Sturgill Simpson, much like Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, was “just getting warmed up” yesterday with his initial Facebook post in which in bashed the ACMs, Music Row and “Garden & Gun” magazine.
In an update to his initial Facebook post, Sturgill clarified that he has no problem on a personal level with Miranda Lambert receiving the inaugural ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award. His disdain is for organizations such as the ACMs and CMAs for his perceived believe in their hypocrisy.
“My point was that all of these organizations don’t walk it like they talk it. I called The ACM out directly because they are simply the latest in a long line of organizations that have done the same since Merle’s death…and even before. Showing homage and handing lifetime achievement awards to the greats of yesterday while claiming to uphold and hold dear the original values and integrity of Country music’s legacy. Yet these are just hollow words…merely empty semantics. One needs only to look glancingly at the majority of the music that they, along with the CMA’s, predominantly choose to recognize and promote at their award shows.”
Sturgill went on to claim that he will be blackballed from the industry, and artists like himself and Jason Isbell will continue to make No. 1 records without the help of the establishment.
“I fully realize that as I type this, meetings and conversations are taking place on music Row to ensure I am blackballed from the industry and that’s perfectly fine with me. Im not sure how you can blackball somebody you don’t acknowledge in the first place anyway. Yet, even though they mostly go out of their way to ignore artists like myself and Jason Isbell, I assure you they are more than aware of our existence. They are also well aware that we don’t need them. Our last albums went to #1 without any help from the Mainstream Country Music establishment…and our next albums will too.
For his part, Jason Isbell chimed in on Twitter, at first blindly agreeing to Sturgill’s statements when asked to comment by a fan. After he read the post, Jason still agreed.
I don’t know what he said but I agree 100% https://t.co/tnz2ToFzl5
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) August 30, 2016
Ok now I know what Sturgill said and I still agree
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) August 30, 2016
Finally, Sturgill let fans know that—should he be nominated—he won’t be attending this year’s CMA Awards. He’s got a sold-out show in Des Moines. There’s also a rather humorous postscript.
You can read the full post below.
Shortly after I initially posted this it was announced that Miranda Lambert would be the award recipient.
Before people start chasing clickbait by putting words in my mouth I feel the need to clarify that I was not aware of this at the time of my original post and my words were in no way directed at her. I know that Merle liked and respected her so it’s good to see there is at least some blue sky in all of this.
I don’t know Miranda nor have I ever met her but something tells me that in her heart, she knows I’m dead on. I am also aware that the ACM is a West Coast organization originally created to recognize West Coast artists like Merle and they have handed Merle many trophies over the years,..even in the last 15 or so mind you. It’s also worth noting that the last one was handed to him by none other than Miranda Lambert herself.
But all of this is irrelevant as none of it has anything to do with the original point I was trying to make. My point was that all of these organizations don’t walk it like they talk it. I called The ACM out directly because they are simply the latest in a long line of organizations that have done the same since Merle’s death…and even before. Showing homage and handing lifetime achievement awards to the greats of yesterday while claiming to uphold and hold dear the original values and integrity of Country music’s legacy. Yet these are just hollow words…merely empty semantics. One needs only to look glancingly at the majority of the music that they, along with the CMA’s, predominantly choose to recognize and promote at their award shows.
I fully realize that as I type this, meetings and conversations are taking place on music Row to ensure I am blackballed from the industry and that’s perfectly fine with me. Im not sure how you can blackball somebody you don’t acknowledge in the first place anyway. Yet, even though they mostly go out of their way to ignore artists like myself and Jason Isbell, I assure you they are more than aware of our existence. They are also well aware that we don’t need them. Our last albums went to #1 without any help from the Mainstream Country Music establishment…and our next albums will too. With that said, I have no more need to make enemies with these people than I have a need to be their friends. If anything I’m trying to help them. Because more and more everyday, people are waking up to the situation and they are pissed. Perhaps Country Music, especially Nashville, should wake up too before it’s too late.
I should also go ahead and add here that whether or not I am nominated for a CMA award this year, I will not be attending the ceremony for no other reason than the fact I already have a sold out show scheduled in Des Moines, Iowa on the night of the awards ceremony and I have no plans to change that.
Mostly though, I just wish Merle was still alive.
I’d love for them to all hear his thoughts on the matter.
P.S. [F**k] this town. I’m moving.
photo courtesy Crackerfarm/Sacks and Co.