If all those over 65 were to retire, no one could replace them. The Opry represents Country Music, the "Old Time Country" This so called "new country" or "young country" is NOT Country music at all.
I can't stand most new country music. The industry made a huge mistake by cutting off the legends. The legends of Country & Western
music still have the most loyal fan base plus now all the kids who are embracing the genre. What fools these "NEW" programmers are!
ce sont mes héros. HONNOREZ CES HOMMES ET CES FEMMES QUI ONT CONTRIBUEE ET CONTRIBUE ENCORE A L HISTOIRE D UNE MUSIQUE QUI A UNE RESONNANCE DANS LE MONDE ENTIER Dom.(France).
for the most part I like the old country much more than the new. The Opry has always been a showcase for the best of the old as well as the new. That's one of the reasons I believe the Opry is the longest running radio show. In fact one can always hear the new country anywhere, the vintage is the Opry specialty.
this Rice guy is nuts. But then he probably thinks Ernest Tubb is a sincere place to take a bath and no one should pay any attention to anything he says or writes.
I support this petition because legends like Merle, Lefty, Hank, Roy, George, Minnie, Tammy, Patsy, Dotty, Conway, Porter and countless others have earned it.
We would be better off if we didn't let anybody go on yhe Opry until after they were sixty-five. What's next? Kill'em and eat'em at age sixty-five? That's one way to reduce Global Warming. And I'll tell you what. I'd pay a pretty penny for a slce of Dolly Parton.
I would argue the best part of the Grand Ole Opry is that the performances solidify the continuity of country music over the decades. The new artists don't get my fanny in a seat. I buy my tickets long before I know who will be performing. I WANT to see a mixture of newer and older artists. I expect to see respect for artists who paid their dues. Don't tell me that I would enjoy the GOA more without Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, or Jeanne Sheppard. I don't believe it!
a shame that sex is what they are really selling! talent takes a back seat these days, and has for a long time. these older opry stars built the house, paved the way for all of these younger artists, just like the house that Ruth built. if you recall the movie with John Goodman, "The Babe", a story of the life of baseball legend Babe Ruth, he was pretty much pushed out of the business as well. or at least kept around for a side show for a while because of his hay-day success. well, much of the same seems to apply to the Grand Ole Opry. Guys like Hank Snow, Grandpa Jones, Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner, Jean Sheppard, Billy Walker, Bill Anderson...... This is the house they built! No use in running them from their home in the name of commercialism.
I turn my radio on to the opry every Friday and Saturday night to listen to some friends of mine, Jeannie Seely and Jan Howard. I want to continue to do tht as long as I can. I may be almost 18 years old, but I still love my legends. Friday and Saturday nights are the only time I get to hear Jeannie and Jan live.I love those women. They mean so much to me. And the Opry IS definately ONE BIG FAMILY!!!! Most peaople don't really realize that.
The continuity of the Opry tradition is what makes Country different than other genres of music. I will support a mandatory age limit of 99, but not anything below that age
I'm 48 years old and used to go on bus tours with my mom when I was a kid (12-18 years old) to the Grand Ole Opry. Here I was with my mom and the rest of the bus full of retired people. Those trips were absolutely wonderful. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for Charlie Walker, Billy Walker, Little Jimmy Dickens, Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl and on and on to come on stage. I was thrilled. I have not been to the Opry for many years. If they made the true "Country Music" performs retire, I would never go again. Some of the new country today is alright, but it is not and never will be country music. I was also disappointed when they did away with Opryland to put in yet another shopping center. Bad move in my opinion.
Well, this Mr. Rice's notion is too idiotic to take seriously. I've always gotten such a thrill seeing one of the legends perform live. Their voices maybe be a little raspier, but they're richer. Their fingering may not be as fast, but a lifetime of love of music comes forth from their instrument. I can't even imagine anyone seriously suggesting silencing these wonderful voices.
This lack of respect for our Country Music predecessors is appauling. I agree with this petition and support other actions to stop this atrocious thinking. Without these great artists the Opry never would have been conceived. Please wake up Music Row.
I'm the promotions director for The Del McCoury Band and despite Del's age he has to be the coolest dude on that stage. Name me a band that's recently been on the Opry stage that has a fan base that spans from bluegrass fans to country music fans to hippies in the jamband scene! Put that in your pipe and smoke it Pete Fisher!
Music In Motion Promotions
Whoever is behind retiring Opry/Country Artists over 65 are obviously out of touch with the Opryland audience and are thoughtless. Are you nuts !!! It never fails to amaze me how stupid and shortsighted people that are not musicians, are "musicians" that could not "make it" or SOME music biz people can be ! Thank God most of the country music business people ( being musicians or not ) have their heads screwed on straight ! I had the honor of knowing - Clive Davis, Tom Dowd, when I meant him - a then young artists named Mike Curb in L.A. etc. I left the Rock-n-Roll/Pop music "biz" as a successful writer and musician because of the cesspool it was starting to become - no respect for anything ! I moved to Nashville in 1994 and was overwhelmed by the kindness of musicians, artists and music business people in Nashville OF ALL AGES !!! I was used to this kindness a long time ago - I was brought up on a diary farm in Central New York State and my family had the Opry on when ever it was broadcasted. You want empty seats and radios turned off ? Put out a list of the artists you are "retiring" on the Opry broadcasts for a week and you will see some "empty seats", quite radios and plunging Opry TV ratings ! Country is one , if not the ONLY form of musical art that embraces everyone of its "children" - young and old. Like the American Indian, country music respects AND elevates the “older tribe members”. In America today, we just throw “old people” out with their rich life experience and advice . Shame on you and anyone else that is thinking of this travesty !! So they sing a little out of tune or they aren't quite is sprightly as they used to be. Tell Dad who is 92 and Mom who is 86 AND their life long friends from 60 to 90 years old that all their favorite Opry stars over 65 can't perform anymore ! By the way, they love Vince Gill, Big &
I totally disagree with Mr. Rice. It is bad enough when the Government takes rights away from us, and now he is acting God? What is this world coming to anyways. I am a former Musician myself, and had spent over 30 years of my life entertaining others. Lets keep these legends around until THEY feel they can no longer perform.
There is more pop country music today.... then good old
country from Opry members...Keep it country not pop or rock.Tandy Rice are you talking for the young or the older singers that put the country in their music.... ( Country Legends songs are not wore out pop music) Let them perform...
The fact of the matter is that country music has lost itself. Last month, Bon Jovi was the number one song in the Billboard country charts! HUH?! We miss the old sound, the old style, and truly American country music sound. Most young artist today take a pop/rock song bed and add a steel or fiddle, then they call that country! No way! When the teenagers have outgrown this sound, like has happened to all pop music, hopefully some traditional country artists will still be left to play and perform REAL country music!
I support this petition. I love the older performers, the legends. I like the new ones as well, but, could they please dress up a little? You are on the Opry for Pete's sake. Dress up a little.
None of the younger singers want to be on the Opry each week. So what do you do, close it till soemone does want to show up? At least the older ones feel they are doing their job, by singing on the Opry each week. They are the ones people come there to see. God Bless the original singers for the Opry.No matter what age they are.
I became a fan of country because of the likes of Slim Whitman, Earnie Ashworth, The Statler Bros, Johhy Cash and I could go on and on. The "Old Timers; made country country. The new guys?? They are the ones to need to go.
They don't call it the Grand OLE Opry for nothing. Who does Mr. Rice think built the Opry but the (now) Ole folks! This is the dumbest idea of heard of since Sears Roebuck got out of the mail order business.
I support this because I and many others like me would not be playing music if it weren't for George Jones or Merel Haggard or any of the other legends. Too bad this idiot didn't give his full address. I'd like to tell him to stick it where the sun don't shine! Long live Hank Williams!
I think too much current so called "country music" stinks, and only the older Opry members actually sing "Country" music in the first place!! I say keep the older folks on and keep away the newbies with no soul, but lots of slicked hair and makeup, phoney baloney "hot" country acts. And who is this Tandy dude anyway???
Good Heavens! Has Mr. Rice lost his mind? There would be no opry if not for that age group. They are the very reason I have fond memories of growing-up as I watched them every Saturday. I am proud to say I have seen most of those stars in concert. If Nashville doesnt want them anymore, then they can just come down to Halifax, NC where the Parton theatre is being built. We want them there and we love them. The Opry can even move as well and let Nashville do it's thing. It is my mission to keep country music what it is as those entertainers have given me so much in my life. So times change, but great music, great entertainment, and love do not.
because the legends are the backbone of the opry.they are who people go to see. they sing their hearts out without all the showmanship some of the so-called stars seem to think is so necessary.
I support this petition because if it wasn't for the Opry Legends there would be no Country Music. As for Mr. Rice, why don't he retire? The Grand Ole Opry is The Mother Church Of Country Music and I look forwad to go see the opry every chance I get. I go to see a mix of Opry Legends and Stars of Today.
One of the great legends sadly passed away. Let me tell you Mr Walker actually put a lot of 'fannies in sit'. He'll be greatly missed from all country music fans.
Who does Rice think he is?Who paved the way and stuck it out when the going got tough?It was the pioneers from before even Jimmy Rodgers and the Carter family.They all deserve what they have EARNED as each new generation "rediscovers" them!!!Hank Cochran sang in 1 of his songs-"He ain't country,I don't remember him,he wasn't there when them pickings got slim"!!
Tandy Rice isn't categorized as a fool - he is one. So if we listen to him, George Jones, Porter Wagoner, Bill Anderson etc would immediately be retired because nobody wants to see them. And Ralph Stanley would have been retired before he was ever inducted. Furthermore, just who does the Opry call on when the baby wonders are out on the road? Forget about this dumb idea - just retire Tandy Rice and never let him write another stupid article.
I emphatically DO NOT support Mr. Rice's position. Where would any of us be if we did not honor our ancestors. Maybe they can't sing or play like they once did, but they sure enough earned the right to be heard. And they very certainly continue to be relevant.
Why don't we just euthanize everyone over 65. They're of no use to Corporate America after that. "Fannies in seats", "beans to count", demographics, blah, blah, blah. If it weren't for all these legends you'd like to retire, everyone would be asking, "who the hell is Tandy Rice"?
As long as they can make it to the mic there will be folks who want to hear them. If it weren't for those legends that you want to replace with more "cookie-cutter" acts, nobody would know who the hell Tandy Rice is!! Seems to me the corporate attitude is "keep the golden goose on life support until we wring every cent we can make out of their talents and then pull the plug". Perhaps you'll feel differently when the corporation feels it's time to pull the plug on you before you're ready!!
Comme me dis mon ami Jean-Claude quelques amateurs de Country Music en Belgique, il est impensable de mettre des vieux dinausaures de cette musique au placard. Keep it Country !
BigTonyBoy
Seem like its allways been the way to put
the old folks out to pasture in this country
and not care what the out come is.
I had a forest retirment in 99 because of health
All our Country Ledgens should be taken care of
Doc
I'm from Europe and the 'old ones' are the reason I came to see the Grand Ole Opry twice already and I plan on coming back to see the LEGENDS Live on This Stage!!! THEY have made the GRAND OLE OPRY Famous !! THEY ARE THE GRAND OLE OPRY !!! No Retirement please !!!
I am not suprised at this at all. Look at what they did to Johnny Cash in the 90s. If the purpose of this petition is to "save country music" we've already failed nashvill ruined country about 20 years ago. I think Hnk Williams 3 said it best "I'd rather eat the barell of a double barell laoded shotgun than to hear that shit they call pop country music on 98.1"
We are talking about singers that I first heard on the radio when I was a small boy, and to me there was none like them. So, why are we talking about pushing these people aside when they still have a thing or two to teach the younger members of the Opry? Throw out these guys, and the Opry will lose me as a fan! End of conversation!
Is Tandy Rice nuts??? I was hoping by now he'd have written a retraction to his stupid article!! When the legends are no longer a part of the Opry...in my mind the Opry will cease to exist!! It would be fine to make room for some newer artists that truly are Country Singers because there are so few that are any good, there would still be plenty of room for the "real thing" No forced retirement!!!
What nonsense, I'll gladly sign it. 65 was picked as a retirement age years ago when everyone worked as a laborer in fields and factories and back then, your body was shot at 65 so it made sense. But as long as someone can hold a guitar and sing into a microphone, they're welcome till they drop as far as I'm concerned.
Telling George Jones he's not welcome at the Opry would be like telling Col Sanders he's not welcome at a KFC
