Why Charley Pride Took So Long to Become a Grand Ole Opry Member

30 years ago today—May 1st 1993—Charley Pride took the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as he had done many times before, but this time it was special.
30 years ago today—May 1st 1993—Charley Pride took the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as he had done many times before, but this time it was special.
Blake Shelton, Charley Pride, DeFord Bailey, Ernest Tubb, Grand Ole Opry, Jon Pardi, Willie Nelson
Becoming the first California-born artist to become a Grand Ole Opry member makes the invitation historic, and speaks to how the Opry continues to try and expand its membership beyond the institution’s conventional borders.
Alan Jackson, Grand Ole Opry, Guy Fieri, Jon Pardi, Stagecoach Festival
Jon Pardi is calling it the “Mr. Saturday Night World Tour,” but let’s just go ahead an label it the “mainstream country that doesn’t suck and actually sounds country” tour. That’s been Jon Pardi’s calling card for a while now, and he even kicked it up a notch with his recent album “Mr. Saturday Night.”
Dierks Bentley, Ella Langley, Jackson Dean, Jon Pardi, Midland, Miranda Lambert, Randall King
Trigger Random Notes 72 Comments
For the last dozen years or so, one of the most contentious battles within the realm of commercial country music has centered around the incursion of hip-hop influences into the genre, and specifically the use of verses that are rapped as opposed to sung, and electronic beats replacing organic drums.
Ashley McBryde, Bailey Zimmerman, Carly Pearce, Chapel Hart, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Ernest, Jason Aldean, Jason Isbell, Jelly Roll, Jesse Daniel, Jon Pardi, Justin Timberlake, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Sturgill Simpson, The War and Treaty, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan
Every year to make sure the best titles in mainstream country don’t get overlooked, and to encourage the quality in the mainstream to rise to the top, we run down the best mainstream country albums to compliment the Album of the Year nominees. Some years there is overlap.
Aaron Lewis, Ashley McBryde, Drake Milligan, Hailey Whitters, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Midland, Miranda Lambert, Randall King, Randy Houser, Ronnie Dunn
Not since the emergence of Miranda Lambert have we seen a woman surface in mainstream country music with such promise and passion that carries a wide appeal through an infectious personality, and at an advantageous time when everything is aligning to allow her to be utterly successful.
Ashley McBryde, Bell Bottom Country, Carly Pearce, Jay Joyce, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Review, Tyler Childers
Alan Jackson is being honored as the 2022 recipient of the Country Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the top honors in country music, the Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2012 with Willie Nelson as the inaugural recipient. Alan Jackson will be on hand at the CMA Awards.
Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, CMA Awards, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson
Trigger Random Notes 82 Comments
There is one thing that can’t be disputed about the song “Wagon Wheel.” It is unequivocally now one of the biggest songs in country music history. Darius Rucker and his label Capitol Records Nashville celebrated the song going Certified Diamond by the RIAA, meaning it has now racked up 10 million in sales.
Arthur Cudrup, Big Bill Bronzy, Bob Dylan, Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, David Allan Coe, Dean Dillon, Florida Georgia Line, George Jones, Jon Pardi, Justin Timberlake, Ketch Secor, Linda Hargrove, Mumford & Sons, Nathan Carter, Old Crow Medicine Show, Wagon Wheel
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Finally. 14+ years into a 10 year town, and Hailey Whitters is receiving the attention from the mainstream of country music that many fans, critics, and prognosticators have been saying she deserved many years ago, wishcasting her as one of the future bright stars of the genre if she was just given a chance.
Alan Jackson, Bren Cobb, Brothers Osborne, Flatland Cavalry, Hailey Whitters, Jon Pardi, Lil Nas X, Little Big Town, Lori McKenna, Trisha Yearwood
Trigger Random Notes 29 Comments
The Grammy Awards officially open the initial round of voting for nominees today, and due to the propensity for the Grammys to often overlook key contributors in the country music and roots space, here are some simple suggestions of what Grammy voters should make sure they don’t ignore for the 2023 awards.
49 Winchester, American Aquarium, Arlo McKinley, Ashley McBryde, Brennen Leigh, Brent Cobb, Caroline Spence, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Grammy Awards, Ian Noe, John Prine, Jon Pardi, Kaitlin Butts, Lyle Lovett, Molly Tuttle, Sturgill Simpson, Tommy Prine, Vince Gill, Wade Bowen, Willi Carlisle, Willie Nelson, Zach Bryan
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats, or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations.
Adam Hood, Charley Crockett, Drake Milligan, Gabe Lee, John Prine, Jon Pardi, Seth Jones, Sunny Sweeney, Tommy Prine
This Jon Pardi guy must’ve taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque or something. He’s all wrong side up. Doesn’t he understand that the arc of a country music star is to start off real twangy so you get support from the grassroots, and then as soon as you start to blow up a little bit, switch to pop or rock to cash in.
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As times goes on and today’s consumers continue to grow increasingly frustrated with the lack of creativity, roots, and soul in today’s music, expect to see the back catalogs of guys like George Strait and other older country acts continue to remain popular.
Chris Stapleton, Dean Dillon, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Kacey Musgraves
For 10 years now, Dixon, California native Jon Pardi has been a bright spot in the mainstream of country, doing his damnedest to keep it real with ample fiddle and steel guitar, and songs that go a little deeper than many of his mainstream counterparts.
Bart Butler, Carly Pearce, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Mr Saturday Night, Ryan Gore
It’s not that those “authenticity” concerns don’t continue to linger. But Midland is most certainly a mainstream country music bright spot, and has been ever since the band’s inception. This new album is no exception, once again taking Midland’s throwback 90s-era style…
Aaron Raiterie, Cameron Duddy, Jess Carson, Jessi Alexander, Jon Pardi, Josh Osborne, Mark Wystrach, Midland, Shane McAnally, The Last Resort Gretings From
Many independent country music fans and Americana nerds will never admit to it, but the simple fact is that mainstream country music has been on a painfully slow, but palpable improvement track since about 2015 when Bro-Country hit its peak.
Ashley McBryde, Buy Dirt, Carly Pearce, Ernest, Florida Georgia Line, Flower Shops, George Strait, Grand Ole Opry, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Michael Ray, Morgan Wallen, Sam Hunt, Whiskey and Rain, Whiskey Sour
‘An Old Time Christmas’ has always been considered one of the better bets for Christmas albums from country legends. That is how it achieved its Certified Gold status by the RIAA—something many of Randy’s 90’s and early 2000’s studio albums didn’t achieve.
An Old Time Christmas, Brent Mason, Carly Pearce, Don Schlitz, Grand Ole Opry, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Jerry Douglas, Jon Pardi, Mark O'Connor, Old Crow Medicine Show, Randy Travis
Trigger Random Notes 84 Comments
To be country again, you had to have been country in the first place, at least at some point. And country is as country does. You want to be country? Then be country. Don’t tell us about being country. Chances are if you’re telling us how country you are, it’s because it’s not self-evident you’re country.
Canaan Smith, Carly Pearce, Country Again, Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett
We’ve run down the Album of the Year Nominees for 2020, as well as the Song of the Year nominees, and an Essential Albums list is also coming together. But since the mainstream of country isn’t always well-represented on these lists, let’s look back on some of those best albums.
Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Brett Eldredge, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Hot Country Knights, Jon Pardi, Josh Turner, Maddie & Tae, Mo Pitney, Tenille Arts
Another quality lineup will grace the Grand Ole Opry stage Saturday night, August 22nd as mainstream traditionalist Jon Pardi, upstart singing trio Runaway June, and Grand Ole Opry member Pam Tillis will help keep the circle unbroken by performing and streaming live from the Opry House in Nashville.
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Grand Ole Opry, Jon Pardi, Natalie Stovall, Pam Tillis, Runaway June
We shouldn’t be surprised that Jon Pardi is one of the few new mainstream stars who can rattle off a handful of country classics at a moments notice. He’s about as traditional as mainstream country gets. Hell most of today’s radio stars have little to no idea who Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, or the late great Joe Diffie even are.
Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Joe Diffie, Jon Pardi, Merle Haggard, Prince, Rancho Fiesta Sessions, Review, Sinead O'Connor
The amount of cancellations tied to the Coronavius outbreak can be dizzying to keep up with, even within the confines of independent country and roots. But a few important cancellations are worthy of note, including two dates on the Sturgill Simpson / Tyler Childers tour, and the Mike & The Moonpies Europe tour.
Brad Paisley, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Coronavirus, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Luck Reunion, Luke Bryan, MIke and the Moonpies, Old Settler's Music Festival, Rodeo Houston, Sturgill Simpson, SXSW, Tyler Childers, Zac Brown Band
We’ve already run down the Greatest Country Albums of the Decade, and in there, albums in the mainstream were given fair competition to be included, and some made the cut. But in the spirit of inclusiveness and impartiality, let’s make sure the great records from the mainstream get their due as well.
Alan Jackson, Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Caitlyn Smith, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, George Strait, Jamey Johnson, Jon Pardi, Kacey Musgraves, Kalie Shorr, Kellie Pickler, Kip Moore, Miranda Lambert, Mo Pitney, Pistol Annies, Randy Houser, Reba McEntire, William Michael Morgan
Jon Pardi continues to show leadership in helping to return an element of twang and substance to country radio. After the debut single and title track from his latest record Heartache Medication went #1, making it the first mainstream country radio song in nearly eight years. Now he’s going to release “Ain’t Always The Cowboy.”
Ain't Always The Cowboy, Brandon Kinney, Jon Pardi, Josh Thompson