National Life and Accident Insurance Company, Studio C (Nashville) (1925–1934)
Original release
November 28, 1925 (1925-11-28) – present
No. of episodes
5,125 (as of March 23, 2024; counting only Saturday prime time editions)
Sponsored by
Humana
Website
opry.com
The Grand Ole Opry is a regular live country-music radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM, held between two and five nights per week, depending on the time of year. It was founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as the WSM Barn Dance, taking its current name in 1927. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a joint venture between NBCUniversal, Atairos and majority shareholder Ryman Hospitality Properties[1]), it is the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history.[2][3] Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases a mix of famous singers and contemporary chart-toppers performing country, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and gospel music as well as comedic performances and skits.[4] It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and millions of radio and internet listeners.
In the 1930s, the show began hiring professionals and expanded to four hours. Broadcasting by then at 50,000 watts, WSM made the program a Saturday night musical tradition in nearly 30 states.[5] In 1939, it debuted nationally on NBC Radio. The Opry moved to its most famous former home, the Ryman Auditorium, in 1943. As it developed in importance, so did the city of Nashville, which became America's "country music capital".[6] The Grand Ole Opry holds such significance in Nashville that it is included as a "home of" mention on the welcome signs seen by motorists at the Metro Nashville/Davidson County line.
Membership in the Opry remains one of country music's crowning achievements.[7] Since 1974, the show has been broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House east of downtown Nashville, with an annual three-month winter foray back to the Ryman from 1999 to 2020, and again for shorter winter residencies beginning in 2023. In addition to the radio programs, performances have been sporadically televised over the years. Video compilations of previous Opry performances are distributed digitally every Saturday evening on FAST network Circle Country as well as the Opry's YouTube and Facebook outlets, and syndicated to a number of television stations across North America.
^Littleton, Cynthia (April 4, 2022). "'Grand Ole Opry' Owner Sells Minority Stake to Atairos and NBCUniversal for Nearly $300 Million". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
^Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Grand Ole Opry". National Radio Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017. radio's longest-running musical program
^"About The Opry". Grand Ole Opry. Gaylord Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
^"Music/Grand Ole Opry". The Radio Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
^"Grand Ole Opry". The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Columbia University Press. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
^"Country Music History". Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Country Music Foundation, Inc. Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
The GrandOleOpry is a regular live country-music radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM, held between two and five nights per...
The GrandOleOpry is a country music concert and radio show, held between twice and five times per week, in Nashville, Tennessee. The show began as a...
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vocal duo with him from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. Known as Mr. GrandOleOpry, Wagoner charted 81 singles from 1954 to 1983. He was elected to the...
jockey at Nashville's WSM, as an announcer on the GrandOleOpry, and as the host of TNN’s GrandOleOpry Live. He is also the show announcer for Huckabee...
his place. January 19 – Elle King made headlines after taking to the GrandOleOpry stage while heavily intoxicated during a Dolly Parton tribute show,...
Heavy Dreams on November 27, 2020. On April 10, 2021, Bryan made his GrandOleOpry debut. He later signed a deal with Warner Records to release his music...
star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted as a member of the GrandOleOpry in 2017. Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb in Paintsville, Kentucky. She...
Country Soul". Seely is also known for her membership and presence on the GrandOleOpry, having appeared more times on the program than any other performer...
Oscar, performing "Who's Lovin' You", and in March, she appeared on the GrandOleOpry, as well as making a cameo appearance on the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice...
the GrandOleOpry in 1948 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. Before his death he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole...
one CMT Music Award and one Grammy Award. She became a member of the GrandOleOpry in 2021. Pearce was born Carly Cristyne Slusser in Taylor Mill, Kentucky...
generations of bluegrass and country musicians. He became a member of the GrandOleOpry in 1987, and, in 2009, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame...
Lynn's relationship with the Wilburn Brothers and her appearances on the GrandOleOpry, beginning in 1960, helped Lynn become the No. 1 female recording artist...
crowning achievements when she was invited to become a member of the GrandOleOpry by Garth Brooks and was subsequently inducted by Terri Clark on December...
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the former site of Opryland Themepark. The mall is adjacent to the GrandOleOpry House and the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The anchor...
Inc.'s desire for a larger and more modern venue for its long-running GrandOleOpry radio program. The Ryman Auditorium, the show's home since 1943, was...
character Minnie Pearl, was an American comedian who appeared at the GrandOleOpry for more than 50 years (1940–1991) and on the television show Hee Haw...
Stars of the GrandOleOpry is the fourteenth studio album by American country music artist Jan Howard. It was released in April 1981 via First Generation...
Chicago, and as far west as California. The most important was the GrandOleOpry, aired starting in 1925 by WSM in Nashville and continuing to the present...
in clubs and attempted to build interest, but was turned down by the GrandOleOpry, as he was already at the Louisiana Hayride country stage and radio...
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