You should have seen the lines at the box office right after Carrie’s final performance in the first show as peeps where buying up tickets to the 5/10 show for Carrie’s induction night.
I’ve been to the Opry in my life more times than I care to admit, even when their was only one Opry and that was at the Ryman where my oldest son perfom’d at an early age as part of an Opry dance group and there is nothing like seeing Carrie at the Opry. I’ve never seen or witnessd the special feeling of any other artist in Opry history perfoming in that “Gold Circle” where so many in the history of country music has stood as what happens when Carrie performs at either Opry House. The Opry loves Carrie just like the camera loves her and bless her heart Carrie loves the Opry. This performance was her 14th time performing at the Opry in less than two and a half years in her young career. So proud & happy for her!!!

Carrie covers Paradise City, complete with headbanging big hair flips and all. Shame she can’t come out of her shell eh? Heh!

I’ve only seen her live twice but I was impressed both times. Going to see her again soon, Good Lord willing and the tornadoes leave the civic center standing, so I’ll let you know how she does.

It’s funny about Carrie though. You either love her or not and something I don’t get. I love traditional country having been a big fan for decades but our traditional country station just shut down totally while the contemporary country station is booming. Even “oldies” are more commercially viable than traditional country right now. Some folks blame the downfall on the likes of acts like Carrie, Rascal Flatts, et al but when you have stations shutting down that play straightline traditional country in a major market you’d best be looking at your hole card. The contemprorary country stations play a strong mix of tradtional artists and “pop” country so I would think folks would be thanking these contemporary acts instead of crucifying them. Without them country doesn’t sell and there’s no market for traditional artists except in certain areas. Definitely not nationwide or mainstream. You simply cannot force the general populace to like certain things. Everyone has their own tastes and vote with their dollars. Time to quit bashing and start thanking IMHO!

Someone like Carrie goes away and so does any chance traditionalists have of breaking into the marketplace. Carrie’s second tour that she mixes with her tour with Keith Urban features Josh Turner as an example. The money spent on music is young dollars and to attract those dollars image is everything. Thankfully we have someone like Carrie Underwood that still respects the traditions of the past and considers a membership in the Opry as a fantastic honor. She holds the values and traditions of country music close to her heart and that can be nothing but a positive for the future viability of the Opry. Not to mention the thousands and thousands of fans she’s brought to country music. Pure and simple!

Just my two cents. Take them or leave them as you see fit!

I’m simply providing this context to explain that he is by no means a modern country listener nor a Carrie Underwood follower. However, he’s heard me mention that people complain that Carrie has no stage presence or personality. He found this link, which impressed him and has garnered respect for Carrie from him. I echo his sentiment. She’s certainly not a stick here.

Sweet Child of Mine: