An Open Letter To Pete Fisher

Dear Mr. Fisher:

I don't expect you to read this, nor do I expect you to care about the opinion of one listener, but I'm writing this anyway.

Let me explain to you where I'm coming from.

I've always considered The Grand Ole Opry to be like a restricted country club. People are admitted by invitation only. You don't let everyone in because then it loses the very thing that makes it special. However, just because you aren't a member of the Grand Ole Opry, it doesn't mean you can't PLAY on The Grand Ole Opry.

Think along the lines of Augusta National Golf Club. They keep the membership down to around 300 or so people. Although there are currently no women members, women ARE allowed to play golf at Augusta National as the guest of a member.

Now....think about this for a minute. Suppose the powers that be of Augusta National got a wild hair one day and decided to open their doors to anyone and everyone that wanted to be a member.

Everyone runs around saying "Guess what? I'm a member of Augusta National." The typical response would be "Big deal....so am I. I bought the whole family a membership through Costco."

Even Raynell Jones, whose claim to fame was that she was featured on Cops in 2005 because she kicked her now ex-husband out of their trailer and spent a night in jail because she hit him up side the head with her best cast iron frying pan is now able to be a member of Augusta National.

See how quickly it loses its appeal?

You're probably saying to yourself "So what does this have to do with me?"

Well.....I'm about to tell you. I kept quiet when you extended a membership invitation to Dierks Bentley. I didn't say a word when you did the same with Craig Morgan, Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood.

When you FINALLY extended membership invitations to Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury, and Mel Tillis, my first thought was it's about d@mn time...what took so long?

But with the event that took place just this past week, I feel I really have to say something.

Montgomery Gentry? You have GOT to be kidding!

First off, I have a real problem with anyone that kills a penned up bear and calls it "hunting"....but that's another gripe for another time.

This really isn't about Montgomery Gentry, it's a complaint about Opry membership criteria, in general.

I fully expect that in the next couple of weeks, I'll sign on to opry.com and find out that Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler are going to be the newest members of The Opry.

Why not instead of giving the winner of Nashville Star a recording contract, just give them a membership to The Opry, instead?

Don't get me wrong.

I'll admit that I have a couple of songs from some of these folks mentioned above on my ipod and I don't mind it when they perform on The Opry. But being a member is another matter, entirely.

I personally believe that a lot of today's country singers look at The Opry as just one more thing to stick on their resume.

Once they've been inducted, then it's "Buh-BYE Opry....gotta go sell out a few stadiums and push my latest project."

Case in point....how many times has Garth Brooks or Reba McEntire performed on The Opry in the last five years? Garth can't seem to make up his mind if he is retired or not and Reba is too wrapped up in her acting career and clothing line.

That said....I will admit that Carrie Underwood has surprised me in that over the last year since her induction she has made it a point to appear for a couple of nights every couple of months.

All I'm saying is that it seems like some of your choices lately have been "fast tracked." They've had a few hit records, appeared on The Opry a few times, maybe hinted around that they'd like to become members....then maybe after 3 or 4 top ten records you invite them in.

They show up for their induction and then it might be a year or so later before they darken the doors of The Opry Hall or The Ryman....and even then it's only if they are guaranteed to be on the televised portion so they can plug their latest CD.

Way back in the day, members were REQUIRED to guarantee a MINIMUM of 26 appearances A YEAR to maintain their membership.

I guarantee you that if that requirement were reinstated, you'd find out real quick who really cared about being a member and who wanted to be a member just to have bragging rights.

I read a rather ugly story the other day that I sincerely hope is not true.

I read that Stonewall Jackson was told by you that you (and I'm quoting here) "didn't want any gray hairs on that stage or in the audience, and before I'm done there won't be any." You are also alleged to have told Jackson that he was "too old and too country."

I hate to be the one to break it to you Mr. Fisher, but if that story does happen to be true those gray hairs you speak of buy CDs, too and The Opry is the EPITOME of country music, ergo, there is NO SUCH THING as being TOO country.

Of course, that might explain why members like Little Jimmy Dickens and Jim Ed Brown are usually relegated to the first half hour of The Opry show because management probably figures that once their portion of the show is over with, their fans are headed to bed.

I guess all I'm saying is that before an invitation is extended, certain criteria should be met:

1. The prospective member should be expected to perform at The Opry on a REGULAR basis, say for example a minimum of 15 - 20 appearances per year. (The only exemptions will be due to health reasons or age limitations.)

2. The prospective member should consider country music their PRIMARY career...not a stepping stone to a crossover career in pop music or a way to get into acting or modeling.

3. The prospective member should have at least five CDs in their discography that cracked the top 10, a career in country music of at least five years, -AND- willing to appear on The Opry a minimum of 50 - 75 times BEFORE an invitation is even considered.

4. The prospective member agrees and understands that after an invitation is extended and accepted if criteria 1 or 2 above is breached, membership will be revoked and will not be reinstated. (D@mn straight I'm serious!!)

So....before you extend a membership invitation to the likes of Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich, etc.. , keep these 4 criteria in mind.

I don't expect any of this to be followed, but one can always hope.

And if you EVER offer Jessica Simpson a membership in The Opry, then I will just consider you to be the Barack Obama of The Grand Ole Opry. If you don't understand what that means, then think about the phrase "going to hell in a handbasket" and go from there.

Sincerely,

An "old school" Opry fan and future gray hair