It all began on November 28, 1925 in the National Life Building when the announcer on Nashville radio station 650 AM WSM introduced fiddle player Uncle Jimmy Thompson as the first performer on a new show called “The WSM Barn Dance”.
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| Current Grand Ole Opry House Nashville, Tennessee |
Now, more than 96 years later, the show that George D. Hay started is still going strong and has launched countless country music careers and instrumental in leading the way for Nashville to become known as “Music City”.
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| WSM Radio announcer Eddie Stubbs |
In 2020 the Grand Ole Opry celebrated it's 95th birthday. The show has been witness to some of country music's biggest moments. It was here that Johnny Cash met June Carter.
Bill Monroe and his band invented bluegrass on the Opry stage and unexpected guests such as Paul McCartney, Bill Murray and Pharrell Williams have made one-night-only shows truly unforgettable.
Other famous faces to take the Opry stage include:Yes, President Nixon was the first U.S. President to visit the Opry when he attended the opening night of the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. President Nixon, who sang and played piano at the Opry that night, is the only President to have performed on the Opry stage.
Performed five songs from his 2012 album entitled “Killing Each Other”.
Who
appeared with his father-in-law, legendary jazz bassist CharlieHaden
Performing on September 1, 2009, Golden Globe-winning actor Kevin Bacon and his Emmy-winning brother Michael Bacon made their Grand Ole Opry debut as The Bacon Brothers.
They performed on stage along with The Bellamy Brothers, singing “Guilty of the Crime”.
Minnie Pearl stage wear Dolly Parton stage wear
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE OPRY:
- For 4,600+ (and counting) consecutive Saturday nights, the Grand Ole Opry has rung out on the airwaves. It’s the world’s longest-running radio show and now also runs every Friday plus seasonal Tuesdays and Wednesdays in addition to traditional Saturdays.
- The Opry has had six homes throughout its 90-plus years. It moved to the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974 and has resided there longer than any previous home. The Grand Ole Opry House seats 4,400 fans. The Opry’s famous former home, the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, seats 2,200. The Opry returns to the Ryman each year for a wintertime run.
- Approximately 6,024 songs are performed during Opry shows each year.
- The Opry has welcomed
more than 200 members throughout its history. The Opry has called the names of
country music’s all-time greats, from Hank Williams and Patsy Cline to Brad Paisley
and Carrie Underwood.
- Opry legend Loretta Lynn celebrated 50 years as an Opry member in 2012 on the same night country group Pistol Annies made its Opry debut.
- On Minnie Pearl’s 50th anniversary, she reacted to a videotape message from Dolly Parton by jesting “I wear a hat so folks can tell us apart.”
- Opry member Lorrie Morgan made her Opry debut when she was 13 years old. “I thought, 'this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life,’” she says.
- Loyal Opry fan Paul Eckhart bought a ticket for and attended an Opry performance for 2,184 straight weeks from 1972 until 2014. Yes, 2,184 uninterrupted.
- Five Opry members have been honored with their own U.S. postage stamps.
- 15.8 million feet of audio, video, and lighting cable on the Opry House complex help take country music to the world.
On
my recent visit to the Grand Ole Opry I had the thrill of taking a
backstage tour. It’s a must-see for everyone who visits Nashville. Walk in the footsteps of country music’s
superstars and get an exclusive look at what happens behind the scenes of the
show that made country music famous.Photo opp before entering the building
Features included with your backstage tour:
- Take a seat in our custom-built theater as the entire room comes to life with music, state-of-the-art special effects, 3D film images, priceless archival footage, and superstar hosts Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.
- Your insider guide will share stories about the Opry, and country music greats, past and present, show you exclusive photos from the Opry’s biggest moments in history, and take you to the artist entrance where legends, superstars and new artists alike walk into the Opry House on the night of a show.
- You have the chance to step on stage and into the famed wooden circle as generations of artists have done.
- Tours also make a stop in Studio A, a live,
active television studio and former home of Hee Haw.
Looking down toward the stage Looking up from the stage "It All Begins with a Song" dressing room "Women of Country" dressing Room "Wagonmaster" dressing room "Bluegrass" dressing room "little Jimmy" dressing room
Ready to take the stage Heading on stage on stage Walking up to the mic
Opry performers quotes:
“I’ve said it for the record a thousand times. I’ll state it
again a thousand times. This is the pinnacle of what I do. Nothing has ever
touched being a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
—Garth Brooks
“Pilgrims travel to Jerusalem to see the Holy Land, and the
foundations
of their faith. People go to Washington, D.C. to see the workings of
government, and the foundation of our country. And fans flock to Nashville to
see the foundation of country music, the Grand Ole Opry.”
—Brad Paisley
“That was the most exciting moment of my life. As I stepped
into the circle, I told everyone that my greatest dream just came true.”
—Dustin Lynch
“When I was asked if I wanted to perform on the Grand Ole
Opry, I yelled, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I’ve been waiting for that my whole life.
To be invited where so many of the greatest country artists have performed is
an honor, and I still can’t believe it has been bestowed on me. Just to stand
in the circle where so many greats have stood—Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, I
just couldn’t believe it.”
—Darius Rucker
“The Grand Ole Opry, to a country singer, is what Yankee
Stadium is to a baseball player. Broadway to an actor. It’s the top of the
ladder, the top of the mountain. You don’t just play the Opry; you live it.”
—Bill Anderson
BOX
OFFICE:
Sun, Mon 9:30 AM—4 PM
Tues, Fri 9:30 AM—4 PM, 5:30 PM—7:30 PM
Wed, Thurs 9:30 AM—3 PM
Sat 9:00 AM—2:30 PM, 5:30 PM—7:30 PM
Local: (615) 871-6779
Toll Free:
(800-733-6779)
Frequently asked questions https://www.opry.com/faq/
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