Stonewall Jackson settles Opry suit

Monday, October 6, 2008 – Stonewall Jackson is back at the Grand Ole Opry after the singer settled an age discrimination suit on Friday in court in Nashville. Jackson has been a member of the Opry for more than 50 years.

In an Associate Press story, Steve Buchanan, vice president for media and entertainment at Gaylord Entertainment, owner of the Opry, said, "We are pleased that everything with Stonewall is resolved. We're glad to have him back on the Opry."

Jackson filed suit against Gaylord and the Opry last year, saying that his appearances on the Opry declined after Pete Fisher was hired to run the Opry in 1998. Jackson sought $10 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages. The case had been slated to go to trial in 2009.

Jackson, who had hits in the 1950s and 1960s, has performed on the Opry in recent months.