Nothing Sacred: What is the Benchmark for Playing the Grand Ole Opry?
On March 15th, 1968, as the legendary folk rock band The Byrds were in Nashville to record what would become their iconic country music album Sweetheart of the Rodeo at Columbia Studios, they made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Inspired by the passion for country music by Byrds member Gram Parsons, who along with bluegrass and country guitarist Clarence White assuaged The Byrds to go in a country direction with their music, they took the hallowed Grand Ole Opry stage to perform Merle Haggard’s “Sing Me Back Home,” and Gram’s Louvin Brothers’-inspired song “Hickory Wind.”
The Byrds would go on to expose an entire generation of music fans in California and beyond to the beauty of country music at a time that the counterculture was trying to distance from the traditional values symbolized by the genre, and would inspire scores of California country bands that today are considered essential to the country music canon.
But that was not how Gram Parsons and The Byrds were received on March 15th, 1968. As the band played “Hickory Wind,” they were heckled from the gallery of the Ryman Auditorium, booed and jeered as hippie longhairs, with some audience members crying out “tweet, tweet!” in criticism. The Byrds, no matter how respectful they were to the traditions of country music, were turned away as being inappropriate for the Opry stage.
Today it is a much different story. When was the last time you heard about anyone being booed on the Grand Ole Opry stage, or the Opry turning down a famous face that happens to show up? In recent weeks, Pharrell Williams, Kiefer Sutherland, and even Chewbacca Mom have made appearances with not just the approval of the Opry management, but to ovations from the Opry crowd. Meanwhile worthwhile country music talent like Cody Jinks, Whitey Morgan, and many more have never made appearances on the Opry.
The reason for such high-profile appearances from pop culture personalities is obvious: it helps promote the Opry to the rest of the world, especially now that the storied institution is not as well-known to new generations as it once was. The Grand Ole Opry has lost a bit of its prominence, but you can’t criticize it for being the parade of pop country faces that it was in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Now many of the Opry’s younger members have virtually abandoned the institution, while older artists make up the majority of the performers.
But the Opry stage still symbolizes legitimacy. The Opry crowd didn’t boo The Byrds off the stage in 1968 due to their performance; it was because they didn’t belong there, and it could set a bad precedent. Later The Byrds proved why the Opry crowd was wrong, but at that time, the Opry faithful were not solely showing disdain for the Byrds, they were showing their concern for the Opry institution.
Today, it’s not just that you would never hear anyone booed on the Opry stage, no matter how bad their music is, or how inappropriate it is for them to be there. It’s that never is heard a discouraging word anywhere in country music about really anything. People seem to be resigned to the authenticity of country music institutions faltering, while the few outlying voices of dissent are cast off as “haters.” It used to be expected of country fans to voice their displeasure if it was called for.
The Grand Ole Opry is not alone in stretching itself beyond its defined borders. Recently the Country Music Hall of Fame has been setting up displays for country music’s current stars way before they would normally be recognized by the institution. Eric Church and Dierks Bentley are one thing, but recently Kelsea Ballerini got a display in the Hall. Granted, a lot of these displays are temporary, and take up space in a portion of the hall around the building’s vast archive that were once vacant. But again there seems to be no benchmarks in place for where an artist must reach in their career before being recognized.
READ – Past Due: Who Should Be The Next Grand Ole Opry Member?
Keifer Sutherland’s country music single “Not Enough Whiskey” is actually not a bad song, and is probably a lot better, and a lot more country than much of the music performed on the Grand Ole Opry by artists like Chris Lane, Sam Hunt, or Chase Rice. But where is the benchmark? Who at the Opry is really scanning the country landscape looking for the up-and-coming or worthy country talent that is due the recognition of playing the Opry stage? Highlighting these artists seems to be the way the institution can preserve its storied place in culture and society—not throwing the barn doors wide and taking all comers as long as they have a popular name or a viral video.
Just like The Byrds, it’s not about Kiefer Sutherland’s performance on the Opry being bad. It’s about all the better voices in country music being turned away while others are bequeathed the honored opportunity, and the boo birds remain silent.
August 18, 2016 @ 9:14 am
Grand Ole Opry: The same place that told Elvis Presley to go fuck himself and lo and behold, he went on to become a legendary figure.
August 18, 2016 @ 10:49 am
Yep…they begged him to come back in later years and he refused. Never mind the fact that Bill Monroe loved Elvis’ version of “Blue Moon of Kentucky”, they Opry wouldn’t have Elvis then, and he wasn’t about to bow down to that when he was established as “The King”
August 18, 2016 @ 9:20 am
Turnpike Troubadours are playing the Opry later this month for I believe their first time. Worth noting.
August 18, 2016 @ 9:28 am
Bout damn time.
August 18, 2016 @ 9:23 am
So when are we organizing a SCM Opry meet up/boo gallery?
August 18, 2016 @ 9:28 am
That might be fun.
August 18, 2016 @ 9:54 am
This is a GREAT idea. Let’s make it happen!
August 18, 2016 @ 2:02 pm
That was my same thoughts. We as readers of this website, need to set a date when someone like Chris Lane or Kelsea Ballerina performs, and all get tickets to the Opry, and tell them what we think of them. I wonder what Eddie Stubbs would say? Actually, does anybody know what the host/ other acts did when The Byrds were booed? They say, the show must go on, but that’s not something anybody was prepared for.
August 20, 2016 @ 7:26 pm
Fuckin A
August 18, 2016 @ 4:28 pm
Count me in!
August 18, 2016 @ 5:48 pm
I’m game.
August 18, 2016 @ 9:42 am
For the Opry it’s a balancing act. In truth they have enough performing slots that they could give shots to plenty of young talent. It’s not like Kiefer is playing 20 shows. For me as a country music fan, I seek out what I like, an then support that music…but I don’t feel the need to tell other people that what they like is wrong (different from a musical critique). People all have different tastes, and that’s ok.
August 18, 2016 @ 10:25 am
“For me as a country music fan, I seek out what I like, an then support that music…but I don’t feel the need to tell other people that what they like is wrong (different from a musical critique).”
So where does Chewbacca Mom fit into all of that.
As funny as it may sound, I don’t have a problem with the Opry booking Cole Swindell or Chase Rice. I have a problem with their music, and how they disrespect the institution by wearing backwards baseballs caps on the Opry stage. But I understand why they’re booked. I get it, they’re part of “country” whether we like it or not. But when outsiders are getting opportunities that people have worked their entire lives to not get, it seems a little inequitable. I understand why the Opry does it, but I think they’re cheapening their brand as opposed to bolstering it.
August 18, 2016 @ 10:02 am
Fuck the Opry.
August 18, 2016 @ 10:42 am
Just to be clear, Gram was the driving force in the Byrds going country. Clarence White joined the band after Gram was gone. He picked up the torch. Both made notable contributions just not together in the Byrds. And I agree, FUCK the Opry!
August 18, 2016 @ 10:55 am
Even though Clarence White died young, at least his guitar Hummingbyrd went into the good hands of Marty Stuart.
August 18, 2016 @ 11:17 am
The reason I mentioned Clarence White is because every time I mention Gram being the driving force for The Byrds going country, people throw Clarence White in my face. Also, he was one of the session musicians on “Sweetheart of the Rodeo.”
August 18, 2016 @ 11:47 am
I was just going to say Clarence was on “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” I have “Blue Canadian Rockies” and “The Christian Life” in rotation to honor Clarence’s post humus induction into the IBMA Hall of Fame.
August 21, 2016 @ 12:57 pm
I would argue the Byrds were showing signs of country before GP. You can hear it on Time Between that I believe was on the Younger than Yesterday album. The Desert Rose Band recorded it about 20 years later too. Didn’t Chris Hillman come from a bluegrass background? I think GP gets more credit than Hillman because he died so young. But I think Hillman was equally important to the country rock movement.
August 18, 2016 @ 1:54 pm
I partly agree. (The Gram/Byrd part.) But I don’t think it is right to blame the Opry, as an institution, Where would Contry Music be without it? Most of the “old” artist grew up listening to it…I mean, (love to quote Waylon 🙂 ), “You can hear the Grand Ol’ Opry in Nashville Tennessee…”
The one who should be blamed is the individuals at the Opry who sometimes took/take the wrong decisions.
August 20, 2016 @ 10:03 am
I don’t think anyone is blaming the institution, they’re blaming the current management. Just like a pro sports team might suck at any given moment due to poor management or a lack of talent despite the fact that it’s a historically great franchise, the Opry sucks at this given moment for very similar reasons despite being an historically great American institution.
August 20, 2016 @ 10:41 am
Well…That’s about what I tried to say I just can’t express myself as good as you… 🙂
August 18, 2016 @ 10:46 am
The problem is today’s country stars have no respect and reverence for the Opry. The Opry has to try and survive.
August 18, 2016 @ 11:16 am
Well …let’s see….Hank Sr and Cash were both banned from the opry. Very wrong…
Are yall familiar with the Dale Watson song Country my Ass? Dale told the story of how it came about. Back in the 90’s when Dale was prepared to take country by storm….he got asked to appear on the opry. Sounded great …at first….then Dale gets this apologetic sounding…there’s been a change of plans Mr. Watson, it seems that since Billy Gilman is in town…we are gonna put him in your slot…oh , but no worries tho cause we can work you in later for the non-televised portion of the show…I’m sure you understand…I mean, cmon…it’s Billy Gilman!
True story…Dale was so torqued off he wrote that song. AND he hasn’t ever been back to the Opry!!
August 18, 2016 @ 12:11 pm
There’s a great line I’ve heard that every good idea starts out as a revolution, turns into a business, and ends up as a racket.
Country music went the way of the racket awhile ago.
August 19, 2016 @ 9:35 am
“There’s a great line I’ve heard that every good idea starts out as a revolution, turns into a business, and ends up as a racket. Country music went the way of the racket awhile ago. ”
Right on . See my post below …
August 18, 2016 @ 1:01 pm
Keifer Sutherland’s music is actually pretty decent but it seems premature to put him on the Opry stage. But I draw the line at the chewbaca mom. Nothing personal against her but video “stars” have no place at the Opry. I mean it’s like they’re TRYING to destroy any & all credibility they have. Might as well shut the whole thing down and start over.
August 18, 2016 @ 1:03 pm
Edit: that should have said viral video “stars”
August 18, 2016 @ 1:19 pm
Going to the Opry has never crossed my mind.
Perhaps it’s because I love country music.
To me, the Opry will always be the Ryman, which will probably be called the AutoZone Ryman or the CNA Ryman or something like that in the near future.
The Opryland complex exudes the in-your-face wealth and ostentation that I find such a turn-off with Nashville as a city.
I like the parts of Nashville which haven’t been coopted by developers and which include its independent music scene.
But the Opry crowd certainly ain’t what it used to be, and it has made more than its share of poor decisions over the years.
August 18, 2016 @ 3:58 pm
What parts of Nashville would that be? Surely, not what used to be called East Nasty. That’s just a different uniform.
August 18, 2016 @ 1:51 pm
What they need to do is open a brand new Opry for the new stars. Lots of glitz and smoke and downright crappy music for all those who think they know country. That way they won’t be in the way of REAL country. And also they can open it up in any public bathroom anywhere to save time building a shine to it!
August 18, 2016 @ 2:15 pm
Here’s what I can’t believe. They allow Charles Esteen to play. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HE IS NOT EVEN A RECORDING ARTIST. He is a TV actor for crying out loud. And follow the Opry on snapchat. All they ever post is videos of these pop country stars/ TV show stars like Esteen, always proclaiming them the second coming of sliced bread with emojis and slathering words like ‘Hail the Queen’ over a video of Kelsea Ballerini.
But back to Esteen. Does not have any plans (that I’m aware of) of releasing an album. But this institution allows him prime-time slots on the Opry stage. I just don’t get it, because they also turn around and give slots to Mo Pitney and William Michael Morgan too. But you’ll never see those guys featured on the snapchat story. I believe John Conlee was featured in it one weekend, but for as much as he plays the Opry, I should see more of him.
If they ever induct anybody new in the coming year or so, I think that will give us a clue as to what direction the Opry is headed through these years of trend chasing garbage. If it’s a Mo Pitney type, maybe the Opry still has a chance long term. But if it’s someone from the other end of the spectrum, then I would wager we’ve lost the Opry for good, especially as the older artists die off, because they have to fill the spots with somebody.
August 18, 2016 @ 4:34 pm
It’s because the parent company of the Opry is underwriting “Nashville,” so they cross-promote the stars and the Opry on the show.
August 18, 2016 @ 2:33 pm
Say what you will, but Chewbacca Mom’s cover of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” was pretty terrific.
August 18, 2016 @ 3:19 pm
Just got back from a week long vacation in Nashville, and the wife and I made the HoF one of our many stops. On our way inside we passed banners for some of those temporary exhibits for Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley. Got in the elevator to go upstairs — when it opens, the FIRST THING we see is the “Taylor Swift Education Center.” Next is some of the showcases for older performers like Roy Acuff, Hank Williams Sr., Gene Autry, etc. It disturbed me how their items were sandwiched into cases together while Zac Brown and his band got a whole wall (with a part specifically dedicated to the Jekyll + Hyde era, of course). Went down the hall a bit and there’s one of Elvis’ cars and his piano — okay, I know that Elvis did a lot for country music (music in general is probably a more accurate claim, even if “Blues Eyes Crying in the Rain” was one of the last songs he sang before he died) and I also know that his house is down the street in Memphis, but why in the hell is he taking up so much space here? Does Johnny Cash have a hold on floor space over at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
We progressed a little farther through the otherwise great (if under-represented) showcases for classic performers as well as some of the newer (circa 1990s) folks, even passing by a replica of Blake Shelton’s chair from The Voice (*facepalm*). I keep thinking to myself that there was a curious lack modern performers in the Hall, save for a few exceptions. We get towards the end and suddenly the decor changes to a more “modern” look, and Sam Hunt’s hip hop hat wearing mug is plastered on the wall, flanked by Luke Bryan and other pop being sold as country douchebags. Oh, and there was a full-size replica of TAYLOR SWIFT’S TOUR BUS at the back for all of her tween fans to go through. Still, it wasn’t all bad: a lot of Chris Stapleton’s garb from his career-defining CMA performance with Justin Timberlake was there, as was a small endcap section for Aaron Watson.
Good Lord, I’ve never had a museum experience that was divided so closely between pleasure and pain (not to mention annoyance). Went to the Willie Nelson and Friends Museum and General Store a few days later. Much more authentic, but obviously not as nice or in-depth (there was a curious lack of Willie and Waylon in the Hall, not to mention DAC (who’s never getting in), so it was nice to see them represented there). Interestingly, even though he’s not been inducted, they had Johnny Paycheck’s guitar at the Hall.
August 18, 2016 @ 4:22 pm
Wow..thanks for the info. Kinda says it all, the Hall of Fame is worried about being perceived as relavant, thus the Sam Hunt, Lukes Bryan, Taylor Swift nonsense. Well sadly, at the Rock n Roll Hall of fame you see many exhibits devoted to pop stars who could never be considered rock n roll and are not inductees. People like lady Gaga and rappers..
August 19, 2016 @ 2:37 pm
I think that some artists are so influential that it would be disingenuous to not have them in certain Halls of Fame. For instance, Michael Jackson probably belongs in the Rock Hall. People forget that unlike country, rock is just another form of pop and pop is the “catch all” genre when it comes to sounds and influences. You can put any sound you want in a song and call it pop or rock — Billy Joel’s “You’re My Home” has a decent amount of twang in it but it’s not a country song. A case can be made for certain pop artists belonging in the Rock Hall (even some country artists, like Johnny Cash and possibly Waylon Jennings at some point), but it’s not the same for the Country Music Hall of Fame. That was my main issue with Elvis, though he still perhaps deserves to be there (but not for almost 20 years at this point with other true blue country artists still out in the cold).
August 18, 2016 @ 5:14 pm
Agree with much of what you are saying but Elvis has been in the Country Music Hall Of Fame since 1998 and had dozens of country hits at the same time as they were hitting on the new rock and roll charts. Plus from 1970 until his death in 1977 he had over twenty country hits including a couple of #1’s. In fact his song ‘Way Down’ had been crowned as the #1 Country song in the country just a couple of days before he died so I would say that he was deeply immersed in country music for the 20+ years of his career.
And I would say Elvis’ impact on country music history is greater to this day than Johnny Cash’ impact on Rock and Roll and of course Cash has been in the RRHOF since 1992.
Your other complaints are spot on though just not this one in my opinion.
August 19, 2016 @ 2:47 pm
Elvis had a great impact on all of music and had a passion for all types. He cut some country songs just like he cut a bit of everything else. I’m not saying he doesn’t belong in the Hall, I’m saying that he takes up too much floor space for an artist that isn’t JUST country, but one that belongs to any and every genre that wants to claim him. The comparison to Johnny Cash was rhetorical sarcasm directed at the fact that rock doesn’t have the same lowest common denominator problem that country has, so OF COURSE he would not have the same amount of floor space. It’s a fair bet to assume that more people like Elvis than not, but that doesn’t mean he deserved to get in as early as he did.
And be careful about defending Elvis’ inclusion with just his track record: if the only criteria to be in the CMHoF is success, we might as well just roll out the carpet for Sam Hunt and Taylor Swift already.
August 19, 2016 @ 3:14 pm
Taylor Swift will probably be in the Country Music Hall Of Fame someday just like Brenda Lee. So will Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and probably others that we can’t even imagine right now. The biggest stars of every era have always made it and no matter what we think of these guys now they will all make it in 20-30-40 years time as the current decision makers die off eventually those making the decisions will be from this generation and to them Luke Bryan will be classic country. Just remember every CMA Entertainer Of The Year winner except for Hank Jr. and Alan Jackson that is reasonably eligible is in the Hall.
So buy your tickets now for the 2046 induction ceremonies when a 70 year old Luke Bryan shakes his butt up to the stage for his induction because it will happen.
August 20, 2016 @ 5:00 am
Scotty, Luke Bryan will probably throw both hips out trying to shake his ass…. presuming he doesn’t have one of his falling of the stage issues. Wonder what his teeth will look like once he stops with those $2000 per visit teeth polishing jobs, too!
August 20, 2016 @ 12:52 pm
I’ve no illusions about that happening, but it doesn’t mean we have to be HAPPY about it. That was more or less the point I was making.
August 21, 2016 @ 9:37 pm
Elvis Presley had a load of #1 country hits in the 1950s, (and influenced country artists continuously to this day), he died in 1977 and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. And you are concerned that that was too “early.”
Don’t take offense, but I think you’re clueless.
August 22, 2016 @ 2:00 pm
In what way am I “clueless”? Not once did I say that he didn’t belong in the Hall, nor do I think his death has much of anything to do with it. His induction date may not have been early in the sense that it was 20 years too late for him to see it, but I meant that it was early in terms of who was and wasn’t in at the time and who still isn’t in now that’s PURELY a country artist. It seems to me that you’re thinking about Elvis’ inclusion in terms of Elvis whereas I’m thinking in terms of the genre of country music. That doesn’t make me clueless, it just means I’m not considering the issue from the same angle as you. Shoot me. There’s people who think Elvis doesn’t belong in the Hall at all, and you’re coming at me because I think others should have gotten in first?
And what exactly has your comment informed me of that wasn’t said before? What about my actual point that I’ve explained and re-explained wasn’t clear? All you’ve done is post redundancies which I’ve had to respond to with redundancies, and I’M the “clueless” one. Right. But still, I’ll be sure and ask the King for forgiveness tonight before I go to sleep.
August 25, 2016 @ 5:32 pm
I still think you’re clueless.
Elvis had a bunch of country hits over several decades, he was a huge influence on country artists from Conway Twitty to Buck Owens to Ronnie McDowell to Mark Collie to Dwight Yoakum To Travis Tritt to Billy Ray Cyrus to a whole bunch of others. And the man had a huge impact on the music industry, of which country is a part. And he’s hugely popular among the type of people who visit the Hall of Fame. And as a point of fact, Elvis was inducted well after many of his contemporaries and even followers–Brenda Lee, Buck Owens, Roger Miller, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash–so the suggestion that his induction was “too early” makes no sense. If he belongs in the Hall-of-Fame, then his induction was not too early. It’s not like Vince Gill, who went in ahead of a bunch of more illustrious predecessors.
August 20, 2016 @ 4:41 pm
Re. Johnny Cash’s impact on rock and roll–it would be wise not to sell the Man In Black short in this area. He was there for its beginning at Sun Records, after all. His songs routinely crossed over from pop to country for much of the 1960s; he championed the folk music movement of that decade like nobody’s business, befriending Bob Dylan and having Mr. Dylan on his TV show in 1969. In fact, Mr. Cash has probably had the most significant impact on rock and roll of any male country artist, past or present, just by the sheer force of his no-holes-barred persona alone, not to mention all those classic hits of his.
As for Elvis’ impact on country music–well, I certainly won’t dispute that by any means, though ironically his initial emergence in the 1950s (he would likely have been a straight country artist had he not also been so immersed in R&B music as well) came close to damned near destroying country music (and as people have mentioned, he was told by the Opry in 1954 to go back to being a truck driver after his one and only appearance, which was arguably the biggest mistake the Opry folks ever made).
August 20, 2016 @ 9:52 pm
You’re wrong about all the “reasonably eligible” Entertainer of they Year winners–other than Hank Jr. and Alan Jackson– being in the Hall of Fame.
Charlie Rich, John Denver and Ricky Skaggs won Entertainer of the Year and are not in the H-o-F.
And you can add Brooks & Dunn, who are contemporaries of A.J.
August 21, 2016 @ 1:20 pm
You are correct. I used ‘reasonably eligible’ because the hall is so nebulous about who is eligible in what categories. I would bet that Charlie Rich will make the hall one these years and Ricky Skaggs is very, very close right now. John Denver may end up being the only EOY not in the hall up to the Dixie Chicks who are a whole other story. My whole point was that the biggest stars of every era eventually make it in the hall it’s just a matter of waiting longer for some than others and winning EOY is sort of the winning MVP in baseball in that it greatly enhances your resume.
August 21, 2016 @ 9:58 pm
Interesting.
Standards for the Baseball H-o-F are a little more “tangible” than those for the Country Music H-o-F. Winning an MVP award is a great credential, but it’s not suffficient to get a player into the baseball H-o-F if he does not have the requisite performance level over a lengthy career. Over the past half-century-plus, players including Dick Groat, Ken Boyer, Elston Howard, Zoillo Versalles, Denny McClain, Boog Powell, Jeff Burroughs, Dave Parker, Kevin Mitchell have won MVP’s without coming close to making the H-o-F; and even guys like Roger Maris, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy and Steve Garvey, who’ve had considerable support, have fallen short. (Dale Murphy had the rarity of winning two MVP’s in a row and is not in the Hall!)
August 22, 2016 @ 6:21 am
Yeah the comparison to baseball isn’t exact I agree as in baseball many HOF voters talk about whether players were the very best of their eras and one way to judge that is MVP and Cy Young awards and also high finishes in the voting for those awards. Don Sutton and Bert Blyleven were examples of pitchers who many said were never the best of their times and struggled for years to get in.
So I just think that for the Country HOF history tells us that the dominant popular artists of each era will make it eventually and using EOY wins or perhaps nominations is one way to predict what will eventually happen. Not perfect and there will be outliers for sure.
August 21, 2016 @ 7:04 pm
Taylor swift donated $4 million to the hall of fame a handful of years ago. Why the education center is named after her and most likely the extra bus/exhibit.
Before the full transition to the Taylor education center that used to be a member only room. They had drinks and snacks. Back room on the side was an excellent overview of Broadway and the river. It wasn’t crazy expensive either being an out of state resident it was about $30 for the year. Unlimited entry and invites to special events if you could make it. They would email you and let you check out the special exhibits before the public saw them. Special concerts and events. If you travel to Nashville semi often it’s worth it. They did away with the out of state one and its $45 last time I checked to join for the year.
August 18, 2016 @ 3:36 pm
The Opry has more of a legend than it rightfully should. It has no criteria and goes as does ‘country’ music. It is a stage that caters to the masses that fill the seats. Loretta, Waylon, George,.etc.. it matters none to the front office as they hand out ‘ memberships’ based on whats hot at the moment.. no different than the RnR Hall as it has no base rule on entrance..
August 18, 2016 @ 3:45 pm
I am just sick of Chewbacca mom I could puke, her cackling in her car wasn’t even funny. The Opry could give a shit about any that does not have a recognizable name or anyone who does not suck.
August 18, 2016 @ 4:58 pm
Another thing that should be said about the Byrds’ saga in Nashville: Besides getting dissed by the ultra-conservative Opry crowd, they were also slammed by no less a figure than Ralph Emery on his radio broadcast; he let it be known that he HATED the band because they were “longhairs”. In response, both Roger McGuinn and Gram Parsons penned “Drug Store, Truck Drivin’ Man”, a fairly vicious (even in waltz time) “up yours” to Emery and his ilk. The song ended up on the Byrds’ 1969 C&W/rock album DR. BYRDS AND MR. HYDE, though, by that time, Parsons and another ex-Byrd, Chris Hillman, had formed the Flying Burrito Brothers.
But back to the pop “interlopers” who are invited onto the Opry stage, whilst too many of the true modern gatekeepers, not to mention the mega-veterans, of country music’s traditional spirit are being left off–I could be wrong about this, but it almost seems like the powers-that-be who run things in Nashville now are trying to pull a corporate brainwashing over on today’s country audiences into thinking that the genre is suddenly “hip” because it is “evolving”. And it also appears as if, by having artists like Pharrell or Pink or Demi Lovato collaborate with some of their top artists of today, they’re trying to make it a sign that they’re not as backward or intolerant as that earlier generation had been to the Byrds.
But if that’s so, then it reeks of a mere money-and-attention getting ploy of the most deceptive sort; and it really doesn’t have much of anything to do with the genre’s history. I don’t think any of the pop artists who’ve collaborated with today’s country artists have much of a clue about the genre, and this doesn’t even include the rap/hip-hop artists who influenced the growth of Bro-Country and its many toxic iterations over the last five years. And yet they’re trying to con country and pop audiences alike into thinking that all this is a sign of Nashville’s HIPNESS?! PLEASE!!
As a 1960s/1970s rock and roll fan who got into country via, ironically, California-based “longhairs” like the Byrds, the Eagles, and Linda Ronstadt, it dismays me to see ANYBODY swallowing this Nashville corporate con game whole. This could go a long way to destroying the genre in our lifetimes (IMHO).
August 19, 2016 @ 6:17 pm
This guy gets it!
I’d also like to say, after watching NASHVILLE NOW in the late 80’s/early 90’s, Ralph Emery is a condescending turd.
I’m not shocked about his comment about “longhairs”; in fact, I’m sure he probably had more to say behind closed doors about many acts.
I always found him to be a smug man who was full of himself, and I often wondered why he hosted the show. He obviously had connections with a lot of music industry folks and artists, but I’d be willing to bet that he wasn’t as well liked as he thought.
May 17, 2020 @ 6:20 am
Agreed with everything you said above; this is not the same as, say Elvis Costello coming on the Opry to sing the two times he did do so-Costello at least respected country enough to preform songs related to it (or actual C&W songs). The people mentioned by you (and Stefani) probably can’t do country song, and will do their genres that aren’t country.
As I said previously, a variety show for pop artists is needed similar to the short-lived The Vice Show that was on the Vice Channel, or something like it on MTV.
August 18, 2016 @ 7:54 pm
Boo on Saving country…boo on cigarettes
August 19, 2016 @ 7:41 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUzvI3B55GM
August 18, 2016 @ 9:40 pm
Well, they were nervous about Waylon ’cause he had a crooked smile.
For many, many years they never wanted Bocephus ’cause he’s too god damn loud.
Did you really think they ever wanted Johnny Paycheck hanging around?
Hell no, ’cause they’re too up tight.
August 19, 2016 @ 6:28 am
The opry still has some great moments, but seems like they are few and far between.
a few highlights for me in the past few years:
-Jones 80th birthday with Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, Blackberry Smoke,
-Old Crow induction
-numerous Haggard tributes on the opry (chuch, toby keith)
-Vince Gill/Paul Franklin performances after release of Bakersfield album
-Jamey Johnson/Bill Anderson guitar song, when Anderson had an old guitar returned to him.
-Jones funeral at the opry was terribly sad, but nonetheless very special moment at the opry. A highlight for me was Charlie Daniels eulogy. “He never strayed from his roots, never tried to go along with trends or fads or sound like the next big thing coming off music row. He just kept on being George Jones. And in this modern day of follow the lead, cookie cutter, whatever radio will play sameness, he stood head and shoulders above the fray. Kept right on doing it his way and he all loved him for it.”
-Chis Young singing Keith Whitley while playing Keith’s guitar. Yes Young is lame as hell, but still..
-Ashley Monroe Hanks Cadillac
Most is garbage, but there is still a few positives over the last 5 years or so.
August 19, 2016 @ 5:08 pm
Chris singing “Don’t Close Your Eyes” is great, IMO. He should be that way constantly. I also liked Easton Corbin’s version of “Silver Wings”.
August 19, 2016 @ 6:10 pm
Let’s just call this what it is: ways for the Opry to make money, plain and simple. I understand needing revenue, but for an organization that touts its commitment to tradition, they regularly piss all over that claim.
They’ve always been all about the money, so this is no surprise. They can continue to try to convince themselves they’re the voice of traditional country, but that’s bullshit, and they know it. They half-ass traditional country in favour of the flavour of the week.
Plus, any organization that’s been told by names such as Haggard and Jennings To take their “Opry Membership” and stuff it should give fans a long pause, as well as reason to question what the Opry’s motives are. It should be obvious to anyone: money. Period.
August 19, 2016 @ 10:28 pm
Time has a way of moving on.
Back when going to the Opry meant that you would see Roy Acuff, the Carter Family, Hank Snow, Bill Monroe, Jimmie Dickens and Minnie Pearl–the titans and links to country music’s origins– in the flesh, then yes, the Opry had some cache and who could or could not get on the stage had some significance.
Sorry, but when going to the Opry means that you’ll see John Conlee, Larry Gatlin and Riders in the Sky (not that they’re not all wonderful people, of course), then what the frack difference does it make who the hell else gets to have a turn on stage.
Get real!
August 20, 2016 @ 9:58 am
It DOES make a difference who else gets on the stage. Most of the essential 20th century trendsetters have passed away but their slots should not be filled by lightweight current acts not fit to shine their shoes. There are many talented new folks carrying the torch for true country music forward that deserve to be on that stage far more than another of the flavor of the month acts that now permeate the country charts. In recent years the impact of the Opry has significantly diminished. The time has come for the Opry to accept that it can no longer be a showcase for current country music and it should switch gears to focus on Bluegrass and Americana artists that personify the image that the Opry was known for.
August 19, 2016 @ 11:46 pm
“…Sorry, but when going to the Opry means that you’ll see John Conlee, Larry Gatlin and Riders in the Sky (not that they’re not all wonderful people, of course), then what the frack difference does it make who the hell else gets to have a turn on stage.”
Never had the pleasure of attending an Opry show ….but if THIS was the bill I’d be more than happy to hold a ticket . I’d be pissed off if I’d made the trip to Nashville to see an Opry show and they fed me Luke Brian , Aldean or Sam Hunt . I wouldn’t cross the street if they were jamming in my neighbor’s backyard .In fact I’d probably call the cops with a noise complaint .
Yes ….sometimes I can be THAT guy when it comes to country music .
August 23, 2016 @ 4:34 pm
The Pointer Sisters got racist remarks yelled at them when they appeared. Their song ” Fairytale” which they sang is more country than a bunch ya hear today!
September 3, 2016 @ 1:28 am
I’ve only been to the Opry once in my life. Saturday night show at the Ryman November 23 2013. I sat on the main floor at the end of one of the curved pews and I literally could have leaned over and touched the stage. It was an amazing night that went by way too fast. No current country superstars that night mostly Opry regulars John Conlee, Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Jan Howard, The Whites, etc. I loved feeling of being in that old auditorium, sitting on that hard ass pew just like thousands of people did every Saturday night from 1943 to 1974. All that being said the Opry has done some really stupid things over it’s 90 years but being more inclusive and being more open to who they allow on stage is not one of them. The current Opry management has a really tough job, how do you keep a 90 year old AM radio show relevant and profitable in a world with smartphones and cars with Internet access all while respecting that long history?