Top ten facts about the Grand Ole Opry - Nashville, Tennessee

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In 2014, when I was travelling around the southeast of America with my family - as a present for my dad we went to the Grand Ole Opry. The name states how amazing this place is, but you truly experience the thrill of country music when you take a step in this place. Before the pandemic hit, this place was bursting with the storytelling music that is extremely common when it comes to the country genre. Every word has a meaning and each melody brings out a new memory that buries deep in your heart.

This home to many country singers was first opened on March 16th 1974, and fans from far and near (a cliche, I know) come to listen to this western sound whenever they have the chance. 




Here are ten fascinating facts about the Grand Ole Opry:


  1. In the 1920s, the Grand Ole Opry wasn’t a place nor was it called what it is now. In fact, it was a live music show on a radio station called WSM in Nashville, George D. Hay was the radio announcer on this show called The WSM Barn Dance. It featured live local musicians who loved the sound of country.

  2. In 1925, Uncle Jimmy Thompson became the first performer for the Grand Ole Opry - or The WSM Barn Dance. He was 77-years-old… I know, crazy and amazing! He played the fiddle and many people loved it.

  3. Since the Grand Ole Opry opened, there have been over 200 members, right now there are 66. To become a member a country singer has to perform at least 12 shows per year. This might not be seen as a posthumous honour, but it is still a high achievement in the country music world.

  4. Kelsea Ballerini has taken the place as the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2019 at the age of 25, a milestone that she was able to cross off her bucket list. 

  5. The former U.S. President Richard Nixon is the only President to have performed at the Grand Ole Opry in 1974. He sang two songs, Happy Birthday and My Wild Irish Rose to his wife on her 62nd birthday. 

  6. On average, 6,024 songs are performed per year. As they hold a show every Saturday, this would mean the average of songs played per show is 115.8 - that is a nice amount of hours of listening and singing along with your favourite country singers. 

  7. The King of Rock - Elvis once played at the Grand Ole Opry in 1954 and sang Blue Moon of Kentucky. What is shocking, is that he actually bombed, and many people did not enjoy his performance. 

  8. Since opening in 1925, this live country music show has run for over 4,500 Saturday nights and still counting. 

  9. It has had six homes throughout history: November 1925 - October 1934 at National Life and Accident Insurance Company; October 1934 - June 1936 at Hillsboro Theatre; June 1936 - July 1939 at Dixie Tabernacle; July 1939 - June 1943 at War Memorial Auditorium; June 1943 - March 1974 at Ryman Auditorium; March 1974 - present at the Grand Ole Opry.

  10. Finally, five members have been honoured with their own postage stamps - how cool is that? They are: Hank Williams; Pasty Cline; The Carter Family - A.P; Sara; and Bob Wils.





If you find yourself in Nashville, Tennessee why not see if there are tickets to watch the Grand Ole Opry Saturday’s night live show? You might have a chance to see a new star sing their amazing story.

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