Breaking News: Mel Tillis Invited to Join Grand Ole Opry
A few weeks ago, I asked, Who Will the Opry Induct Next? In that article, I noted that Opry invitations are notoriously unpredictable and that there are several legendary traditionalists who have not yet become members. Most of our readers thought that the next inductee would and should be young Josh Turner, but the Opry chose to stay away from the current crop of radio artists and instead surprised legend Mel Tillis with an Opry invitation on Saturday night.
After taking the Opry stage to perform two songs, Tillis was approached by Opry member Bill Anderson who asked “how would you like to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. We’d love to have you.” A very moved Tillis replied, “this is another part of a dream yet to be fulfilled. The Opry’s always been on my mind. God bless the Grand Ole Opry.” Upon his membership invitation, Tillis was flanked by his son Mel Jr., and daughter Pam Tillis, an Opry member since 2000, who will formally induct her father into the Opry next month. After Tillis walked off stage Anderson remarked, “When I was asked to invite Mel, I said ‘I whisper and Mel stutters. No one is going to know what was said!’”
For readers who are unfamiliar with the Opry cast, the most surprising part of this news may be that Mel Tillis was not an Opry member already. Daughter Pam Tillis and several less notable artists of Mel’s generation were asked to join the Opry long before Mel. Nonetheless, this surprise invitation is an overdue honor for one of the genre’s greatest artists.
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May 13, 2007 at 2:15 am Permalink
This begs an obvious question: Why wasn’t Mel Tillis invited long, long before this time?
May 13, 2007 at 6:45 am Permalink
ARGH! Scott Biram shirked again! GO SPURS!!
May 13, 2007 at 10:32 am Permalink
I have no idea why he wasn’t inducted during his heyday, but it makes sense that he wasn’t invited once he opened his theater in Branson, which would make being an Opry regular impossible. One of the reasons Pam made it before Mel is that she’s been Nashville-based, and she made a point of being at the Opry quite a bit in the 2-3 years before her induction, which was immediately after her run at radio had effectively ended.
May 13, 2007 at 1:22 pm Permalink
Wow, I’m like you guys…I thought Mel was already inducted, but it is better late than never. Yep I was one of those that was thinking Josh Turner would be next. I know I’ve read interviews that George Strait said that he would consider being a member if asked now that his touring schedule is smaller each year and he has more time to commit to it.
There is one thing though, I really don’t like the fact that some members of the Opry take their membership and kinda throw it out the door. What I mean is that they join, but yet rarely play a show each year. (One that I’m thinking about is Garth…there are several others too.) I know that he is retired, but there are others that don’t fully commit. I think it is a slap in the face to those in the Opry and those that truly want to honor country music in being an Opry member. Just my 2 cents…
May 13, 2007 at 2:02 pm Permalink
The Opry is very careful about choosing artists who will not take Opry membership for granted. That’s why they haven’t inducted artists like George Strait who appear not to fully appreciate the Opry tradition. Garth Brooks is not a particularly good example. He has repeatedly said that his Opry induction is the highlight of his career and when he retired he told the Opry management that he would perform on the Opry stage anytime they asked. He has only appeared once since his retirement, on the 80th anniversary show in 2005. He is far from the only retired Opry member who seldom or never appears yet still treasures the Opry.
Many Opry members who are current radio stars (Dierks Bentley, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, etc.) don’t appear often beacause of the demands of their touring schedules. Still, they are great ambassadors for the Opry and I expect that those who reside in the Nashville area will begin to appear quite often when their careers cool off. In almost every case, Opry appearances are limited by intractable logistical considerations (retirement/illness, touring, or physical distance) or decisions of the Opry management (as in the cases of Stonewall Jackson, Charlie Louvin, etc.) rather than the artist’s reluctance to perform on the Opry stage.
May 13, 2007 at 2:11 pm Permalink
Yeah, it’s a complicated issue. Maybe the Opry ought to reduce its appearance requirements. Scheduling is a problem, plus the Opry doesn’t pay all that well. Right now, mostly what you’re left with are has-beens or ultra-traditionalists.
Still, it’s stunning that it took Mel Tillis this long to be invited. He’s one of the greatest country songwriters ever, and I’ll stand on Steve Earle’s coffee table and say so.
May 13, 2007 at 3:59 pm Permalink
Ron, there currently is no minimum appearance requirement.
May 13, 2007 at 7:42 pm Permalink
“I’ll stand on Steve Earle’s coffee table and say so.”
I would like to see that. Video link, please.
May 13, 2007 at 10:52 pm Permalink
Silly me. I thought members had to put in two appearances a year.
Come to think of it, I’m not sure Steve’s coffee table can support my weight.
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