Grand Ole Opry--My 2 Cents!

Today has been a good day, so far!

Anyway, today's topic is yet again, country music...here's my two cents about the Grand Ole Opry (http://www.opry.com/)

Wow, this is somewhat suprising, and then again, not suprising at all. I can see where the Opry would deny these allegations out of pure smartness, but they DO have older acts on there all the time...like the ones they mentioned in the article. When I was fortunate enough to go to the Opry in 2002, I saw Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, Charlie Pride, Joe Nichols and Mandy Barnett....it was a nice mix, I enjoyed it immensley....but lately, I've noticed that WAY too many brand new artists get to play the Opry now; when I was growing up, that was something you had to earn. A debut apperance at the begining of an artists career has always happened, and it should a 2nd appearances were and should be earned.Also, letting artists ( I won't name names) with only ONE album out become MEMBERS of the Opry...oh don't even get me started. Trisha was around for EIGHT years before she was a member, highly unfair in my book...she was deserving from the start...and I don't even think that The Judds are a member of the Opry...it's always been a little discriminatory in my opinion...men get in pretty much when they want, women have to wait longer...I hate that...but, I don't want to start a debate, so remember, that's just my opinion....anyway......I was never a big traditional country fan, in fact, most of it I can't listen to. But, just because I don't listen to it doesn't mean I don't appreciate it. I still have the utmost repsect for older traditional country and feel that without those artists, my generation of country wouldn't exist. We needed pioneers before Trisha, etc....and just because those pioneers are older, grayer and move a little slower, that's no excuse to just disregard them entirely...they made the Opry what it is today....I know for a fact that many artists such Trisha and Garth, Vince, Reba, Alan Jackson, Martina and Wynonna all respect the Opry, and the heritage of country music, that's one of the many reasons I respect all of them!The Opry is a sacred, special place that should never be forced to succumb to the pressures of marketing...I feel membership and performance at the Opry is something an artist EARNS..not just obtains open access to because they got a record deal. This is just my two cents, and I don't blame this older singer at all, I think the people that go to the Opry...the main audience(s) of the Opry today STILL respect and admire the older country music, if they don't, they don't belong there either! I'm off my soapbox now, who knew I was so passionate about a music I don't even listen to (older country)! LOL!

Now, here's the article that caused such a passionate response from me....

Singer files $10M age-discrimination suit against OpryOwner Gaylord denies charges, cites older lineupsBy JOHN GEROMEAssociated Pressand PETER COOPERTennessean Staff WriterGrand Ole Opry singer Stonewall Jackson filed a $10 million federal lawsuit Thursday against the long-running country music show and its management, claiming age discrimination, breach of contract and retaliation.Jackson, 74, has been a member of the show since 1956. He had a string of hits in the 1950s and '60s, including the No. 1s "Waterloo" and "B.J. the D.J."Filed Thursday in U.S. District Court by attorney Kirk Clements, the lawsuit names the Opry's owner, Gaylord Entertainment Co., and its general manager, Pete Fisher. In the lawsuit, Jackson claims his Opry appearances declined after Fisher was hired in 1998.Jackson said he approached Fisher on several occasions and was told things like, "I don't want any gray hairs on that stage or in the audience, and before I'm done there won't be any" and "You're too old and too country."Jackson had made similar charges in 2002, when he and fellow Opry members Charlie Louvin and the since-deceased Del Reeves told The Tennessean that they weren't happy with the progressive-leaning direction of the Opry. Those members saw their performance time — and, thus, their revenues — minimized in favor of younger acts, and they claimed that minimization cheated artists and fans.At the time, Fisher vigorously denied Jackson's statement that Fisher had called him "too old and too country" and also denied the "gray hair" comment. In a letter to Opry members, Fisher wrote, "The only gray hairs I don't like are the ones on my head."Steve Buchanan, vice president of media and entertainment for Gaylord Entertainment, denied the allegations in Jackson's Thursday filing. He said the Opry had always strived to represent and appeal to all generations of country music and its fans."The allegations of age discrimination are without merit, as evidenced by our lineups in each and every show," Buchanan said. Opry performances regularly feature performers older than Jackson, including mainstays Porter Wagoner, Jimmy Dickens, Jimmy C. Newman and Jesse McReynolds.Jackson said he and Fisher reached a mutual agreement in September 2005 to book more appearances, but that the singer was called to perform only once, on Oct. 1, 2005.Jackson also filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which he said gave him clearance to file a lawsuit. When Jackson contacted Fisher about the matter, "Fisher basically stated that he no longer would allow (Jackson) to appear," according to the suit.The company said the allegations in the suit were a result of the scheduling dispute and that it hoped to resolve the issues amicably with Jackson.Jackson alleges his reduction in appearances violates the Opry's union contract with The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.He also said it breached a long-standing agreement between the Opry and its stars that, in exchange for performing at least 26 times a year — even during the height of their careers when they could make much more money playing tour dates — they could always remain Opry members."The promise of a continued membership was made by several individuals in management of the Grand Ole Opry during the course of (Jackson's) career," according to the lawsuit.Jackson cites income lossAt the heart of this matter is the notion of just what is implied by "membership" in the Grand Ole Opry. When performers of the 1950s and '60s guaranteed that they would be in Nashville to play the Opry on half of the year's weekends, many of them assumed that their Opry appearances were a kind of loyalty deposit that would be returned in later years.Indeed, Hall of Famers, including Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb (an early supporter of Jackson), played the Opry until their bodies gave out.Today, some Opry members perform most weeks regardless of age, but others are slated with less frequency. Fisher's schedule attempts a balance of today's hitmakers, tomorrow's stars and country legends, and there are not enough slots to satisfy all who want to perform on what remains one of country's most prestigious stages.Jackson told the AP on Thursday that he depended on his Opry pay and exposure for his livelihood. He estimated a loss in income of at least $1,800 a month.He also said he lost his health insurance coverage through the Opry, which was tied to the number of monthly appearances, and suffered humiliation and embarrassment. He claims the hardships led to heart problems."We've had a horrible time this eight years because this has just grieved me so bad," he said. "It's just about run my family nuts."His influence runs deepIn his career, Jackson had 19 top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and his music has influenced contemporary performers including Dwight Yoakam and Emmylou Harris. His yearning vocals made him a favorite on the Opry in the 1960s, and in 1956 Opry brass deemed his raw talent to be so impressive that he became the first performer to join the Grand Ole Opry without already having a recording contract.Soon after, he signed with Columbia Records and began a successful touring career. Like other Opry performers, Jackson turned down many higher-paying gigs in order to be present for the Opry shows at least 26 times a year. His contention is that this arrangement carried with it the assurance that the Opry would be there for him when his career cooled.In November, Jimmy "Spider" Wilson, a longtime guitarist in the Grand Ole Opry band, left the show after 53 years because of what he described as "humiliating" treatment. At the time, Wilson told The Tennessean he wasn't happy with several management decisions and policies. He said what led him to resign was his exclusion from "Grand Ole Opry Live" telecasts in cable channel Great American Country. Reached by The Tennessean late Thursday night at his home, Wilson declined to comment.
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...5/ENTERTAINMENT

You know, I may get older, I may get wiser, but I'm always thankful that I listen to and adore country music!

I have some things to do today, so that's all for now...I'll write again tomorrow! Thank you Lord for everything! God Bless!

In Light N' Love,
-Sarah Liz :)