Cashville411.com

There is an old saying about the mistake of wanting to “be” right, rather than “do” right. That adage came to mind when I first learned about the campaign to have Hank Williams reinstated as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

You didn’t know Hank Williams isn’t a member of the Grand Ole Opry? Me either. But that’s the fact. The greatest figure in the history of country music, and one of the greatest figures in all of popular music history, was kicked off the Opry five months before his death and never reinstated posthumously. Why? Because it’s never been done.

Or, at least, that’s the explanation they gave to the icon’s grandson, Hank Williams III, the force behind the reinstatement campaign. Hank III told CASHVILLE411 contributing editor Warren Denney in a story published April 28, “Just because they’ve never done it before is no reason.” It should be noted that when a member dies, he or she is no longer considered a standing member. But Hank Williams doesn’t even rate nonstanding member status.

Memo to the Opry: There’s a first time for everything.

This is a classic example of the dangers of shortsightedness born from corporate inertia. Frankly, the Opry looks stupid on this issue. Aside from the fact that it would only be right since they are exploiting his former membership at every opportunity — including having a Hank Williams impersonator greet Opry attendees — they are missing out on what would undoubtedly be a public relations bonanza.

Just imagine the attention they would get with a full-blown reinstatement ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium that featured not only the Williams clan, including Jr. and III, but Hank-worshipping rock stars who would fight to get on the bill. They couldn’t buy that kind of exposure, no matter how many Carrie Underwoods they induct.

The Opry should take a good, long look at itself. It has been at least three decades since the longest running radio show has been relevant in terms of having an effect on record sales. Johnny Cash was never a member and he is arguably the genre’s second largest figure after Williams. Noticeably absent from the current list of the Opry’s standing members are superstars like Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, and Hank Jr., as well as young stars like Rascal Flats and Taylor Swift. And III, with his noise and hard core side projects, fits the Opry's profile even less than his grandfather and father.

So, the Grand Ole Opry’s role in the 21st century is largely that of a historical landmark, a sort of weekly reminder of country music’s deep, rich roots. The younger stars it attracts join up as a way of paying tribute to the great country tradition, which was built to no small degree on the talents of one Hiram “Hank” Williams.

So when you consider, as Hank III has, “what they did for him and what he did for them,” it isn’t hard to conclude that the respect, or lack thereof, “just ain’t right,” as he did. But this isn’t the opinion of just his grandson. As of this writing, more than 25,000 people have signed the petition which states in part, that the signees feel the time “is past due for Hank Williams' reinstatement to the Grand Ole Opry.” Yeah, about 55 years past due with compound interest.

The bottom line is this: Even in death, the Grand Ole Opry needs Hank way more than Hank needs the Opry. During the 55 years since his death, Hank's relevancy has followed an ascending arc, while the relevance of the Opry has traveled in the opposite direction.

From my vantage point, it seems the Opry has two credible choices: They can either do the right thing and reinstate Hank, or they can cease to exploit him for their financial gain. Anything else, just wouldn’t be right.