @ 7:21 pm
I would say that if Mr Roy was still in charge there be several of the new ones not members
September 17, 2018 @ 8:00 pm
It seems to me that the Opry has become more concerned with adding members who make them look cool or popular because they are mainstream country rather than those who actually deserve it. I hope they ask him to be a member soon.
September 17, 2018 @ 9:04 pm
At this point, I don’t even know why anyone would want to be a member anymore. Most of the people being invited these days are playing watered down garbage “country” music.
As far as I’m concerned the Opry can disappear into oblivion any never come back.
September 18, 2018 @ 8:48 am
Actually most of the recent invitees have been pretty decent, including Bobby Bare, Crystal Gayle, and Dailey & Vincent.
September 18, 2018 @ 1:21 pm
Still doesn’t make up for inductions like Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Blake Shelton, Rascall Flats, and more.
September 18, 2018 @ 4:28 am
The Opry today seems to be all about money and not about REAL COUNTRY MUSIC anymore. The ones sitting on the board who choose to be asked to join are there for money and just like politicians in Washington..????
September 18, 2018 @ 6:35 am
If you claim to be a fan of country music, and you hate on Jamey Johnson…..then you are the problem. Jamey one of the few national touring acts that truly plays traditional country music. I don’t know that anyone tours nationally that shows respect to the legends, and also plays great originals. Saw him a few months back and he played Jones cover of Still Doing Time, and I sat there thinking he is the only person alive that would even think of playing this cover at his show (Daryle Singletary was the other).
September 18, 2018 @ 6:37 am
I don’t know how I missed this, but THS was in the side bar over there—> 😀
https://savingcountrymusic.com/axl-rose-declines-grand-ole-opry-induction/
September 18, 2018 @ 8:19 am
It’s a dirty job…but someone’s gotta do it…(very un-)popular opinion: i’m not a fan of Dustin Lynch (meh) or the most decisions the Opry makes…but to stay relevant & reach a younger audience the Opry must add a couple of mainstream-artists to the line-up.
Is JJ the better artist? Sure! Should he be a member? Yes!
The big mistake is to invite artists who will not fulfill the Opry’s performance rules (Keith Urban).
September 18, 2018 @ 8:46 am
The younger crowd barely knows who Dustin Lynch is. Perhaps they recognize one or two of his songs, but he’s a C-level star. You want to get the younger crowd engaged? Induct Luke Combs.
September 18, 2018 @ 9:13 am
Too early.
Luke Combs better release a couple of good albums first.
April 24, 2021 @ 5:26 am
Luke Combs? That fat joke. Look that guy is commercial radio as they come.
He has no business in an actual country organization.
September 18, 2018 @ 10:22 am
I went on the opry tour a couple months ago and the guide said they no longer have the minimum performance requirements for members.
At least when Keith Urban is there he can tear it up on guitar. You can’t really dispute he can play his instrument. Dustin Lynch doesn’t even pick good songs to sing.
September 18, 2018 @ 1:31 pm
Funny and sad at the same time, so many artists that should’ve been selected before Lynch.
September 18, 2018 @ 4:23 pm
I’ve mentioned Rhonda Vincent should be a member in past posts.I say that because Rhonda has more than paid her dues to be an Opry member.
She has been on the Opry a lot,since the days she was on Giant records back in the 1990’s.And she continues to appear on the Opry.
So I still say she should be a member.And Jamey should be too.
September 19, 2018 @ 11:51 am
Contracts aren’t the way it used to be at the Grand Ole Opry. Carey Bringle of Peg Leg Porkers in Nashville had Tim ‘Bud’ Thompson on his podcast where they talked about how it used to be a handshake agreement.
September 22, 2018 @ 6:59 pm
If country music wasnt based on money it would look alot different. Country music gets more watered down and farther from what it should be everypassing year. Its a joke.
June 28, 2020 @ 7:25 am
Jamey Johnson’s not a MEMBER OF THE OPRY???? WHOMEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THAT APPERENT F**K UP! #FIRED Jamey Johnson for PRESIDENT 2O20!♡♡♡♡♡♡U