One of my most vivid childhood memories is of attending the Grand Ole Opry when it was still permanently housed in the old Ryman Auditorium. My parents bought me a toy guitar and I sat on the end of the pew and strummed along with Ernest Tubb, Stringbean, Roy Acuff and Grandpa Jones for hours. I was hooked. To me, country music has always seemed to be much more than just a genre of music. It is a family with a strong reverence for its forebears. The family reunions take place at the Grand Ole Opry.
Unfortunately, the memory of one who must be regarded as one of the family’s founding fathers is being seriously disrespected. All these years I just assumed that Hank Williams was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His clothes and hat are in a display case in the Ryman. The gift shops at both the Ryman and the current Opry House sell various pieces of Opry memorobilia featuring Hank’s likeness. But he’s not a member.
Hank was fired from the Opry in 1952, after missing a bunch of Saturday night shows. Everyone knows that he battled alcoholism and probably should have been fired. However, there was also an understanding that he would be reinstated once it was shown that he could sober up. When he died in the back of his car on January 1, 1953 plans were already underway to reinstate him as a member of the Opry.
Instead, he died and those plans to restore his membership died with him.
This injustice must be corrected. The man wrote so many of the songs that are the foundation of modern country music. Jambalaya, Your Cheatin’ Heart, I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, I Saw the Light - all of these songs have been covered a gazallion times and the songwriters of today still use their influence. Rolling Stone ranked Hank number 74 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
Fortunately, each one of us can take part in correcting this injustice. Sign the petition to reinstate Hank to the Opry. Tell the corporate powers who own the Opry that it is time to do the right thing.
No one can say whether or not Hank would have sobered up to be reinstated had he lived. But given that he died, his contributions to the Opry and country music must be honored. If they’re going to make a buck off the man in the gift shop, then the least they can do is honor his memory.
2 responses so far ↓
lillingtondemocrat // May 25, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Real country music. That’s what Hank symbolizes. I get tired of hearing people say they like “country music” just not that old whiny stuff with the fiddles and steel guitar. Modern country radio is simply the top 40 bland pop of the 21st century. It would be nice to hear some Hank, Tubb, and Lefty on the radio for a change. I’ll be happy to sign the petition.
Wookie // June 4, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Clearly you never paid attention to the lyrics in “The Conversation” with Hank Jr and Waylon!! Great song (and I forgot how great the video was - youtube it and you’ll be in ‘neck heaven).
I’ll sign that petition a hundred times over - he should have been “pardoned” a long time ago.