Little Jimmy Dickens is rolling over in his tiny little coffin.

Oh wait... I don't think he's dead yet.

I am not surprised at all. The G.O.O. is, at this point, just DESPERATE to attract young fans at almost any cost. Have you been there? In an audience of 3 to 4 thousand, you can count the people age 18-30 on two hands. To say that their audience is "gray" is putting it mildly.

So they bring in Jewel. They bring in Darius Rucker. They bring in Jessica Simpson. If Paris Hilton made a country album, I guarantee you she'd be booked to play the Opry before her record even came out. It's sad. But to me, the most grievous offense was making CARRIE UNDERWOOD a MEMBER. Are you freaking kidding me?!! Carrie Underwood is invited to become a member of the Opry before George Strait? Very sad. As Eddie Stubbs would say, we're living in the last days, my friends...circling the drain.

Why does everybody get a sand in their clam every time something like this happens? Don't you almost EXPECT it anymore?

Can I get a "hell yeah"?

How 'bout a "holler and a swaller"?

Have you ever thought that maybe it was not a goal of George Straits to join the Opry? The Opry has requirements. How many times has George Strait played at the Opry? Maybe thats why he's not a member. Carrie has showed her devotion from the very beginning. It was one of the first places she played three years ago to show her love of classic country. She continued to play to sold out shows throughout the next three years numerous times per year. Perhaps its easier because she lives in Brentwood and Strait in Texas. But Carrie should not be belittled as not Opry worthy because she has showed support through her attendance, support, and moral character.

Your right, Texas. She should be belittled because she got her start on a pop tv show, not because of her "moral character."

If D. Striker doesn't write a song about this I'm throwing in the towel...

I never said Carrie Underwood wasn't devoted to the Opry. My beef with her as a member has more to do with the fact that she's been in "country music" for about 10 minutes. Mel Tillis worked his ass off for 40 years before he was invited.

And concerning C. Underwood's alleged appreciation of classic country, I don't think going on the Opry a couple of times and singing "Stand by Your Man" (and not very well, I might add) shows true appreciation for classic country. To me, her slick Shania-esque records tell a much different tale.

"Moral character?" If that's a prerequisite, Texas, then how in hell did George Jones get in there? Of course, they did kick ol' Hank out. Think about this, though? If "moral character" were required to be considered country, then Hank, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and so many other real, honest-to-the-bone country legends aren't really country? But Carrie Underwood is? My friend, you don't know country.