Hank III Needs You to Help Reinstate Hank Sr.
Rolling Stone recently named Hank Williams one of the 100 greatest singers of all time, saying his nasally moan defines country. Even Merle Haggard chimed in to say, "I never heard anything Hank sang that I didn't believe." That may be why Williams' grandson, Hank III, is mad as hell that grandpa hasn't been reinstated into the Grand Ole Opry after being kicked out in 1952. He was supposed to sober up and come back, but died in 1953 before he was able to do so. So the youngest Hank is encouraging country fans to sign the online petition to get his late and legendary grandfather back into the Opry posthumously. It seems like it's the least we can do for the man who did so much for country music.
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RedMaZ says:
I’ve been contemplating about this for quite a while, and have decided against it. They did want him want when he was alive, they certainly don’t deserve him now that he’s dead.
By the way Alison…It’s “Grand Ole Opry” not “old”. Good gawd. Maybe you should just stick to Pop Culture.
Kevin says:
I agree that he should be reinstated…but evidently they dont want him now either, or they would have just reinstated him already and there would be no need for the petition.
RedMaZ says:
So are going to sign the petition? Or have you?
Kevin says:
No, I dont plan on signing it.
Chris N. says:
Opry membership is a job, not just an honor. If Hank Sr. can’t perform, he can’t be a member. And I’m pretty sure he’s not up to it right now.
Shotgun says:
I’m signing it. It’s the principal of the thing!
I think this would be just the thing to start rallying us back to our roots.
RedMaZ says:
Roots Music is just fine. It certainly doesn’t need Pop Culture.
Joe says:
I think it might be impossible for this to happen, per OPRY rules…I’m pretty sure that DEATH ends your membership in the GRAND OLE OPRY, they could do something ceremoniously I guess, but it wouldnt be official
Thomas says:
I’m sure glad there aren’t any more pressing problems in our society than whether or not to allow a dead guy to be a member of the Opry. Imagine if all this energy was focused on an actual problem..
RedMaZ says:
Okay, I’ll ask, what IS the actual problem?
luvncountry says:
There are MANY more actual” problems in society than letting a dead guy in the Opry. Try the economy for one, considering that effects pretty much everything. Although I must say, having probs with drugs & alcohol is a societal problem and many have overcome that with rehab and strong support. Had Hank WANTED help, he could have gotten it. Apparently a membership in the Opry wasn’t incentive enough. The Grand Ole OPry IS OLD!!!!
Shotgun says:
Mr. Red,
Music is the abstract presentation of concrete cultural distinctives. While the music itself may last forever, (or at least as long as any material vessels like CD’s, DVD’s, or even the radio waves travelling through space, remain)…the culture will always (by necessity of the case) have aspects that are common among many folks. These common aspects can be called “popular” although, I’d prefer not to use the term in that way…
I’m not sure I can agree with you that there is such a hard line divide between what counts as “popular” and what counts as “roots” since (given my above observations) it would impossible to distinguish between the common aspects of a particular culture, and the music that articulates those common aspects.
Hank was a master at portraying certain common or “popular” aspects of a group of people, and he deserves to be honored for it…even if the honor would be unprecedented and break pre-established opry rules.
Kevin says:
Good point Thomas.
The way I see it, if they reinstated him now, they would just be doing it to shut people up and stop the controversy. So why even bother. I know if I were him or his family, thats not why I would want to be reinstated. Both sides are doing just fine the way things are right now, so I say just let it be.
Michael Malley says:
56 years is way to long to keep the Greatest there ever was out of the Opry!
RedMaZ says:
Why? So he can be in the company of Adkins, Underwood, and Morgan? Give me a break. The Grand Ole Popry has become a joke.
Shotgun says:
The Grand Ole Popry has become a joke.
If you’ll excuse me for drawing a political analogy mr. Red…
So has our constitution, but that doesn’t mean we stop paying it lip service…
The Opry is an icon, one that needs to be refashioned into the shape of the culture it supposed to represent. Recalling Hank is a good start.
RedMaZ says:
We only have one Constitution. We have more than one musical culture, but you don’t know that. Remember?
Kevin says:
The opry becoming a joke is only your opinion. So please do not try to present it as a fact. IMO the Opry is not a joke and is doing just fine.
RedMaZ says:
My opinion of course is based on fact. Is it not true Adkins, Underwood, and Morgan are members?
Kevin says:
Lol.. yeah, that part is a fact. But, that, by no means makes it fact that the Opry is a joke.
Brandon says:
I will not be signing this. Hank is already a member of the Hall of Fame, and his legacy will live on in country music for a long time. GOO membership is not going to impact his popularity or memory in any meaningful way.
Nikki says:
If any of you had actually read the petition you would know that the real reason for it is they continue to use his name, image and music to promote themselves but refuse to reinstate him posthumously. If they don’t want him in, stop using him. That is pretty much want Hank III wants. There are a lot of us that have taken up the cause and we will continue to do so until something changes.
Bradley says:
if the Opry doesn’t want to reinstate Hank Williams then they should stop using his likeness to make money for themselves. i have signed this petition and encouraged all my friends and lovers of real country music to do the same.
boagie says:
It is a token of respect this reinstatement, obviously he was not fully appreciated in his own time, but his heritage is most wonder! boage