Ryman Auditorium Fires Employee After Trying to Set Up Joey Feek Prayer Vigil
This story has been updated (see bottom).
Kimber Engstrom, an employee of the Ryman Auditorium’s recently-opened Café Lula, has been fired after she attempted to set up a prayer vigil in the Country Music Mother Church for Joey Feek of the singing duo Joey + Rory. Joey Feek was diagnosed with abdominal Cancer in 2014, and is currently in hospice care after receiving a terminal diagnosis from doctors in late October and deciding to cease treatment.
Kimber Engstrom tried to organize the prayer vigil after she found out the Ryman was available on November 19th, however the management insisted she would need to pay $18,000 to rent the facility. So Engstrom printed up posters and set up a Go Fund Me campaign to attempt to raise the funds for the prayer vigil. Apparently the problem arose with Engstrom’s use of the “Ryman” name as part of her promotional efforts, and she was terminated from the company for the infraction on November 12th after arriving to work.
The communications manager for the Ryman, Lisaann Dupont, told Wide Open Country, “We did receive an inquiry, but no formal request was made. The inquiry did not come from [the Feeks]. Without our knowledge, a Go Fund Me campaign was started using the Ryman name. The campaign has since been removed and our understanding is that refunds have been issued. We have been blessed by our relationship with Joey + Rory for many years and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time.”
The Ryman Auditorium, located in the Lower Broadway portion of downtown Nashville, was constructed as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892, but became the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974. It is still used for Opry shows, and is owned and operated by Ryman Hospitality Properties—a Real Estate Investment Trust under the larger umbrella of Marriott International, who purchased the Grand Ole Opry and its real estate holdings in 2012. The parent company was previously known as Gaylord Entertainment.
The Grand Ole Opry is notorious for strict rules on the use of its name or the name of its properties, as well as filming and picture taking at its shows, and other perceived slights by performers and patrons alike. This is not the first time the institution has been accused of being callous by country music fans. In the mid-90’s, Neko Case was banned from the Opry after removing her shirt while suffering from heat exhaustion on an outside stage. Classic country performer Stonewall Jackson sued the Opry for age discrimination in 2006 after he said the Opry cut his performances and he was told by General Manager Pete Fisher he “didn’t want any gray hairs on that stage or in the audience, and before I’m done there won’t be any.” Johnny Cash also publicly clashed with the Opry, and Hank Williams was fired from the Opry shortly before his death an never reinstated despite the efforts of his grandson Hank Williams III.
The firing of Kimber Engstrom has caused a big stir on social media from fans wondering why the space had to be rented for such and exorbitant amount, especially since Engstrom’s event was going to be of a charitable nature, and the space was not rented for the evening. Fans, friends, and family of Joey Feek also participated in a universal moment of prayer for the singer on November 5th. There’s also an effort underway to get the Joey + Rory song “When I’m Gone” to #1 on iTunes by purchasing the song.
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UPDATE (11-17): The Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Management have announced they will conduct a prayer vigil for Joey Feek at Monday night’s (11-17) Opry show at the Ryman Auditorium at 9:30 p.m. Central.
November 16, 2015 @ 2:51 pm
Even at death’s door the almighty dollar is in demand. Shame on you Ryman.
November 16, 2015 @ 2:52 pm
Thank you Gaylord Entertainment for showing you have no heart on this one!!! Way to go on helping out and showing your support and love of a member of the country music family!
November 16, 2015 @ 3:07 pm
; __ ;
November 16, 2015 @ 3:18 pm
Pete Fisher is a renowned dick, boycott the Ryman
November 16, 2015 @ 7:29 pm
This story is unfortunate, but there’s no evidence Pete Fischer had anything to do with this. He’s general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, which is a separate entity. The Opry isn’t even at the Ryman the majority of the time.
November 16, 2015 @ 3:25 pm
What a shame. It would be enough if they would have shut down the Go Fund Me, if that was really necessary, but to fire the employee for that was inexcusable. It truly is amazing how people will hold onto every sliver of power they have, even at the expense of their bank account at times. As far as I can tell, with the information offered, there is no way that doing this benefits the management team, other than to enforce their draconian rules.
In any case, I will be saying my own prayers for the Feeks, and now, for Miss Engstrom.
November 16, 2015 @ 4:15 pm
This is nothing but another example of how, in today’s workplace, office politics and political correctness trump reason. I wrote a book dealing with this subject. It is titled JUDAS TIMES SEVEN, and you can search for it on the web. There will be more examples like this until we can move employment toward more of a “just cause” system. In my book this definitely wasn’t a just cause. But the powers that be will fight this every step of the way, and for some strange reason even our elected officials don’t seem to want to take this on. Maybe we can get Bernie Sanders involved in this as he is about the only one speaking out for the common man and woman.
November 16, 2015 @ 3:39 pm
Naw the grand ole opry aint so grand anymore
Did you know Hank Williams aint a member but they keep em outside their door
Hell they didnt even really want Johnny Cash back in 74′
Said the grand ole opry aint so grand anymore
You know it makes me wonder folksÂ
Has the opry sinned?
-Hank 3 lyrics
Sounds pretty true that they sinned
November 16, 2015 @ 5:30 pm
Many comments here about the Opry, but I’m not seeing them as the bad guys. Point ire at the Ryman maybe, but I suspect their employee rules prohibit anyone from using the name “unauthorized”.
My company does (and monitors closely), but if she violated company policy willfully she probably got what she deserved.
All she had to do was ask, and if she was told no she had a choice to make. Sounds like she just effed up.
Many companies have no heart or soul, true. But many employees are lacking in other body parts above the shoulders.
November 16, 2015 @ 6:17 pm
We don’t know the entire story here, and it’s easy to blame the Ryman for being callous and not opening their doors to a Joey Feek prayer vigil. The fact is every time the Ryman opens its doors, it has to employ security, janitors, and other management personnel, even for a prayer vigil. There may be insurance and other operating costs involved, and we don’t know if the employee was warned and still purposefully used the Ryman name.
But my issue is with the Ryman being a registered historic place, do they really have a right to censor someone simply for using the name? I think the Ryman Auditorium should belong to us all, or at least be in the hands of a not-for-profit. This is the exact type of scenario I was concerned about when all the Opry properties were sold to Marriott International, and yet another layer of management was brought into the mix. That’s why I think it should be owned by the Country Music Hall of Fame, similar to Studio ‘B’. I love the Ryman, and I generally think it is decently managed, at least right now. Forget it was abandoned for 20 years, and at one point scheduled for bulldozing. But this instance does smack of the stringent Opry-style of controlling every aspect of how the Opry’s name is used. No money was going to be made off of the vigil, except by the Ryman. Every move the Ryman makes, a profit must be made, and that’s ultimately why the prayer vigil didn’t happen.
Open up the doors, staff it with volunteers, raise a few bucks to help pay for the professionals and cleaning staff that do need to be on site, and make it happen. Maybe there was more specific things at play with the organizer we don’t know about. But I’d like to think that if enough folks wanted to organize a prayer vigil at the Country Music Mother Church for one of country’s fallen, we could make that happen.
November 16, 2015 @ 7:33 pm
Trigger, I still don’t get why you say Mariott “owns” the Opry. They just manage Gaylord’s hotel properties.
But this probably isn’t the right time to get into all that.
November 17, 2015 @ 8:47 pm
I think they have a right to stop someone from using their name when it comes to soliciting money. She was told once that she couldn’t use the name for fundraising and then did it a 2nd time.
At any rate, they are having a prayer vigil at the Ryman tonight.
November 18, 2015 @ 8:54 am
I made a post on my fb page Liza if you want to look at it. Tell why I was fired.
November 18, 2015 @ 10:55 am
Kimber,
Can you possibly provide us a link, or posted what you posted on Facebook here? I found your Facebook page, but can’t locate any specific, official statement.
Thanks.
January 11, 2016 @ 7:38 pm
It sounds like they wanted to do their own prayer vigil after they realized the backlash. It’s still too late and makes them look even worse in my eyes
November 16, 2015 @ 7:49 pm
Greg N, you remind me of an executive for a large company. Common decency doesn’t matter, just the almighty dollar. “Employees lacking in body parts above their shoulders” my ass. The people you work with are probably wore out from carrying your dead weight around. No matter the details, shame on the Ryman and shame on you for taking their side
November 16, 2015 @ 9:09 pm
I can’t say I know GregN personally, but having read his comments here for years, I’ve found him to be insightful and intelligent. I speak about his work ethics, but I wouldn’t want to assume anything about them either.
We still don’t know everything about this story, but what still bothers me the most is it appears that when the Ryman heard about this, they made it harder for organizers to put together the prayer vigil instead of easier. And I’m not sure that is in their best interests.
Not to dredge up all of the old arguments over “Reinstate Hank,” but it’s kind of a similar situation. The Opry could use the event as a positive. They could promote the reinstating of Hank as a special show, and use it for positive publicity. Instead they dig their heels in and stand in the way.
November 16, 2015 @ 11:53 pm
Well said GregN. There’s always two sides to every story and it’s easy to make the big corporation the bad guys here. Of course it sucks the way this was handled, it sucks even more when you think that this kind-hearted person was trying to do something really lovely for a dying woman. It was an inspired idea to do this at the historic Ryman, however maybe taking it to another venue is the way to go. Nashville is full of stunningly beautiful, historic buildings and many with their own rich country music history. I really hope that Joey doesn’t hear about this. I worry that this might cause her stress in her last days. That’s the last thing she needs.
November 17, 2015 @ 6:40 pm
So true. It’s possible the family didn’t want money raised using their name. No name should be used without consent for fund raising. I hope the prayer vigil continued because that was the point. It could be done through social media with no venue.
November 18, 2015 @ 8:48 am
I made a post on my fb page if you want to look at it. I was just trying to honor and build up Joey in a way and in a place she is so deserving of. To me, Joey is the heart and soul of country music. Just wanted her to know in a big way how she has changed this world for the good.
November 18, 2015 @ 9:03 am
I did ask Greg, feel free to read on my fb where in my ignorance, I made the mistake. Was just trying to be a do gooder. And I do have a brain… and a heart.
November 29, 2015 @ 3:45 pm
Kimber, I am so sorry they fired you for wanting to do something so right for Joey . We are all praying for her and her family. Now and praying they will have a heart and give you your job back. I can see where you only wanted to raise the money to rent the facilty, since they did not want to donate it. Thank God they have come around and are going to hold the prayer vigil.
Keep your head up and Lord will get your job back. You are a good person. God Bless
November 16, 2015 @ 7:17 pm
Don’t know the whole story, however in my opinion a go fund me page should never have had to be created. The Ryman should have opened their doors for free in order to have a vigil for a woman that has shown the utmost respect for country music. If you have seen anything on her, you couldn’t find a better woman and the Ryman should have been wanting to do this for her.
November 16, 2015 @ 9:13 pm
Good point. The use of the name came about because she was trying to secure the $18,000. Like you said, we don’t know the whole story, but possibly the Ryman’s stubbornness could have led to the misuse of the name.
November 17, 2015 @ 10:26 am
Do you realize how many requests the Ryman must get daily asking for donations and use of free space? I’m sure they are all for good and charitable causes. If the Ryman gave their space for free for this one vigil, how many more free, charitable events would they need to host to not seem like the “corporate bad guys?” If they hosted this one free vigil, they’d also eventually be the bad guys for donating the space to one charitable occasion and not another.
Also, as Trigger was saying in an earlier comment, there is a lot that goes into holding an event/vigil at the Ryman that costs money to provide, including staffing, lighting, production, security, etc. And you can’t just bring in volunteers with no experience who don’t know the space or how to run events because they’ll work for free.
Why couldn’t the employee, as Carla said, simply taken the prayer vigil to another venue if the Ryman was out of budget? If this was truly about praying for Rory, it could’ve taken place anywhere.
November 17, 2015 @ 10:50 am
I agree you don’t do it for everyone, but it is not like the Feek’s are not known in Nashville and in the country music community. I think a lot of companies or businesses will do things for people that are directly linked to their company and the Ryman markets itself very well as the mother church of country music and the Feek’s are a direct part of that community. The could have allowed a vigil there during normal operation hours with regular employees inside. I guarantee you a lot of country acts have donated free performances for that building and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Feek’s didn’t do this at some time. I do understand your point about how requests could come flooding in, my point is simply they should have taken care of one of their own and I also guarantee you a lot of employees there would have donated their time.
November 17, 2015 @ 11:16 am
That’s true. Point taken!
November 16, 2015 @ 9:22 pm
Go Fund Me to use the Ryman or any facility is out of place. Go Fund Me should be used in this case to help the family, if necessary. Are there no churches in Nashville, no parks where a prayer vigil could be held without the need to start a funding campaign?
November 16, 2015 @ 11:16 pm
I think the point was to have in the Country Music Mother Church, which was vacant and available on the 19th. Yes, you could have it at any church, but not any Church is the Ryman. And again, the only reason the Go Fund Me was necessary was because the Ryman wanted $18,000 to open the doors.
November 17, 2015 @ 6:24 am
I understand that it it was an incredibly nice gesture to organize a vigil. But to say the Go Fund Me was necessary is when she lost her perspective. I bet there is more to this story.
November 17, 2015 @ 10:08 am
I’d guarantee there’s more to the story.
November 18, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
Just because there isn’t an event being sold to the public that night doesn’t mean the venue is available. They could be doing load in for the next night or have a private event going on.
November 18, 2015 @ 9:22 pm
It seems since she worked there she would know that information, but I really don’t know. Like I’ve said, we don’t have the whole story here. I just reported what we know. The Opry and Ryman ended up having a prayer ceremony and included a lot of big stars.
November 16, 2015 @ 11:25 pm
The Ryman should be ashamed of themselves. There should not have been a charge in the first place and why fire the girl, you could have just took a disciplinary action. I hope this causes the Ryman some really bad publicity.
November 17, 2015 @ 1:42 am
All I will say is that, as stated by other commentators, I would really like to have more information about this story and how this whole situation transpired.
November 17, 2015 @ 6:09 am
Ok being an event consultant these things are common. Now is gaylord callous? Sure. But if you want to put something on or together you have to go buy procedure OR find a venue that is easier to work with. Ive been in this town 25 years and have figured out who to and not to work wirh.
November 17, 2015 @ 6:36 pm
Larry Gatlin announced a prayer vigil after the show tonight – think they’ll fire him?
November 17, 2015 @ 7:16 pm
No, the Opry and Ryman appear to be completely on board and are promoting it.
November 18, 2015 @ 2:42 pm
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1068361179865301&substory_index=0&id=100000742874025
Trigger I hope this copied the link for you.
Thank you
November 18, 2015 @ 8:46 am
I made a post on my fb page if you want to look at it. I was just trying to honor and build up Joey in a way and in a place she is so deserving of. To me, Joey is the heart and soul of country music. Just wanted her to know in a big way how she has changed this world for the good.
November 18, 2015 @ 9:40 am
Have they reinstated the worker that was fired? or is she still on the outs? Because that would be totally bogus for them to run wight the idea after firing the employee..
November 18, 2015 @ 10:51 am
Don’t know. She just commented four times in this comments section. Usually there’s no return for 86. She might not want to go back there now even if they’d have her.
November 18, 2015 @ 2:50 pm
Well, it’s possible that the Opry’s own prayer vigil was already planned ahead of time.
Either way, I can’t seem to access the Facebook link that Mrs. Engstrom posted here. I’d like to hear her side of the story.
November 18, 2015 @ 2:59 pm
I can’t access it either.
November 18, 2015 @ 2:15 pm
A very sad situation indeed. Is it just me or does it seem like $18,000 should not be an insurmountable amount for the country music community in Nashville to raise?
November 18, 2015 @ 8:41 pm
I find it odd the she keeps saying she worked for Gaylord but the company she would have worked for would have been Ryman Hospitiality. They own the hotels, the Opry, the Ryman, and the radio station. How does she not know who her own employer is?
November 20, 2015 @ 12:04 am
The Feeks, although great singers and dear personalities are not well known in country music. Before this a poll of music fans in and out of Nashville would probably revealed people have never heard of them. I knew them as owners of a restaurant not active in music. This would be very embarrasing to Mrs. Feek. A prayer vigil could have been organized in an outdoor park with each holding a flashlight. Marriott owns it all with dispersions of umbrellas’s. Ms. Kimber had a good heart with her endeavor but she was being encouraged by people with little business knowledge. A reprimand could have worked instead of fired. She will likely get a far better job in Nashville due to this. It should be forgotten and if people truly want to pray for only the gain of praying, do so. Mixed issues and egos here.