Latest news with #Acuff
UPI
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
LGBTQ country stars still overlooked as Opry hits 100
May 27 (UPI) -- On March 15, 1974, the Grand Ole Opry country music radio show closed its run at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, with Johnny and June Carter Cash leading the song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." After that final show, a six-foot circle of wood was cut from the Ryman stage and moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. The next night, Roy Acuff opened the first show at the new venue. A video of Acuff singing in the 1940s played before the screen lifted to reveal Acuff himself, singing live in the same spot. The message was clear: Though the stage had changed, the story continued. The circle had not been broken. The Opry began on WSM on Nov. 28, 1925, and is celebrating its centennial with a series of concerts and tributes under the name Opry 100. On March 19, 2025, Reba McEntire stepped onto the iconic circle on the Grand Ole Opry stage and kicked off NBC's Opry 100 celebration with a verse of "Sweet Dreams." The final song of the night was "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," performed by country legends like Bill Anderson and Jeannie Seely, alongside newcomers like Lainey Wilson and Post Malone. It was a moment meant to celebrate 100 years of country music tradition and connection with a stage full of voices harmonizing across generations. A circle, unbroken. But that night in March, one group of country performers was missing. Not a single openly gay, lesbian or bisexual artist appeared onstage during the anniversary celebration. In a moment designed to honor the full sweep of the genre's past and future, a long line of country musicians was left standing outside the spotlight once again. Wilma Burgess' sexuality was common knowledge in music industry circles in the 1960s and '70s. A slowly opening circle Country music has never been without queer voices, but it regularly refuses to acknowledge them. From 1962 to 1982, Wilma Burgess had 15 songs on Billboard's Hot Country chart and two Grammy Award nominations. She recorded with legendary producer Owen Bradley and had Top 10 hits like "Misty Blue." Despite this success, Burgess never played the Opry. Though Burgess was never publicly out, her sexuality was common knowledge in recording circles. In the 1980s, she left music and opened The Hitching Post, Nashville's first lesbian bar. Like so many queer country artists, Burgess had to build her legacy outside the circle. In the 1980s and 90s, k.d. lang and Sid Spencer expanded the presence of queer artists in country music. Lang won two Grammys and performed at the Opry, but she was labeled "cowpunk" and left the genre before coming out in 1992. Spencer released albums and toured widely within the gay rodeo circuit, but he was never recognized by mainstream country before his 1996 death from AIDS-related complications. The 2000s offered small openings. Mary Gauthier became the first openly queer artist to perform on the Opry stage in 2005. Chely Wright had a No. 1 country single before coming out in 2010, but didn't return to the Opry until 2019. Ty Herndon charted 17 singles before coming out in 2014. He wouldn't appear at the Opry again until 2023. These artists established themselves first and came out later, at great professional cost. The Opry hosts 5-6 shows a week, featuring 6-8 artists each night. In that context, a nine-year absence isn't just a scheduling gap. In addition, the Grand Ole Opry currently has 76 members, a special designation indicating a level of success in country music. None of them identify as LGBTQ+. Today, there are signs of change. Lily Rose, who has been openly queer since the beginning of her career, receives radio play, has songs on the charts and tours widely. But she remains the exception, not the rule. Other openly LGBTQ+ artists like Paisley Fields, Mya Byrne and Amythyst Kiah are recording, performing and building loyal audiences, but they are still rarely featured on country radio or invited onto the Opry stage. The circle may be widening, but for many queer artists, it's still just out of reach. The importance of the circle In country music, visibility isn't just symbolic. If you're not on the radio, you don't chart. If you don't chart, you don't tour. Without that platform, you can't build a legacy. Country radio and the Opry stage serve as gatekeepers of who counts. In 2015, a radio consultant infamously compared women artists to "tomatoes in the salad," stating a few were fine, but they shouldn't dominate. That same logic has long applied to queer artists; they can be tolerated at the edges but are rarely treated as essential. Genre labeling becomes another barrier. Brandi Carlile and Brandy Clark both openly identify as lesbians and have been embraced by country audiences and critics alike, but they are routinely categorized as Americana artists. That rebranding often functions as a fence that keeps artists close enough to celebrate, but far enough to exclude. Reimagining the circle The Opry's centennial celebrations are scheduled to continue through the end of 2025 with a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall and a final anniversary show in Nashville on Nov. 28. Perhaps openly queer artists will take the stage at those events. If they do, it won't just be symbolic; it will be a long overdue acknowledgment of artists who have always been here, even if they weren't always seen. Country music's strength lies in how it braids together American traditions: gospel and blues, Black and white, rural and urban, old and new. It's not a genre built on purity, but one that relies on the mix. That mix is what makes country music American - and what makes it endure. If the circle on the Opry stage is meant to stand for country music itself, then I hope it will be like the music: honest and able to grow. If "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" is more of a promise than just a closing number, the future of country music depends on who's allowed in the circle to sing it next. Tanya Olson is an associate teaching professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arkansas Reacts to Big Announcement on Five-Star Commit
The Arkansas Razorbacks are slowly forming one of the top college basketball programs led by head coach John Calipari. Arkansas is fresh off its first season under Calipari, having reached the Sweet 16. Advertisement The Razorbacks defeated Kansas and St. John's in the NCAA Tournament, both of which were ranked above the SEC program. As Calipari and the Razorbacks look to improve on their head coach's first season, much of the attention turns to the incoming recruiting class. On Monday, Arkansas highlighted a significant feat made by one of its blue-chip commits, Darius Acuff. Acuff recently participated in the 2025 Iverson Classic, a showcase with some of the best talent in high school basketball. The incoming Arkansas freshman won the Iverson Classic MVP for his performance. Acuff capped off the event with 32 points and 11 assists. Advertisement "Your Iverson Classic MVP: Arkansas Razorback @DariusAcuff," posted the official social media account of the Arkansas Razorbacks. According to 247Sports, Acuff is rated as a five-star prospect, ranked as the No. 2 point guard and the No. 10 overall player in the nation. Before committing to play for John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks, Acuff received plenty of offers from powerhouse programs, such as Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Alabama, Indiana, Houston, Michigan State, Ohio State and St. John's. Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Blake-Imagn Images Acuff is heading to Arkansas with the No. 5 overall recruiting class. Calipari and the Razorbacks also received commitments from the following players: five-star combo guard Meleek Thomas and four-star combo guard Isaiah Sealy. Advertisement According to 247Sports, Arkansas will also be welcoming two transfer portal prospects: Malique Ewin and Nick Pringle. Related: LSU Reacts to MiLaysia Fulwiley Announcement on Sunday Related: Five-Star Recruit Gets Big News Before Joining John Calipari at Arkansas
NBC Sports
10-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Lipscomb's Lennie Acuff is heading home to Alabama to take job at Samford
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Lennie Acuff, who coached Lipscomb to three straight 20-win seasons and an appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, has been named successor to Bucky McMillan at Samford, athletic director Martin Newton announced Wednesday. Acuff had winning records in five of his six seasons at Lipcomb, with this past season's team sweeping the Atlantic Sun regular-season and tournament championships before losing to Iowa State in March Madness and finishing 25-10. The 60-year-old Acuff is a native of Huntsville, about 90 minutes northeast of Birmingham, and was head coach at Division II Alabama-Huntsville from 1997-2019. Lipscomb athletic director Philip Hutcheson said Acuff couldn't pass up the chance to return to his home state, where his adult children and extended family live. 'While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we understand the attraction of being close to one's family and we wish him continued success in this new opportunity,' Hutcheson said. McMillan left Samford on Saturday to take over at Texas A&M. The Bulldogs were 22-11 this past season with a loss to George Mason in the NIT. They were 99-52 in five seasons under McMillan and drew national notice in the 2024 NCAA Tournament when they narrowly lost to Kansas in the first round.
Fox Sports
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Lipscomb's Lennie Acuff is heading home to Alabama to take job at Samford
Associated Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Lennie Acuff, who coached Lipscomb to three straight 20-win seasons and an appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, has been named successor to Bucky McMillan at Samford, athletic director Martin Newton announced Wednesday. Acuff had winning records in five of his six seasons at Lipcomb, with this past season's team sweeping the Atlantic Sun regular-season and tournament championships before losing to Iowa State in March Madness and finishing 25-10. The 60-year-old Acuff is a native of Huntsville, about 90 minutes northeast of Birmingham, and was head coach at Division II Alabama-Huntsville from 1997-2019. Lipscomb athletic director Philip Hutcheson said Acuff couldn't pass up the chance to return to his home state, where his adult children and extended family live. 'While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we understand the attraction of being close to one's family and we wish him continued success in this new opportunity,' Hutcheson said. McMillan left Samford on Saturday to take over at Texas A&M. The Bulldogs were 22-11 this past season with a loss to George Mason in the NIT. They were 99-52 in five seasons under McMillan and drew national notice in the 2024 NCAA Tournament when they narrowly lost to Kansas in the first round. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and recommended in this topic
Associated Press
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Lipscomb's Lennie Acuff is heading home to Alabama to take job at Samford
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Lennie Acuff, who coached Lipscomb to three straight 20-win seasons and an appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, has been named successor to Bucky McMillan at Samford, athletic director Martin Newton announced Wednesday. Acuff had winning records in five of his six seasons at Lipcomb, with this past season's team sweeping the Atlantic Sun regular-season and tournament championships before losing to Iowa State in March Madness and finishing 25-10. The 60-year-old Acuff is a native of Huntsville, about 90 minutes northeast of Birmingham, and was head coach at Division II Alabama-Huntsville from 1997-2019. Lipscomb athletic director Philip Hutcheson said Acuff couldn't pass up the chance to return to his home state, where his adult children and extended family live. 'While we are disappointed that he is leaving, we understand the attraction of being close to one's family and we wish him continued success in this new opportunity,' Hutcheson said. McMillan left Samford on Saturday to take over at Texas A&M. The Bulldogs were 22-11 this past season with a loss to George Mason in the NIT. They were 99-52 in five seasons under McMillan and drew national notice in the 2024 NCAA Tournament when they narrowly lost to Kansas in the first round.
