how canthey even think of doing this
it is a smack in the face of those who built music city and made country music what it is today if not for them a lot of todays stars and stars would not be what they are the legends you are trying too get rid of influenced generations of artist and will continue to for years to come would you rob them of that future
WHOS GONA FILL THEIR SHOES
Of course I support this pettition!!!! I have been saying this very thing for years now!!! Anyone who thinks the legendary stars should be forced to retire should be "Hung" at noon! and as long as I'm in Town, I will go after anyone who wants to force the legends before they want to volunteerly retire themselves! jimstix.com ....... jimstix@nycap.rr.com .......
country music legends are the basis of most all music genres, this Tandy Rice has no respect for the legends of country music, if Hank Williams were alive today, and able he would definitely deserve to be on that stage 'moaning the blues.
the opry is already ruined by half naked non singing reformers > its hard to understand what they are trying to sing whinning through their nose . robyn young is a very dear friend of mine (not a very good fisherman )let him sing on the opry if you waant to hear real singing i have
I THINK TANDY RICE HAS LOST HIS COTTON PICKIN MIND, I KNOW TANDY AND USUALLY HE IS A VERY SMART MAN, BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ALLOwED TO QUIT WHEN THEY WANT TO, AFTER ALL, IF GRETCHEN WILSON CAN THINK THATS SINGING SHE DOES, WEll,, MAYBE THE REST THAT MADE IT FOR PEOPLE LIKE HER STILL THINK THEY SHOULD SING TOO, AFTER ALL AGE TAKES ENOUGH FROM YOU AS IT IS, LEAVE IT ALONE TANDY. YOU AINT TOO FAR AWAY FROM THIS AGE YOURSELF, IF YOU DONT LIKE COUNTRY, LEAVE IT FOR THOSE OF US THAT DO.
LADYDOODLES45(Donna)
I don't know Tandy personally and I'm not going to judge him for what he wrote, but as Jean Shepard would say ,'' I'm old, fat, wrinkled and I don't care'' !
i DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD WANT THE OLDER COUNTRY SINGINGERS TO RETIRE. THEY ARE THE ONES THE MADE AND MOLDED THE OTHER NEW SINGERS. THEY MAY NOT PUT AS MANY FANS IN THE SEATS BUT IF THEY LOOK TO SEE WHO HAS DONE THE BEST THEY SHOULD SEE ITS THE OLDER SINGERS WHO DO IT...I BELIEVE THAT IF THEY MAKE THEM REITIRE THEN THAT COULD BE HURTFUL TO HEALTH AND PPL WHO LISTEN TO THEM...
country music would be nothing without these people, i dont care if some prissy little shit down at the opry says so, these legends should remain in the opry until the walls fall down
I have been around the Opry for nearly 20 years now, The new artist don't have a clue what the Circle on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry even stands for. I am a new artist in my own right and I can't do it like the Old Pros can. I hope I can one of these days and then Hopefully, I can stand on the Circle of the Grand Ole Opry Stage with Pride that I will know what Country and Bluegrass music is all about. The Older acts, (are the Grand Ole Opry). No Doubt about it.
The older stars have paid their dues and still are the Heart of the Opry. Many of them live for the weekend and their fans are a big part of their lives. Most can MC a segment better than any young act and can sing a better song; as well. One that is recognizable and has stood the test of time. Forced retirement is a very bad idea; in my opinion and would be the demise of the Opry.
So you retire the legends than what? The newer "stars", if thats what YOU wish to call them, don't show up to fill the seats as they arn't as dedicated as the "legends" are so you end up closing the Opry down .Is that what your really looking to do?
Lets keep the "legends" on the stage as long as they want. At least they are dedicated to singing real country music and are there for the fans, not just for the money.
The legends are the country music entertainers I DO want to hear--not today's country music "stars," but those of yesteryear--those who MADE country music what it is today by paving the way for the new counry music makers.
because, Mr. Rice, what you are proposing is absolutly absured. There is none of the so called "greats" that are appearing on the Opry today that can hold a candle to Louvin, Jones, Anderson and the list goes on forever. The Legends that made the Opry put there heart and soul into making the Opry "The place for Country Music". And now Mr. Rice, you have the audasity to say that there should be a manditory retirement age. SHAME ON YOU!
I think this is just foolish. The LEGENDS of the Opry are why the OPRY is a LEGEND.When I go to the Opry it is to see Dickens,Louvin,Anderson and all the ones who have stuck by the Opry all these years. Its utter NONSENSE to even think about such a thing. The young acts could take a lesson from the old MASTERS. You dont see them on stage looking like bums that cant afford to even put a patch on their breeches.
Apparently Mr. Rice hasn't attended an Opry performance in recent years. Yeah, they may flock to the stage when Brad Paisley arrives but there are three times that number when the artists such as Little Jimmy Dickens appear.
I support this petition because the oldest people have been through the most and they truly know what lifes been like and who knows if one of them could make the next big hit or not =) deffanitly no forced retirement!
One of the most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard. Let our superstars perform as long as they want....I enjoy hearing Loretta Lynn sing today just as much as in my youth!
That is the most ignorant thing I have ever heard of. It's the legends that have made country music what it is today. Why kick them out and make them retire. They are complete role models for many young artist. If you make them retire all country music is going to become is crap....a version of hip hop/rap mixed with country. Let's keep the legends on!!!
This is so not cool!!!
If they do this they can count on many many artists like myself never attending another event there....and I love that ol place..
This is rediculous!!!
because if a entertainer can still entertain longer than age 65 they should be able to do so! Just remember that it was the Legend's that created this "Mother Church" for country music and Tandy Rich should be ashamed to even think they shoud be forced out at age 65!
This clueless Rice character must be a young punk who gives credence to the new breed of what they now call "country music." (I call it Cookie Cutter Country.) Retiring the beloved stars who put the Opry and REAL Country Music on the map would be like throwing away the U.S. Constitution because it was handwritten, in lieu of printing out an updated version from a computer. What a dope.
Mr. Rice makes the veterans sound as if we are coddling them by allowing them to be on the Opry. I don't believe that many of today's country stars will be willing to give up their million-dollar tours to sign on to the Opry for the scale wage. The Opry is an elete club, and allowing the midriff-abundant glamour singers to be members without cleaning up is like, sorry to say, a turd in a punchbowl.
I am 26 yrs old and I still love to hear the classics that made country music what it is today... look at Johnny Cash, shortly b4 his death he came out with a new cd and it was great! How dare anyone try and force them to retire.
Oh yes , I certainly do support this petition. Namely because I , a Skilled Retired Autoworker of 40.3 years , retired by MY CHOICE , and not my employers ,would have it no other way. Tell me Mr. Rice , why is it after 40+ years or more with the same employer , same skilled/talented job , just days after my retirement , I , and practically all other Skilled employee's previously retired , are contacted by the same company for which we worked for, asked to return as consultants. I say Skilled , and Talented , comparable to the Country Legends to which you are referring to as , No Longer Able to fill the seats with paying customers. I think it is time for you to re-evaluate your thinking on who are your Drawing Cards , and certainly don't let your Generals go , and leave the battle to your Non-Com.'s , if you get the drift to what I am trying to say to you. These people , what we refer to as Country Legends, are the Backbone , the Core , the Foundation of Country Music !!! You force them into retirement , and you force the paying/buying Public into retirement!!! It's as simple as that. We might be called the Baby Boomers , but we Love Our Country Legends,we grew up with them , they us , and we would not forsake them for anything. We are still the majority spenders , till we fade away , and by then they will be gone also. Think before you make the mistake of the CENTURY !!! ( Yes , I will sign my name , as I feel very strongly about this) R.J.Sawman (aka. Ricochet,Rico)
I think that this is a great petition. It is not fair that they want to make the older artists quit performing at the opry. The majority of them still sound amazing.
If you're so into Garth Brooks, maybe you should retire like he's always doing.After all, he has made more money than his grandchildren can spend; remember?? There is no "country music" except when we can beg a D.J. to play it on the radio. After Faron Young, out "best" local country station played ONE record by him, "Me and My Baby Are Going Steady". Is that any tribute to one of the best?? What was the G-O-O- without Roy Acuff-Minnie Pearl- Johnny Cash--Buck Owens- the ones that always will be with us in memory!! Take your job and shove it, but let us true country fans alone!! Joanna Taylor Brown. Yes, I am old--almost 76 years of it and I STILL sing my old country music!!
I disagree with Tandy Rice. Many, many people come to see the legends, not just the younger acts. There should be no mandatory age retirement. Tandy, would you have written this if Jerry Clower were still alive and performing on the Opry? I think not. I still want to see Little Jimmy Dickens when I go to the Opry, and Porter, and Bill, and Jean, etc. etc. etc. I don't just want to see the younger ones. A better place to start w/ resignations are the younger members who RARELY perform on the Opry. They can't even make the so called mandatory minimum appearaces during the year. JUST SAY NO to Tandy's suggestion!
What a crazy, no, stupid suggestion to have a forced retirement from the Opry at age 65! There is no "age limit" for how old a person has to be to START singing at the Opry, so why an age limit as to when they retire?
The "Legends", or older Opry Members, are the ones that keep the "Flame" going at the Opry! I get to Nashville at least once a year and I look forward to getting to see and hear the Opry Members that have been around awhile and that we can't get to hear unless we listen to the Opry on the radio or the Internet. Maybe there should be a mandatory age limit of 65 for people who call themselves
"jounalists" and write in publications that are made available to the public! Mr. Rice seems to be having a problem with his reasoning
facilities at his current age and MUST have overstayed
his usefulness, so give him a cake and send HIM home!
As George Jones sang, "Whose Gonna Fill Their Shoes?" That is a good question and one I wonder about all the time when I hear the mess on "country" radio today that is considered country. We will be hard pressed to find people WORTHY of even trying to "fill their shoes" in the future. Let's enjoy our Senior Opry Members while we still have them instead of only caring about them and saying how "wonderful" they were when we attend their funerals! That seems to be the trend in Nashville for some time now.They are only
appreciated AFTER they are gone and we should be ashamed
of ourselves if we continue to show our appreciation for them by trying to "retire" them because of age instead of being glad we still have them to entertain us! God Bless the Senior Members of the Opry and the Younger ones who keep it COUNTRY and support the Opry by appearing on that hallowed stage as often as they can.
I thank the legends are what makes the Opry what it is today and has always been...and their age has nothin' to do with how they sing...George Jones is 73 years young and sounds better at that age than he has in a long time...plus he still sales sold out shows...it's really too bad some people thank the new country needs to move on in on the Opry and sing the mess they call country...all new country is...is just a bunch of watered down rock-n-roll...I thank people like Josh Turner, Darryl Worley, Daryle Singletary, and Ken Mellons...and many more who keep country music...lets say..."Country Music"
These legends represent the foundation of country music and they should be allowed to remain in the Opry as long as they are physically/mentally/vocal ly able to provide the spirit and dignity of the entertainment and good ole values of the past to the future of current artists. I applaud and support their long-lasting inclusion in the institution of the Opry and country music.
IF A SINGER FEELS THAT THEY CANT DO THEIR JOB AND ENTERTAIN OR IF THEY SHOW THAT THEY CANNOT DO IT THEN THATS WHEN THEY CANNOT PERFORM ANYMORE BUT NOT JUST BECASUE THEY ARE OLD!
The great music talent of opry legends should be respected and loved.Forcing them into retirement is to deprive the younger generation of great talent and knowledge.
because they are the legends of country and they deserve our respect. As a young musician I know who influences my music and it ain't the new sound of Pop-country. As Dale would say, "Mr D.J won't you please play, a Real Country Song", the Legends always do.
The Legends of Country are what make the Opry what it is, give it that shimmer of Glory. The younger acts are fine but the Greats give the experience meaning. Otherwise it's just another stage.
No one should be forced to quit doing what they love. Guys like Little Jimmy Dickens are still going strong at his age. Porter Wagoner still entertains to the max. Country musicians need to respect their elders.
It's sad that these great performers who gave their talents and lives to the public
are being forced out because they grow old[and not money draws as once was/that's it "money"]These country legends have much to offer even as they're older,in advice and talent.They can show these new
country stars how it's done.
I get stirred by this kind of decisions by cma leaders.
Let's support this and keep the "suits" from deciding when a performer is no longer a performer! This is exactly what certain record companies did to Johnny Cash, they dropped him and tried to put him out to pasture! Don't let them do this to other performers!
Legends of the opry
should have the right to decide when it's time for them to retire. I don't think that they need someone to tell them when they've had enough
i support this decision because most of the so called oler(65+) are the ones who gave us the real country music. the late buck owens,, merle haggard, the list is endless. what nashville is calling country music is dressed up rock music with a twang every now and then. country forever!
I absolutely support this petition 100%. Where would country music be today without the legends of country music and the Opry? It's true that there are good, youger acts in country music, but that doesn't mean we should push out the extremely talented, traditional, legends who helped shape country music!
this is just Ridiculous. they mayswell just closed down the Opry all together if he wants to get rid of these legends. the new acts coming up today look up and idolized the people who have made the Orpy what it is today.
The senior members of the Opry have every right to be there. They worked hard to get there and should only leave when THEY feel it is time to go. God Bless them all, they made the Opry what it is today.
I support this petition because I think that people should never be forced into retirement, no matter what profession they're in, no matter what age, etc. I know I don't listen to as much traditional older music as I do the modern stuff, but my #1 favorite artist is Brad Paisley, and he is a member of the Opry, and a lot of the older people on there are his idols, and listening to them got him where he is at, and I think that's not something to be scoffed at. A lot of the music I listen to wouldn't be around if it wasn't for these old timers and the Grand Ole Opry. It's a stronghold in Nashville, one of the few places you can still see some of these old performers, and I think that's great. Brad Paisley may be what draws me to the Opry, but it's those older guys that put him there, so to speak. So to retire those guys early would hurt the Opry more than it would help. if they choose to retire, so be it, but forcing them takes away their dignity.
Our older opry members have opened so many doors for so many people, and now someone like Tandy Rice, thinks the door should be slammed on their fingers! Having our senior members performing on the opry, is simply priceless. Where else in the world can you go to see and hear the quality of music from people who helped build and maintain country music....The Grand ole Opry comes straight to mind. There's nothing better than going to the opry or listening in on wsm650, to hear all our radio heroes of old and new. It's part of the charm and tradition of the opry. I wonder if Mr. Rice ever listened to the words of murder on music row. I think there should be efforts made to promote more shows to HONOR our living legends. Country and tooo proud of it!!
I support this petition because I think it's totally ridiculous and incredibly short sighted to retire the great living legends of country music simply because they are "older". My first visit to the Opry was 14 years ago, and my fondest memory of that first visit was seeing Roy Acuff sing Wabash Cannonball. I don't even remember who else was on the show that night! God Bless all the "old timers" who "keep on keepin' on" -- they are a tremendous inspiration to those of us who love this music and this business enough to never want to quit.
The Tandy Rices of the country music scene are responsible for the bastardization of country music by non-country acts like Big & Rich, Rascal Flatts (can you say 'boy band'?), Dixie Chicks (may they never recover their popularity), Faith Hill (who felt compelled to prove that she hadn't changed with 'Mississippi Girl') and the rest of the pop-flavored acts that now dominate what used to be the purest of American musical art forms. Tradition is gone, by and large, save for artists like Paisley, Strait, Jackson and precious few others. What the Opry needs is to lose Pete Fisher and get a GM who appreciates and respects traditional country music, and isn't so set on the destruction of what used to be called "blue-eyed soul."
What an outrage!! Tandy Rice is a moron who needs to keep his big fat mouth shut!! As much as I love Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson, we need the others like Little Jimmy and Porter Waggoner, etc so all the younger country stars can learn from them and keep the Opry as wonderful as it is.
Maybe YOU should retire, Tandy!
the Rice letter is an example of what has gone wrong with "our country music" and why so many of us have left the FM "modern" country radio stations in search of something "old"..the Opry legends are the last remaining link with the glorious, woonderful history of our wonderful music..
