However, I don’t think this will hold Carrie back. She’s a class act and has not used Idol as a crutch. If she continues making music of similar quality and success to her first singles, no one at the Opry is going to hold Idol against her. Whether she really fits the Opry profile is another question.

As far as Carrie and AI — I don’t really buy the argument that those artists are somehow less deserving of their success, because that line of thought is predicated upon the idea that if you are good enough, and you pay your dues, you’re going to “make it.” That’s just not true. There are countless artists who are paying their due right now who, for whatever reason, are not going to ever have so much as a development deal.

I think Carrie Underwood needs to wait a few years…her “success” came because of a successful show. No one heard of her until she was on there and it is evident from early interviews that she did it “for fun” whereas other musicians build their name up in the clubs and then move on up the Nashville ladder. I honestly think folks like Carrie, or even other AI factory made singers will not make it to the Opry as a member. The same goes for the Nashville Star winners. The reason why I say that is that it appears they had “overnight success” thanks to tv programming, whereas some musicians have stayed in Nashville most of their life playing in those honky tonks to get noticed. It is a very tough business, and it makes it tougher when a tv show can crank out “talent”.

If the Opry began looking at the list of potential members, I think they should look in Josh Turner’s direction. He is a talented musician (plays guitar, mandolin, etc) and singer. He has a proven track record and he is pure tradition, just like the Opry. He even mentioned during his recent taping of the Cracker Barrel Live cd that he would love to be asked to be inducted into the Opry. I think he would take the honor with extreme respect.