I support this petition. Where ever did you come up with a mandatory retirement for County Legends? I feel if the Legends want to come out and entertain on the most widely recognized stage in the world so be it. If their health will allow them so be it. You Mr. Tandy have no right to say what is best for those of us that some times get in their cars and drive until we can get a clear signal so we can listen to our favorite singers. Some day this will all be thrown in your face, then see who will rally in your defense. Signed Lisa Underwood, a friend of Jack Greene
I support this petition. I was very offended by what was said in this column. It in effect supports a form of age discrimination, one of the biggest problems that plagues this great nation. Where would we be without the Legends and our elders? Think about it.
Tandy, I can not believe you have joined the rabble and are throwing more stones at the last of what appears to be left of our country music pioneers. Loretta can sing to us at 64 but not 65? Would you deprive a person from getting to see a living legend like Little Jimmy Dickens? Tandy, your long time friend and close associate Jerry Clower is turning over and over in his grave.
Larry Shell
Co-writer of " Murder On Music Row"
I support this petition. Umm, if you make them retire at 75 who do you think is going to do the opry each week? Do you think the younger set is going to give up the concerts to take time to come to the opry week after week?
I support this petition.I am a local musician in the Tampa Bay area. I have been to the Opry several times. I grew up with these musicians and their legacy. I believe they should retire when they are good and ready. Being an Opry member is one of the greatest honors in the world and that is what lifetime membership means when you are inducted! Not until you are 65! I am outraged!!!
I support this petition.
As a past employee at Opryland, in the
1990s, I can speak for a number of my friends who would
gladly support this
petition. I have met Mr. Rice, and
although not a close friend, can say that I do understand many of his concerns. Several returning quests to the Hotel had commented that they were disappointed with the lack of access to
the various performers. I firmly believe that management, at the Gaylord Company, needs to recognize
that visitors to the Opry want to experience a more personal venue. Following their performances, the established artists
(Inductees) should offer to their guests an oppotuniy of having photos
taken with their favorite artist(s).
This one-on-one event would provide the older artists the respect and accolades they deserve while giving the visitors to the Grand Ole Opry an unforgettable memory of Nashville's hospitality.
I support this petition.
What is wrong with your thinking? Once a member, always a member. Since when is there an age limit on one of life's most enjoyable things: music. Seems as if "putting fannies in the seats" is the drive for most everything these days. Well, putting fannies in the seats boils down to one thing...the money. Doesn't it always come down to the money.
And a cake and a thank-you send off. What an insult!
I hope one day you get old and no one "has use for you" because "you have nothing going for you".
Where is your heart? And this makes me wonder what kind of person you really are!
We cannot forget where we came from! Doing what this man says would be about like telling Jesus he couldn't preach in church because he is old! I wholeheartedly support this petition! No Loretta on the Opry? Puleeze!
I agree that new members should always be welcome to the Grand Old Opry. But, we MUST NEVER forget the artists who made the Opry what it is today. A Showcase of sorts for the best in Country music, current and past.
I support this petition. I am 30 years old and I am a big fan of the legends of the Grand Ole Opry, sometimes I feel like I am the only young person that loves the legends. If they throw the legends out, There will be no Grand Ole Opry,they use to show them of the TV portion of the grand ole opry about 10 years ago now they dont even show them on TV anymore...We need a new Opry Manager too, the one they got right now cares more for the newer artists and trying to shut out the older stars....Thanks
I have been the artist liaison at a small auidtorium for the last twenty three years. Many of country music's veteran stars have played our place, and they are truly national treasures. One of the highlights of my job was the night I got to sit backstage and visit with Johnny Wright while his wife, Kitty Wells, performed. I got to hear tales of touring in the old days with Hank Sr. from somebody who actually DID it! Mr. Wright is a very friendly, gracious man who has has lived a life I find fascinating! The last time Bill Anderson played our venue, the furnace that serves the dressing room area conked out right before load in. Talk about cold, that part of the building was a meat locker. We sent one of our staffers home to get a couple of electric heaters, and while we waited, I went downstairs to check on everybody. When I walked into the green room, there sat Bill, huddled up in the corner of a sofa, wearing an awesome country-style "show biz" coat...I wish I had had my camera handy! He politely asked if we could get a little heat to thaw out his hands before showtime. When the heaters arrived I found Bill still on the couch in his coat, with one of the heaters sitting on the coffee table blowing right on him. Bill and his band members showed good humor and patience with the situation, and they are welcome in Ottawa, Kansas, anytime! Over the years it was also a pleasure to provide airport rides for Jeannie Seely and Jan Howard, and to have Jack Greene at our house for Sunday dinner. These people ARE the living history of country music; thanks to their "young at heart" approach to life, they relate well to people of all generations today. They have paid their dues and remain willing and able to share their talents. To my knowledge, there is no limit to the number of members the Opry can have. If there are newer artists that are "Opry Worthy", go ahead & induct them. That shouldn't necessit
I support this petition. Historically where would the Opry be with out its senior member musicians? In the beginning and through out its history - Uncle Dave Macon, Bill Monroe, more recently Ralph Stanley to name a few. This would be criminal and a shame for an institution that claims to pride itself on history and tradition.
I support this petition. I also wonder if at 67 Tandy's ready to hang it up? Were Jerry Clower still with us would his manager Tandy Rice tell Jerry to quit the Opry? Of course, Clower worked it almost until his death in 1988 at age 71. He was still a great talent six years past Tandy's recommended retirement age. I still enjoy seeing the Opry legends regardless of their age.
I support this petition.
I have to agree that most of todays younger artists copy each others style. The older artists were uniquely original. You want to boot people like Jim Ed Brown, Billy Walker, and Ray Pillow for tone deaf Garth Brooks wannabes? BAD idea!
Not only do I wholeheartedly disagree with Rice's comments but I actually think these legends are the only ones who have nothing to lose by standing up, defining the most successful avenues for expression, and are the most capable of reinvigorating the industry. The older you get, the bolder you get. You are more creative and wildly more resilient. This boldness, creativity and resilience are strengthened as one withstands ignorance and fear such as that epxressed through Mr. Rice's comments. Bismark selected 65 years of age for retirement because life expectancy in Germany was less than 65 years. History has shown this to be a totally arbitrary number. Rice's criteria are just as arbitrary and clearly far more ignorant.
DEAR MR. RICE.
I BELIEVE ANYONE WITH A GRADE SCHOOL EDUCATION, COULD PLAINLY SEE YOU STUCK YOUR FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH AND THAT NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO TALK OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF IT AND CRAW-FISH OUT OF WHAT YOU REALLY MEANT... YOU SAY NEXT MONTH YOU WILL RELEASE ANOTHER 'JUVENILE' EDITORIAL, EXPLAINING???. HOW MUCH YOU REALLY CARE FOR THE OLDER LEGENDS IN COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE GRAND OLE OPRY.... TO THIS, WE 5 MEMBERS OF OUR BLUEGRASS STRINGBAND SAY...B.O.L.O.G.N.A.
MR. RICE, I BELIEVE ANYONE WITH A GRADESCHOOL EDUCATION AND A P-NUT SIZED BRAIN; COULD PLAINLY SEE YOU STUCK YOUR BIG FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH AND NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO CRAWFISH AND TALK OUT OF BOTHSIDES OF IT; SAYING YOU WERE 'MISUNDERSTOOD' AND NEXT MONTH YOU WILL AGAIN RLEASE SOME JUVENILE EDITORIAL EXPLAING 'HOW MUCH YOU LOVE AND CARE FOR 'THE OLDER LEGENDS OF THE GRAND OLE OPRY AND COUNTRY MUSIC.... TO THIS, WE 5 MEMEBERS OF OUR STRING BAND SAY: "B.O.L.O.G.N.A"
First let me say that I support the Petition and then let me say if retirement at 65 from the Opry was mandatory then I beleive Mr. Rice would get exactly what he might be after. The end of the Opry, read on and you will understand.
If the retirement is because the singers are too old then we will have to change the name of ( The Grand "OLD" Opry ) that "is" what it is called, if I am not mistaken, so why keep that"OLD" thing around if the performers are too"OLD" for the stage.
If I am not too "old" to remember properly, they did build a "NEW" Grand "OLD" Opry and called it The Grande "OLD" Opry House" but it is the "OLD" Ryman Auditorium that every country fan really wants to know about, and if you are a new country music musician or performer,that is where you would rather sing just to be able to say you stood where Hank Williams and the rest of the Greats stood.
So there you have it, the members who are the singers are too "OLD" the New Opry is still the Grand "OLD" Opry and the "OLD" Ryman is still standing and is adored by all.
Now Mr. Rice if this is too confusing for you, perhaps you are suffering from, what they call "OLD" FOLKS diseases, hardening of the arteries, dememtia, or even Alzheimers Disease, but I hope not, because if you are, maybe you will be put away just like most so called "OLD" people are because they are a burden to others.
Just because someone is older does not mean they are unable to sing or perform, THAT IS RIDUCULOUS. Tell that to the ROLLING STONES, Paul McCartney or any of the other Rock and Roll Legends or their fans and he would be the laughing stock of the world. Utterly incrdulous to even insinuate such a thing.
On the contrary, when it comes to many of the younge
I support this petition.
Jean Shepard's voice is stronger than ever and she is 72 years young.
There is no whisper in her voice.
Without these older Legends, there wouldn't be an Opry.They made the Opry. You knew whose voice it was as soon as they started to sing. These young new ones, all sing alike.The older ones know how to dress, and they always did. The young ones should take a lesson from the older ones and dress properly.
If they put the older ones on the TV portion, maybe we would all watch it again.
It's just not like it use to be and we older fans miss that.Somebody should wake up and put the Opry back the way it was.
I support this petition. All my life I loved Country music. I cannot stand what is passed off for country these days. Only listen to the old stars on CD's I buy. I pass up all those glitzy award shows. SOO very boring! I do not waste my time.One thing more Nashville Star is not country! So boring! Some older stars sound the same as always. If they have lost their voice, they themselves should know it is time to hang it up! Porter still sounds GREAT.
I support this petition and believe a certain age does not make one less entertaining.
I attend 2-3 Opry shows each year and truly enjoy the performances of folks like Jim Ed Bbrown, Jeannie Seeley and Little Jimmy Dickens. I still laugh at his jokes, even though I've heard them many times before !
I support this petition.
Mr. Rice you are terribly wrong in your thinking. If I go to the opry I want to see a legend not some new pup who might end up being a one hit wonder.
What an overwhelmingly ignorant assumption on Mr. Rice's part, to assume every artist loses their ability to sing at age 65. 65 is the NEW 50. And I'm only 34.
I support this petition. Some of the best singers would be gone - Connie Smith, Jeanne Seeley, Bill Anderson, Charlie Louvin, Porter Wagoner, Little Jimmy, Buck White, and numerous others that stand for the Opry - Younger singers are good - but they are trying to make it big with big money and the Opry is not that - its a radio show - not a concert held in an arena.
I support this petition.
What are they thinking, 64 and your great 65 and your done. How do people that know nothing about art get in the entertainment business.
I support this petition.I have been reading the petitions to keep the legends on the Grand Ole Opry and I for one hope that Steve Buchanan and Pete Fisher will let them sing as long as they want to and are able to perform. However I am very disappointed that the Legends do not get to be on the tv portion of the opry anymore. In fact most of the time it is made up of those who are not Opry members. I do not have anything against those who are not members appearing on the Opry but I think it would be nice if they would let at least one or more of the Legends be on every tv program. Better yet why not let the tv program host be an Opry legend. It was such a treat on February 4, 2006 when Marty Stuart was host of the tv program . On his show he had Patty Loveless, Ricky Scaggs, Porter Wagner Charlie Pride and the Grand Ole Opry Squaredancers. This is the way the tv portion of the Opry should be.
I support this petition. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke...I don't think it is right that someone should be forced into retirement because of their age. These are the people that shaped country music and regardless of their age they should be respected and honoured for their craft. Fans are fans and you won't hear them saying they should be put out to pasture. They are thrilled that their favourite artists are still performing.
It's great to see everyone rallying around the Opry Legends. They not only deserve our support, but also our gratitude for being the torch-bearers and ambassadors of country music over the years. To try to strip away their dignity through forced retirement, and imply that they are no longer legitimate entertainers demonstrates a lack of appreciation for all they've accomplished in their careers. Let these stars of yesterday continue to shine on!
I support this petition.
I don't think that one should have to give up doing what they love & enjoy (do best) just because someone finds them too old for the job. He or she will know when they're ready to leave or that they can not do the job anymore and or arn't are affective; therefore they can leave on their own. They themselves will know when it's time to leave.
I support this petition.
Put out to pasture those who made the Opry what it is and should remain? Ridiculous! Today's "stars" are, for the most part, glitz and glitter with no substance, and sex with no romance. Not what we want to see and hear.
I support this petition.
A combination of old and new is what makes the opry! It is one of the few places that have not forced the old out. It should be what we want, not Mr. Rice.
I support this petition. This proposal is truly absurd. Just think of all those, over the past 60 years, who would have been eliminated for the Opry Stage for being over 65.
ITHINK THIS ISSUE ,SHOULD BE A CHOICE TO EACH MEMBER.
I DONT THINK THEY SHOULD BE FORCED INTO RETIREMENT,AS WE WOULD SAY GOODBYE TO THE BEST,AND WE DO THAT EACH DAY WITH OUT A CHOICE CAUSE THEY GO HOME TO GOD.WE HAVE LOST TO MANY WITH OUT CHOICE,LEAVE IT IN THE ARTIST HANDS.
I support this petition. The Opry today is not the show it was many years ago. The ragged jeans & t shirts, and the rock instrumentals do not make a show...the artists that dress the part are the old timers, and that helps makes the show. When I pay money to see a show, I don't want to see the ragamuffins. I find now a days I don't know one artist from another by the sound of their voice, when the legends come on we can still tell who is who, by the first note of their song...Let them stay as long as physically possible.
I support this petition., , I'VE BEEN PLAYING COUNTRY MUSIC FOR THE PAST 36 YEARS ON MY OLE TIME COUNTRY GOLD RADIO PROGRAM ON C.F.S.X. RADIO IN STEPHENVILLE NEWFOUNDLAND , HOME OF THE FORMER ERNEST HARMON AIRFORCE BASE, AND THATS WHAT THE GRAND OLD OPRY IS ALL ABOUT OUR COUNTRY LEDGEND;S, THE PORTER WAGONERS, MINNI PEARL, LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS , CHARLIE PRIDE, CONWAY TWITTY, DOLLY PARTON, TAMMY WYNETTE, , THEIR MUSIC LIVES ON AND ON , AND NO THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RETIRE FROM THE OPRY AT AGE 65,, THEIR MUSIC IS PRICELESS, THEY SING SONGS THAT HAVE A STORY TO TELL... NOT ONE LINERS... REMEBER TO KEEP IT COUNTRY.... DYNAMITE DON
