Dustin Lynch is a Bad Pick as the Next Grand Ole Opry Member
There most definitely have been greater offenders to the roots and the integrity of country music over the past few years than Dustin Lynch. But arguably nobody has been a greater disappointment than the Broken Bow artist from Tullahoma, Tennessee. With a promising start to his career, with his strong voice and propensity to sport a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, you so much wanted Dustin Lynch to be good, and to be a part of a new generation of country stars to carry the proud traditions of the genre forward. But the argument can be made that no other performer has done more to sell out, chase trends, and most disappointingly, turn their back on themselves as an artist in recent years than Dustin Lynch.
That is why it is so disheartening to hear that The Grand Ole Opry has chosen Lynch to be its latest member. During Tuesday night’s (8-21) installment of country music’s longest-running radio program, Trace Adkins officially invited Dustin Lynch to join the storied institution. “All the folks at the Grand Ole Opry are very selective,” Trace Adkins said—a 15-year member himself who rarely upholds his own Opry dues. “We think that Dustin Lynch is going to carry on in that grand tradition.”
Starting his career off with the solid and promising single “Cowboys and Angels,” you could almost squint and see a young George Strait in Dustin Lynch. Then came the silly “She Cranks My Tractor,” which led to a series of some of the worst songs released in country in recent years, including the Metro-Bro “Seein’ Red,” and Lynch’s latest single, the terrible and saccharine-encrusted “Good Girl.” Dustin Lynch has gone from a promising young traditionalist to a transparent Sam Hunt knockoff.
To be fair, folks who care about the integrity of the Grand Ole Opry and root for artists who can uphold its traditions to become the newest members have been on a winning streak as of late. With picks of Crystal Gayle and Dailey & Vincent in late 2016, then Bobby Bare and Chris Janson in 2018 (Janson played the Opry more in recent memory than any other non-Opry member), we’ve been on an upward trend for those selected for invitation. Chris Young has gone through his own transformation into a generic radio product over the past few years, but the pick in 2017 was at least tolerable.
But what separates an artist such as Dustin Lynch even from slime like Florida Georgia Line is that he knows better, and still chooses to cut and release some of the most horrible singles released in country in an effort to solidify a top-tier country career, which he’s been unable to accomplish. His bad singles do well on radio like all singles from male artists these days, but their consumption and streaming numbers are meager. Dustin Lynch has no distinguishable identity. He offers no creative contribution to the genre, positive or negative. He’s just a vessel for commercialism in country music, and not even a particularly accomplished one.
The other reason the pick of Dustin Lynch is a sum negative is that it won’t even be a big attention grabber for the institution. It’s perfectly understandable that the Opry wants younger personalities and current stars to fill its membership ranks to keep the institution fresh and relevant. But Dustin Lynch won’t even be a sexy pick among pop country fans. Aside from his fan club, Dustin Lynch is an also-ran among the mainstream country listening population. But that also feels like part of the reason he’s being foisted forward as the next Opry member—to attempt to create some buzz behind an otherwise meager artist who either needs to develop into an area act in the next year or two, or cut bait.
This is not to be mean to Dustin Lynch. But when making such weighty decisions like who will be the next Opry member, you want the beneficiaries to be worthy of the distinction. Otherwise it begins to not hold any weight at all. Elizabeth Cook has now played the Grand Ole Opry some 400 times. Now that Miranda Lambert lives in Nashville, many think she would be a worthy pick that would also grab attention for the Opry. There are scores of other young artists that have shown loyalty to the Grand Ole Opry like William Michael Morgan who would make for solid selections. But instead we go with a guy that has become a lightning rod to many of his own original fans from straying so far away from his original sound he’s unrecognizable to them.
READ: Who Should Be the Grand Ole Opry’s Next Member?
The curse is cast, and Dustin Lynch will be the Grand Ole Opry’s next member. But hopefully fans of country music will let their opinions be known that there are much better options out there for induction to an institution as important as this one, and whose induction is supposed to be for life.
Dirt Road Derek
August 22, 2018 @ 8:10 am
I like some of his songs, but his membership in the Grand Ole Opry seems premature at the very least. There’s a long list of far more deserving candidates who have not been granted membership.
Tony Kepuska
August 22, 2018 @ 8:12 am
This guy has always sucked and doesn’t know better..a hack male dancer type with a cowboy hat is all it takes to make you think he had potential??
Trigger
August 22, 2018 @ 8:24 am
I thought “Cowboys and Angels” was a decent song. Prominent steel guitar and fiddle, guitar solo, good songwriting. Yes it was just one song and he almost immediately turned to the dark side with “She Cranks My Tractor,” but when I first caught wind of the guy, I had hope.
Pierre Brunelle
August 22, 2018 @ 12:23 pm
Yes. I totally agree with you. For a radio single, cowboy and angels is a great country song. It was one of my favorite song on the radio back in the day. Trashville probably push him towards pop country and now he is totally irrelevant.
Geronimo
August 22, 2018 @ 8:27 am
How does this guy get inducted and Miranda freaking Lambert is still not a member? Yeesh.
Rachel
August 22, 2018 @ 11:48 am
I’d love to see Miranda make the effort to become a member. I guarantee she could play there whatever day she wants, it just doesn’t seem like she’s been overly interested in it so far.
Black Boots
August 22, 2018 @ 12:10 pm
Makes no sense
Don S
August 22, 2018 @ 8:31 am
Simple one word response. Stapleton
Virginia Ambrose
August 29, 2018 @ 8:36 pm
Taking my 10yr old Granddaughter to school I had Chris Stapleton, she said, “MeMa he sounds good, the other singers all sound the same with different words in their songs”.
David
August 22, 2018 @ 8:33 am
What…
The Original WTF Guy
August 22, 2018 @ 8:33 am
Is there anyplace that lists the criteria for becoming a member of the Opry and/or a list of those that are members? It almost seems at times that it’s about selective and regimented a process as getting a star on the Hollywood “walk of fame.”
Golddust
August 22, 2018 @ 8:39 am
Becoming an Opry members – https://www.opry.com/oprymembership
Artists, and you can toggle to get only members and only guest artists. https://www.opry.com/artists
Golddust
August 22, 2018 @ 8:37 am
I, too, had hope when I first heard “Cowboys and Angels”. But since then … I turn his songs off as soon as they come on. Or at least I think I do. As you said, he has no distinguishable identity anymore so he just gets turned off with the rest of the drivel. So many worthy people out there who have been around longer and haven’t been sell-outs when it comes to upholding the country tradition and staying true to the genre. This pick really does disappoint me. He’s probably a very nice guy, but when you actually know what country is, and start off playing it, and then go so far away from it … don’t care how nice you are. You know better, and you don’t belong in the Opry.
Technical Music
June 28, 2019 @ 1:07 pm
I do completely understand how all y’all feel, but in honesty country isn’t always a specific sound. Just like any other genre you have to be able to listen and take elements from each to create good music. Dustin might not be the best and deepest musician out there, but rythmically and sonically his songs are a decent listen. I would like to see him become a little better of a lyricist though. Some deeper meaning in his songs would be nice. As far as songwriting goes though, he does seem to have a decent melody in mind. To be fair he writes with some great musicians. I don’t get the whole “country back to it’s roots thing” I used to, but it just seems dumb to think that country has to sound like x,y,and z.
albert
August 22, 2018 @ 9:17 am
”…..he knows better, and still chooses to cut and release some of the most horrible singles released in country in an effort to solidify a top-tier country career, which he’s been unable to accomplish. His bad singles do well on radio like all singles from male artists these days, but their consumption and streaming numbers are meager. Dustin Lynch has no distinguishable identity. He offers no creative contribution to the genre, positive or negative. He’s just a vessel for commercialism in country music, and not even a particularly accomplished one….”
”Dustin Lynch is an also-ran among the mainstream country listening population. But that also feels like part of the reason he’s being foisted forward as the next Opry member—to attempt to create some buzz behind an otherwise meager artist who either needs to develop into an area act in the next year or two, or cut bait.”
You’ve made an unassailable case here Trigger . You’ve articulated the undeniable flawlessly .
This is simply one more WTF moment in a time of many many WTF moments in this bullshit $$$$$-centric ‘ country music ‘ climate and , as such , I think it ultimately holds little to no honour or meaning . Least of all to the demographic being pandered to .
albert
August 22, 2018 @ 9:58 am
”……one more WTF moment”
Little Big Town ??????????????????????????
Ronald
August 22, 2018 @ 9:29 am
I enjoyed his first album. I don’t even have a problem with She Cranks My Tractor. At least it was a country song. Since then things have went way downhill.
MH
August 22, 2018 @ 11:21 am
How was it a country song, Ronald?
Pierre Brunelle
August 22, 2018 @ 12:25 pm
The word tractor makes this song a country song (IRONY…)
Benjamin
August 23, 2018 @ 10:02 am
As much as I hate Dustin Lynch, that song, and the modern state of country music, I will say “She Cranks My Tractor”is a country song. The instrumentation and subject matter dont fit into any other genre better. Is it a good song? No, not at all. Is it country? Unfortunately.
Dennixx
August 22, 2018 @ 9:39 am
Same business model as H-D.
Can’t sustain on older customers.
Trying to attract a more youthful audience is all.
Jody
August 22, 2018 @ 9:49 am
It’s really baffling to me (and a lot of other Nashville folks) that Elizabeth Cook isn’t in there. Besides being super talented, entertaining, committed to performing at Opry, etc etc – why wouldn’t you want someone who’s going to promote the institution to a younger audience?
MH
August 22, 2018 @ 11:24 am
Because Elizabeth Cook isn’t signed to a major label.
It’s all about clinging to the last vestiges of a 20th century music business (yes the Opry is part of that business).
hoptowntiger94
August 22, 2018 @ 8:32 pm
Do you ever listen to her show, “Apron Strings,” on Outlaw? I love her, but all she talks about are her pills (or other drugs). She’s way too edgy the Opry … I honestly dont know how she’s alive.
Stork
August 24, 2018 @ 7:11 am
I’m going to be absolutely honest, she gets on my last damn nerve. Her music is one thing, and while I don’t own any records, I’ve heard it and it’s respectably pleasant. It’s her radio personality that drives me up the wall.
jessie with the long hair
August 26, 2018 @ 2:07 pm
She’s pretty dumb sounding on the radio. Still hot as hell though.
Bill
August 22, 2018 @ 10:05 am
I remember rushing to Hodag Country Music Festival in Rhinelander, Wisconsin on a Thursday afternoon to get the chance to see Dustin Lynch sing ‘Cowboys and Angels’. I missed my chance but I could hear him sing the song as I slowly made my way to the parking area. By the time I got to the stage/seating area, he had just walked off stage. Was I disappointed then? Yeah, sure I was. Would I be now? Not even a little. Besides, I got to see the Charlie Daniels Band live right after.
Gabe
August 22, 2018 @ 10:15 am
This is indeed a sad day
Kevin Davis
August 22, 2018 @ 10:48 am
If mainstream country were to get back on the right track, I could see Dustin Lynch following along and doing more neo-traditionalist cuts and being good at it. So, that’s a small silver lining. He at least has potential for doing right by the genre.
I’ve actually seen him play the Opry, last year with Carrie Underwood. I went to see Carrie, not Dustin. Thankfully, he played “Cowboys and Angels” as the first of his three songs, and it was excellent. I forget the other two songs, but I remember the instrumentation was more organic and traditional than the studio cuts on the radio. So, it wasn’t quite as awful as I was expecting, but it was still bad and a significant step down from the first song.
Mike
August 22, 2018 @ 11:25 am
Is it me? Or does this guy look like Justin Beiber and Fire Marshal Bill had an illegitimate child??
OlaR
August 22, 2018 @ 11:28 am
Meh.
Not the best day in the history of the opry & a bad choice.
Let’s have a closer look: Dustin Lynch is a format star with decent sales numbers, a couple of #1 hits &…well…some not so good numbers in the last couple of month.
Might be only for one trend-chasing single (“I’d Be Jelous Too” – #34)…but his current trend-chasing song (“Good Girl”) is #36 after 16 weeks with no-names around him like Tyler Rich, Travis Denning & Riley Green (who looks like the next big thing).
His albums sales are somewhere between: 100.000/139.000 & 77.000 units (Source: Roughstock).
With all the new male acts & Cody Johnson looking like a superstar in the making Dustin Lynch might be happy to be a member of the opry when his career starts to fizzle out.
albert
August 22, 2018 @ 12:56 pm
I am a big Cody Johnson fan ……I think .
CODY JOHNSON’S latest single ( don’t ask me the name …no idea….forgettable like the lyric ) was played for the first time on our local ‘ country station ‘ today .Not only is it a dreadful pile of cliche-ed lines with a forgettable melody but it was already a SMASH as ‘ BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD ” by Jeff Hannah ( and Rascal Flatts , of course ).Same exact song .
Cody’s last album had so many amazingly fresh , creative , engaging and INTERESTING songs lyrically and musically I can just can’t help feeling like …” well there goes Cody …they got to him like they got to Josh Turner , Easton Corbin and Joe Nichols” Sure …maybe it SOUNDS a bit more traditional but its a shitty song .
Oh and , unsurprisingly , ….83% of phone-ins for the song gave it a thumbs up . Good for Cody’s bank account . Bad for country fans …unless they go back and buy his last record .
I just get too upset and frustrated and pissed off every time a serious contender bites the big one .
North Woods Country
August 22, 2018 @ 3:25 pm
If you’re referring to “On My Way to You,” you are not being reasonable. Not his best song but not a sell out either. It’s more of a country song than “With You I Am” was. The latter is still a great love song, mind you.
albert
August 22, 2018 @ 3:44 pm
NWC…I think this lyric is riddled with cliche , it goes in circles and it winds up with a last verse that coulda been an FGL song . I conceded that ,yeah ..its more country-sounding than lots of bro stuff …..but Its weak lyrically and ‘weak’ is not a hallmark of Cody’s stuff .
All the boats I’ve missed
All the hell I’ve caused
All the lips I’ve kissed
All the love I’ve lost
I got kicked around
I’ve been black and blue
On my way to you
All the stars I’ve seen
All the songs I’ve sung
All the beers I’ve drank
All the damage done
I was passin’ time
Kinda just passin’ through
On my way to you
CHORUS:
Every curve, every ditch
Every turn, every bridge
I left behind me up in smoke
Every fork in the road
And it was all worth while
When I finally saw you smile
Every highway, every heartbreak, every mountain, every mile
I got the radio up
The sun is going down
I’ll take a left at the bank
And I’ll head straight through town
So baby put on that dress
A little sweet perfume
Cause I’m on my way to you
Rachel
August 22, 2018 @ 11:45 am
Aaanndddd cool….. guess we’ll see, but I’m going to bet Carrie is still going to be the only mainstream Opry member that actually cares about her commitment. Not sure I see him really going all out for the Opry, although I’m praying he does.
CraigR.
August 22, 2018 @ 12:04 pm
Dustin Lynch’s Instagram videos are a hint into who he really might be. For about a year now he has been filming his antics. He claims he want his fans to see him behind the scenes- to know him better. But like all obtuse people he shows only why he isn’t a better artist. First it is clear he isn’t an artist -no matter what he may think. An artist is about the business of creating art. He or she is not showing you their hiking skills or getting their hair cut or working out-unless it inspired a song. Secondly his desire for popularity, pleasing the fans, and to be acknowledged is far more important to him than singing a real country song with depth or emotions. Just the fact that he thinks he is really showing anyone anything that is personal and private, or even heartfelt is a joke. He is making these videos to keep his fans- pure and simple.
At the end of the day that is what he is: pure and simple. I don’t think he is dumb,but he is not a thinker or a true songwriter. He is a young man trying to become famous in modern country. His Opry membership may just be an extension of that desire. The problem is that we wish that a good voice would be put to great use and continue the genre. I gave up that wish with Josh Turner. Just because he’s got a cowboy hat, a deep voice, and some boots doesn’t mean he gives a tinker’s dam about the art of country music. He is just another self absorbed young man who wants fame. And the Opry wants to keep its fame at any cost. They are, sadly, a perfect match.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 22, 2018 @ 1:27 pm
bit off topic but thought everyone would enjoy a clip of Glen Mel and Roy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrPwg8Fp4Yo
albert
August 22, 2018 @ 3:51 pm
chills , F2S ..how good are these singers ……..wow ….
Fuzzy TwoShirts
August 22, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
Mel Tillis is probably one of my favorite singers in all genres. Everything he sang had this passion and delivery to it.
If you haven’t, go on the Youtube and watch Uphill all the Way. it’s a western satire staring these three with Burl Ives and Gailard Sartain and Sheb Wooley. Bit silly but always leaves me feeling warm and Fuzzy inside.
Angelo Rinaldi
August 22, 2018 @ 1:32 pm
This guy is the most boring “artist” in mainstream “country”. Maybe only Lady A are more boring than him.
Summer Jam
August 23, 2018 @ 6:50 pm
Uh….no…. just no
Trigger
August 22, 2018 @ 1:56 pm
Just today, Dustin Lynch’s manager Brad Belanger was interviewed in Music Row Magazine. This is what he said about Dustin Lynch:
“Everybody knows he has five No. 1s and he has hits, but when you ask someone, “Who is he?” they have a little more of an ambiguous answer. My goal is to really define who Dustin Lynch is as an individual.”
This is after the guy has been playing music for six years. This just underscores my point about how bad of a pick this is. The Opry just selected someone that nobody even knows who he is, even himself.
Stinks
August 22, 2018 @ 3:53 pm
He’s a cardboard cutout of a country music star, a smile and a hat. There is nothing of substance there
Janee pope
January 5, 2019 @ 9:16 pm
Love you dusitn luych
Ray
August 22, 2018 @ 2:14 pm
Ashley McBryde received a standing ovation two weeks ago. When she walked out, it seemed no one knew who she was other than people from Nashville. She did an acoustic set that was amazing. It is time to get new females on the Opry, whether they are a sexy choice or not.
Amanda
August 22, 2018 @ 2:15 pm
What about Miranda, Ashley Monroe, or Kacey Musgraves? Wouldn’t they be better picks? I think they would.
hank
August 23, 2018 @ 12:09 am
No.
Tom R.
August 22, 2018 @ 3:02 pm
Well it makes sense given the Opry is almost completely unlistenable these days. There are so few Opry greats left there’s a lot of guests now Many of them have never had a hit record in their life and most of them are no better than you would hear at any local club. And so much of it is the southern folk or folk/Americana stuff. Worse, the commercials are long and obnoxious now, most read live from the stage. I couldn’t imagine sitting through that. Eddie Stubbs intros (and post performance comments) are often long and tiresome and he’s almost as bad as James Corden at fawning over ever guest as if they are the greatest talent in the world.
Ulysses McCaskill
August 22, 2018 @ 3:12 pm
With all due respect….
Fuck the Grand Ole Opry
Greg
August 22, 2018 @ 3:33 pm
They should have picked Rhonda Vincent
King Honky Of Crackershire
August 22, 2018 @ 3:39 pm
Why induct a dude whose career has already ended?
GrantH
August 22, 2018 @ 5:31 pm
I was a fan of Dustin Lynch early on; heck, I even enjoyed some of the songs off his 2014 album “Where It’s At” (even the more pop-country tunes on there were pretty decent in my opinion). Unfortunately he decided to sell out big time…and it didn’t even pay off. Sure, he’s had some big hits, but he certainly doesn’t have the headlining reach of Luke Bryan or Jason Aldean, and he has yet to hit the platinum plateau with an album. It seems like he just can’t cross over to country’s A-list. He’s got a good look and public image…and that’s all.
hoptowntiger94
August 22, 2018 @ 8:27 pm
I don’t know the difference between Dustin Lynch or Justin Moore.
albert
August 22, 2018 @ 10:55 pm
”I don’t know the difference between Dustin Lynch or Justin Moore.”
that’s cuz Nashville has done its job homogenizing the music and the people singing it .
I can’t tell one rapper from another either . Coincidence ? I think not …..
Pierre Brunelle
August 23, 2018 @ 5:24 am
Justin Moore is smaller. That’s the difference.
Same lyric, same beat, similar “songwriter”.
Kevin Smith
August 23, 2018 @ 5:05 am
The Opry is in a difficult spot right now. On the one hand, they do try to preserve tradition and the music to some degree. They have always given a stage to aging legends who radio put out to pasture long ago. And they will routinely book traditional sounding artists like Elizabeth Cook, Del McCoury, Grascals,Dale Watson, Mandy Barnett, Chuck Mead and so on. I applaud them for doing that. But in terms of membership inductees, they favor folks in the mainstream industry because the Opry fan base is largely country radio listeners. And then there’s the issue of how to appeal to younger people, and that’s the tough one. Young people aren’t listening to country music by and large. So it’s a conundrum, to say the least. But this current pick is baffling for sure. Dustin who?
Cobra
August 23, 2018 @ 5:52 am
Forget whether Dustin Lynch should “know better.”
The Grand Ole Opry should know better. They should have higher standards.
But as exciting as the show might be to see live, their standards for membership went down years ago. Rascal Flatts? Seriously? They haven’t had a hit song in years – not that “hits” are the most important thing, anyway – but this would be one thing if their output was at least worth listening to. But it’s not. They’ve become forgotten to everyone except their core fan base because they never went bro-country (Good Lord, can you imagine *that* train wreck?). Their still early 2000 soccer-mom country, so they’ve been left behind while all the trend chasers and trend-listeners have moved on to the next big thing.
They were inducted into the Opry because they were popular for a moment in time.
The Opry should be concerned with inducting members who are true to the traditions of country music, regardless of popularity. Bring in some Red-Dirt and Texas Country acts! Bring in Miranda Lambert! Are there worse picks than Dustin Lynch? Maybe, but it’s really a matter of which side of the bottom of the barrel they’re scraping from.
Pierre Brunelle
August 23, 2018 @ 6:42 am
Ahahaha Rascal Flatts.
I guess they made a comeback years ago when they realized that the “new country” was at least as bad as their own. “If these guys can sell, so do we!”. ahaha
The first song that I have heard from them was the song “Rewind” and I couldn’t believe this guy voice.
Charlie
August 23, 2018 @ 9:23 am
‘Dustin Lynch has no distinguishable identity.’
He is on the list of country singers that I would forget to put on a list of country singers, were I to be asked.
(It’s a looooong list!)
Chris
August 23, 2018 @ 2:08 pm
Judging from the fact that this article has been up for a day and no butt-hurt fangirls have posted here with their typical “Y’all are haters/jealous”, “[insert artist] is better than that old-fart and jackass music you old fogeys listen to”, etc. comments, I think you can rest your case on that one.
I would purposely forget to put Dustin Lynch’s name on a list of “country” singers because except for “Cowboys and Angels”, his music isn’t country.
Bro-Country, Skin Tight Jeans, Yeah Baby!
August 24, 2018 @ 3:29 pm
Awesome news. Now all we need is Chris Lane to be the next inducted.
Country music is alive and well.
albert
August 27, 2018 @ 12:10 pm
it is indeed alive and well , as you say Broco …..just not on the radio
Nan
August 28, 2018 @ 6:23 pm
I thought it was a glaring omission before this that Miranda Lambert wasn’t a member. I wonder what their reason is to not invite her—it sounds like most of her fellow Artists that started around the time she did have been members for years. And when seeing that Blake Shelton a member since 2010, Carrie Underwood celebrated 10 years recently something doesn’t seem right, it can have fans wondering what do they have against her at this point. I wonder if her ‘tougher image’ at first is what turned the voters off. I guess Awards won, and Type of Awards won, doesn’t count with voters, or she would have been inducted by now.
The most awarded Artist in Academy of Country Music Awards history
The most awarded female Artist in Country Music Association history
The Hall of Fame–Artist in Residence Award
Nothing against Dustin Lynch personally, not his doing re: Miranda but anyone who gets invited besides her at this point just makes it seem more of a glaring omission. Starting to agree with Ulysses McCaskill’s comment then.
Missy
November 15, 2018 @ 6:49 pm
I love Dustin Lynch. He’s just playing to the people that buy his music. Perhaps he will get back to his beginning roots, but I have liked all of his albums. I think a lot of country today is pop based. Just as rock n roll changed over time , so has country music. Yes, the Grand Ole Opry is known for straight up country music … no ifs, ands, or buts about it. But to say this guy lacks talent is crazy. Perhaps he IS too young and has not paid his country dues yet, but it was their choice. I was there when he was inducted not knowing he was going to be. I thought he was fabulous. My favorite country artist of all time is Dwight Yokum, but I like these new artists too. I hope he continues to make music, sell out shows, and prove everyone wrong. Kudos to him for following his dream !