July

According to the calendar, July marks the beginning of the second half of the year. Here are those July highlights: 

July 15, 1913: Lloyd Estel was born in Adams County, Ohio. Better known as Cowboy Copas, he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1946. He would remain an Opry member until his death in 1963 in the tragic plane crash that took the lives of Hawkshaw Hawkins, Patsy Cline and Randy Hughes. Some may not realize, but in the early 60s, Cowboy Copas was the bigger star of the three. 

July 27, 1925: Former Grand Ole Opry member Annie Lou Dill was born. Along with her husband Danny, they were known as "The Sweethearts of Country Music." Annie Lou and Danny were members of the Opry from the late 1940s through the mid 1950s. They remained a popular duo into the 1960s. However, Annie Lou and Danny divorced, at which point the act became history. Annie passed away in January 1982.

July 24, 1926: The Crook Brothers, led by Herman Crook, made their first appearance on the WSM Barn Dance. Considered one of the Opry's original members, the Crook Brothers would remain a part of the Opry until the death of Herman in June 1988. That adds up to just short of 62 years at the Opry, which puts Herman in a very select group of Opry members. 

July 7, 1927: The late Charlie Louvin was born in Section, Alabama. Charles Loudermilk was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for over 50 years. Along with his brother Ira, Charlie was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Charlie passed away on January 26, 2011.

July 9, 1929: Grand Ole Opry member Jesse McReynolds was born in Coeburn, Virginia. One of the true legends in bluegrass music, Jim and Jesse joined the Opry in 1964. Following the death of Jim McReynolds on December 31, 2002, Jesse continued as a solo member of the Opry, last performing on the show in March 2020. After 59 years of Opry membership, Jesse McReynolds passed away in June 2023. 

July 7, 1930: Doyle Wilburn was born in Hardy, Arkansas. Along with his brother Teddy, the Wilburn Brothers were long time members of the Opry.

July 14, 1932: The great Del Reeves was born in Sparta, North Carolina. Del joined the Grand Ole Opry in October 1966 and was an Opry member until his death in 2007. Del had one of the great personalities in country music and did a variety of impressions, including those of Roy Acuff, Johnny Cash and Hank Snow. While primarily a country artist, Del did have a couple of chart records on the pop charts. 

July 4, 1934: Over 8,000 people showed up for an all-day Opry sponsored show in West Tennessee. The show featured Opry stars Uncle Dave Macon, Fiddlin' Arthur Smith, the Gully Jumpers and the Crook Brothers. As a result of the success of this show, Opry founder George D. Hay started the Artists Service Bureau, which would become the official booking agency for Opry members. In the future, this organization would cause some issues at the Opry, and eventually would lead to several Opry members, including Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright, leaving the Opry.

July 4, 1937: Ray Pillow was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. Ray came to the Opry in 1966 and was an Opry member for over 55 yeas. After several years in retirement, Ray passed away in March 2023.

July 19, 1937: The late George Hamilton IV was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. George was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 54 years before passing away in September 2014. George loved the Opry and meeting the fans and is really missed. I can tell you from personal experience that George was one of the nicest people I have ever met. 

July 1, 1939: The Grand Ole Opry moved to the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville. They would stay at the War Memorial for just a few years as the type of crowd that came to Opry shows was not the ones that the operators of the building wanted to see. The Opry moved to War Memorial from the Dixie Tabernacle, which held more people but was in deplorable condition. Because of the lower capacity, which was listed as 2,200, the Opry decided to charge an admission fee of 25 cents, which did not stop the crowds from coming to the show. War Memorial Auditorium still stands in Nashville and is used. In 2010, when the Grand Ole Opry House was flooded, several Opry shows were relocated there.

July 6, 1940: Jeannie Seely, known as "Miss Country Soul," was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Jeannie first came to the Opry in 1966 as a guest and joined the Opry's cast in September 1967. Since then, Jeannie has appeared on the Opry over 5,000 times, more than any other Opry member in the history of the show. After a short illness, Jeannie passed away last August. 

July 15, 1944: Country Music Hall of Fame member Rod Brasfield became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Rod was hired to replace comedian Whitey Ford, the Duke of Paducah, on the Prince Albert portion of the show, which was broadcast on the NBC radio network. Rod was hired after Whitey got into a contract dispute with R.J. Reynolds and their advertising agency, which sponsored the segment. Rod was very successful, often teaming with fellow comedian Minnie Pearl. Rod was not only a great comedian but was also an excellent actor. He was featured in the movie, "A Face In the Crowd" which starred Andy Griffith. Rod remained a member of the Opry until passing away in September 1958.

July 24, 1948: Roy Acuff announced that he was running for Governor of Tennessee. He decided to run after the current Governor made some poor comments regarding country music. As a Republican in Tennessee in 1948, Roy really didn't stand much of a chance, and he lost the election by a wide margin. It was said that his campaign rallies drew large crowds that enjoyed the music and special guests but would leave once the political speeches started.

July 1, 1950: Future Grand Ole Opry member Carl Smith made his Opry debut. 

July 21, 1951: Left Frizzell made his first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Lefty would later become an Opry member, but he was gone pretty quickly. Lefty would later say that it just didn't work out and that the Opry wasn't the dream that he thought it would be.

July 5, 1952: Ralph Sloan and The Tennessee Travelers became members of the Grand Ole Opry. The group was formed in 1949 and they were originally called the Cedar Hill Square Dancers. Ralph passed away in 1980 after which his brother Melvin Sloan took over the group, changing the name to the Melvin Sloan Dancers. Melvin has since retired himself and the group is now simply called the Opry Square Dancers.

July 9, 1952: Grand Ole Opry members Carl Smith and June Carter were married. The marriage only lasted a few years as Carl expected June to give up her career to become a full-time wife and mother. While the marriage was short, it did produce a daughter, Rebecca Carlene Smith, better known as Carlene Carter. After the marriage ended, June would go on to remarry two more times, with her final marriage being to Johnny Cash, while Carl would have a very successful marriage with Goldie Hill, who did retire from performing after being married to Carl.

July 18, 1954: Grand Ole Opry member Ricky Skaggs was born in Cordell, Kentucky. Ricky joined the Opry cast in May 1982. For many of us, it is hard to believe that Ricky will be 72.

July 2, 1955: According to various reports, Patsy Cline made her first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Continuing to guest on the Opry, Patsy would eventually become an Opry member in 1960, after asking if she could join. One note from that night: on the Opry program, her name was listed as Patsy "Kline." 

July 7, 1956: Johnny Cash made his first guest appearance on the Opry. For Johnny, it was a dream come true and a couple of weeks later Johnny would be officially named an Opry member. 

July 28, 1956: Just three weeks after making his Grand Ole Opry debut, Johnny Cash became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Johnny would remain an Opry member until 1958, when he left Nashville and moved to California. Even though he gave it up, Johnny was always welcomed as a guest artist whenever he was in Nashville, and he would especially appear if June Carter was around. It was during one such performance in 1965, while under the influence of drugs, that Johnny kicked out the Opry stage lights and was told not to come back. He stayed away for a few years, but by the late 1960s, he was back. Toward the end of his life, Roy Acuff reportedly asked Johnny to once again become an Opry member, but Johnny declined.

July 19, 1958: Carl Butler became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He originally joined as a solo act and after a period of time, he left the show. However, in 1962 he rejoined the cast of the Opry, this time with his wife Pearl. Much like the first time, his time at the Opry was fairly short. 

July 15, 1961: Bill Anderson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 65th year as an Opry member.  Bill made his first Opry appearance in 1958 and would guest several times before being asked by Opry manager Ott Devine to become a member. Currently the longest active member of the Opry's cast, and over the age of 80, Bill is still active and making regular Opry appearances. He is always well received and sounds as good as ever. An argument can be made that this Hall of Fame member is one of the greatest all-around talents in the history of country music, as he has been successful as a solo artist, duet artist, songwriter, author, game show host and television personality. Nobody in the history of the Grand Ole Opry has been a member of the cast longer than Bill Anderson. 

July 18, 1964: Connie Smith made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Connie joined the cast the following year and this will be her 61st year as an Opry member. 

July 31, 1964: Jim Reeves, along with Dean Manual, died in a plane crash just outside of Nashville. Jim was just 39. While he was not an Opry member at the time of his death, giving it up a few years earlier, Jim was very successful while an Opry member. However, as the focus of his career changed, he felt that the Opry was no longer for him.

July 31, 1964: The Osborne Brothers are told during the "Friday Night Frolics" they will join the Grand Ole Opry the following weekend. The night is also the final time the "Frolics," a Friday night version of the Opry, are held at Nashville's National Life Building.

July 10, 1965: Roy Acuff was seriously injured in a car accident near Sparta, Tennessee. Roy suffered two pelvic fractures, a broken collarbone and several broken ribs. Also injured in the crash were Shot Jackson and June Stearns. Roy would be out of action for about a month, returning to the Opry in August.

July 31, 1965: Waylon Jennings made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. While never becoming an Opry member, Waylon would make an occasional appearance on the show. 

July 1, 1967: Dave Hooten replaced Johnny "Lonzo" Sullivan as part of Lonzo and Oscar. Johnny had recently passed away, and it was agreed before his death that Roland "Oscar" Sullivan would continue with the act. David was generally considered a good replacement for Johnny.

July 8, 1967: Mother Maybelle and The Carter Sisters (June, Anita and Helen), made their final appearance as members of the Grand Ole Opry. The group originally joined the Opry in May 1950 and left in order to tour full time with Johnny Cash. As with many other veteran Opry members, Maybelle Carter complained many times to management in regard to the slots they were scheduled on the show. Later, the June Carter and the Carter Sisters would make a couple of guest appearances on the Opry with Johnny Cash. 

July 14, 1967: While performing on the Friday Night Opry, burglars stole $5,000 worth of goods from Hank Snow's office. Taken are watches, cufflinks, diamond earrings, belt buckles and insurance papers, but no money.

July 25, 1970: Tom T. Hall made his Grand Ole Opry debut. He was introduced that night by Opry member Jimmy C Newman. Tom T. would continue to make Opry appearances over the next months and would become an Opry member in January 1971. 

July 24, 1971: Country and Western music legend Patsy Montana made her first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.

July 31, 1971: A bomb scare at the Grand Ole Opry delayed the show almost 40 minutes. The call came in around 10:00 and after a quick search, the show resumed. 

July 8, 1972: Barbara Mandrell became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. While some accounts, including the Grand Ole Opry, list her induction date as July 29, this was actually the night that Barbara was announced as a member. Celebrating her 54th year as an Opry member, Barbara is now retired from performing. When she made the decision to retire, he asked Opry management if she would remain a member of the Opry, of which they agreed. Without knowing it at the time, Barbara started a trend where retired members would retain their Opry membership, reversing a policy where members had to give up their Opry membership if they were no longer active.

July 15, 1972: Tanya Tucker made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. While never becoming an Opry member, Tanya would make occasional appearances on the show. In fact, her most recent Opry appearance took place several weeks ago. 

July 14, 1973: Tompall, Chuck, and Jim, the Glaser Brothers, made their final appearance as members of the Grand Ole Opry. The brothers, who often had creative differences, decided to go their separate ways. They would reunite several years later but then broke up for good. But, at the personal invitation of Hank Snow, the brothers appeared on the Opry one final time, in January 1990 at a show honoring Hank for 40 years of Opry membership. The brothers were awesome that night and you can see the video of the performance on YouTube. That night was the final night that they would appear together.

July 21, 1973: Just over a year after Barbara Mandrell joined the Opry cast, Jeanne Pruett became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Like Barbara, Jeanne is now retired. This will be her 53rd year as an Opry member. Jeanne was the last singing member of the cast to join the show before it left the Ryman Auditorium (of course, Jerry Clower joined after Jeanne, but he was known as a comedian). On the night of her induction, Dolly Parton handled the honors. Now retired, Jeanne, who was recently inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, has written an autobiography and has been known to visit the Opry now and then and even come out on stage and wave to the audience. 

July 5, 1974: Dolly Parton appeared on the Opry for the first time with her own band. Previously, Dolly had been the duet partner of Porter Wagoner and when she appeared on the Opry, she had used Porter's Wagonmasters. 

July 7, 1975: Grand Ole Opry member George Morgan passed away in a Nashville hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was just 51. George joined the Opry in 1948 as the replacement for Eddy Arnold. He left the Opry in 1956 to star on a television show but returned in 1959. George's daughter Lorrie followed in his footsteps as an Opry member.

July 24, 1976: Bobby Lord made his final appearance as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Bobby came to the Opry in 1960 from the Ozark Jubilee. After leaving the Opry, Bobby went into semi-retirement, living in Florida and working in real estate. He later hosted a sportsman show on TNN. Although he gave up his Opry membership, Bobby would continue to make occasional Opry appearances when he was up in the Nashville area. Bobby, who also had his own television show, passed away in 2008.

July 24, 1976: On the same day as Bobby Lord's final appearance as an Opry member, a fire broke out backstage at the Opry House that morning. The fire was discovered at 6:00 a.m. on the lighting dimmer board and was quickly put out. Damage was estimated at nearly a quarter million dollars.

July 31, 1976: Former Grand Ole Opry member Don Williams made his first Saturday night appearance as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Sadly, Don didn't stay at the Opry very long and reportedly, there were no hard feelings when he decided to move on. 

July 5, 1980: John Conlee made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. You can say it went over pretty well, and John would become an Opry member. 

July 2, 1982: Former Grand Ole Opry member DeFord Bailey died in Nashville at the age of 82. DeFord was one of the first members of the WSM Barn Dance but was fired in 1941 by Opry founder George D. Hay. Various reasons were given for the firing, but it would appear that race was the major reason. While he did come back to make guest appearances in the 1940s, DeFord was very bitter about being fired by the Opry and went to great lengths to avoid the opportunity to make guest appearances. However, he did appear a couple of times and in February 1974 he returned for the annual reunion show. He was well received and would make a few more reunion shows before passing away. DeFord is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

July 1, 1983: Gaylord Broadcasting Company purchased the Grand Ole Opry, WSM radio and the entire Opryland complex from American General Corporation. Even though it was called Gaylord Broadcasting, it was actually Edward Gaylord and his wife Thelma who were the actual owners. At the time, Gaylord owned "Hee Haw" and other major media outlets. The price was rumored to have been between $250 and $350 million. The Opry was for sale at the time because of the purchase of National Life and Accident Company and the new owners, American General, had no interest in owning the Opry or Opryland. It was Roy Acuff who convinced Edward Gaylord that the Opryland properties were perfect for him to buy and add to his company. Over time, Gaylord Broadcasting would become Gaylord Entertainment and is now known as Ryman Hospitality.

July 30, 1983: Former Grand Ole Opry members The Glaser Brothers returned for a guest appearance on the Opry. The brothers were having some chart success at the time with "Lovin' Her Was Easier" and had briefly reunited.

July 1, 1984: Grand Ole Opry member Roy Acuff is diagnosed with angina and would take a break from performing. He would not return to the Opry in an active role until December. 

July 6, 1985: Johnny Russell became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Johnny would remain a very popular and loyal member of the Opry until passing away on July 3, 2001, after a period of declining health. One of the most talented performers in country music, Johnny was a singer, songwriter and comedian. After joining the Opry, Johnny would normally appear on the 11:30 segment, telling funny stories and singing serious songs. I was privileged one day to have met Johnny at Opryland and to spend a little bit of time with him.

July 29, 1989: Future Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill made his Opry debut. He had turned down his first opportunity to appear on the show due to a previous family commitment. Happily, they invited him back and he has since gone on to become one of the Opry's best members. 

July 8, 1990: The Grand Ole Opry put on a special performance in Houston, Texas for President George Bush and a number of foreign dignitaries who were attending a summit meeting. Among the artists performing were Charley Pride, The Gatlin Brothers, Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff, Loretta Lynn and Bill Monroe. Grant Turner joined the group as the announcer. 

July 25, 1990: Grand Ole Opry staff band member Harold Weakley passed away. While primarily the drummer on the staff band, Harold also announced the Goo Goo candy segments and would occasionally step in front of the microphone and sing a song or two. 

July 3, 1993: Alison Krauss became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be her 33rd year as an Opry member with Garth Brooks doing the honors. At the time she joined, she was the Opry's youngest member. Alison has won more Grammy Awards than any other female country music, or bluegrass singer. Sadly, we don't see or hear much of Alison on the Opry but when she does appear it is a pleasure. I would say that as an Opry member, she has been a disappointment. 

July 10, 1999: June Carter Cash made a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, in what would be her final appearance on the Opry stage. June was an Opry member in the 1950s and was known for singing with her family and for her comic skills.

July 7, 2001: Following the recent death of Opry member Johnny Russell, the Opry honored Johnny with a segment titled "A Salute to Johnny Russell." 

July 6, 2002: Melvin Sloan, leader of the Melvin Sloan Dancers, retired. Melvin began dancing on the Opry following the death of his brother Ralph Sloan in 1980. After Melvin's retirement, the Opry took over management of the square dancers, and they are now called the Opry Square Dancers. 

July 2, 2004: Grand Ole Opry member Ricky Van Shelton made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance. Now retired, Ricky joined the Opry in June 1988. Sadly, he was another one from that era that did not appear on the Opry very often. Last I heard, Ricky was doing well in retirement. From a personal standpoint, Ricky is one of those that I miss seeing. 

July 5, 2008: Ending a long-standing tradition, the start time of Saturday's early Grand Ole Opry show was changed from 6:30 to 7:00, resulting in a two-hour show. This followed the change of the late Saturday show being cut to two hours the previous January. There was no reason given for the change, and no, there was no price reduction on account of the shorter show.

July 15, 2008: Future Grand Ole Opry member Darius Rucker made his first guest appearance on the Opry, singing "Don't Think I Don't Think About It."

July 8, 2011: Jimmy Dickens made a surprise appearance on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry to ask the Oak Ridge Boys if they would like to become the Opry's newest members. Of course, the Oak Ridge Boys said yes, and later this year they will celebrate their 15th year as Opry members. The Oak Ridge Boys had been asked previously if they were interested in becoming Opry members, however they had declined due to their heavy touring schedule. While they are still actively touring, the group has found the time to appear on the Opry and fulfill their membership obligations.

July 16, 2011: Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson was honored upon his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Alison Krauss joined the celebration that evening.

July 13, 2012: Grand Ole Opry member Randy Travis made his final scheduled performing appearance on the Opry. Randy would later suffer a serious stroke that would end his performing career. While that was Randy's final singing performance, he and his wife Mary have visited backstage at the Opry a number of times. 

July 16, 2012: Former Grand Ole Opry member Kitty Wells passed away. Kitty was a member of the Opry for years before being fired from the cast as part of the "Purge of 64." While never rejoining the Opry, she would make more than a few appearances since that termination. 

July 3, 2013: Alison Krauss celebrated 20 years of Opry membership. As part of the show that night, she does a duet with Jamey Johnson on "Make the World Go Away."

July 14, 2016: Sonny Osborne performed on the Grand Ole Opry, reuniting The Osborne Brothers for the first time in more than a decade. They join Mac Wiseman and Jesse McReynolds to cover Flatt & Scruggs' "'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered."

July 1, 2017: Montgomery Gentry performed "Where I Come From" on the Grand Ole Opry. It would be the final Opry appearance for Troy Gentry, who would pass away in September as the result of a helicopter crash. Since his passing, Eddie Montgomery has continued on as an Opry member.

July 20, 2018: Frequent Grand Ole Opry guest Charles Esten made his 100th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Primarily an actor, who gained fame staring on "Nashville," he is one of the few cast members to have continued to appear on the Opry after the cancelation of the show. Almost a decade later, Charles continues to make Grand Ole Opry guest appearances. 

July 19, 2019: Luke Combs was formally inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, this year marking his 7th year as a member. Inducting Luke that night were Vince Gill and Joe Diffie. Also lining up on stage for the ceremony were Craig Morgan, Dustin Lynch, Chris Janson, Mark Wills and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band. Combs' first song as a member: the title track from the album "This One's For You."

July 22, 2019: Sally Williams, general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, announced her resignation from Ryman Hospitality. While she was at the company for over 20 years, she had only been in charge of the Opry since 2017, following the resignation of Pete Fisher. Sally left to go to Live Nation and in her current role she is also involved in the management of Old Crow Medicine Show. 

July 6, 2020: Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Daniels passed away, a huge lost for country music. Not only was Charlie a great performer but he was also a fine humanitarian who was involved in a number of charitable causes. 

July 21, 2020: WSM personality and Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs announced his retirement. Eddie, who normally announced the Friday Night Opry and the 2nd show on Saturday night, was the 3rd longest Opry announcer in the history of the show. Since his retirement, Eddie has very rarely been seen or heard from. 

July 17, 2021: Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson was honored upon his 60th anniversary as a member of the Opry's cast. Bill is one of the very few to have reached that milestone. Vince Gill, among others, celebrated the evening with Bill. 

July 13, 2022: Charlie McCoy was formally inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It was a long overdue honor for Charlie, who has appeared on the Opry many times. 

July 30, 2022: Grand Ole Opry member Barbara Mandrell was honored with two shows in recognition of her 50th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Among those appearing that evening to honor Barbara, who was in attendance and took the stage to thank those attending, were Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans, Connie Smith, Jeannie Seely, Mandy Barnett, Linda Davis, Suzy Bogguss and Janelle Arthur. 

July 21, 2023: Grand Ole Opry member Jeanne Pruett was honored upon her 50th anniversary as member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

July 22, 2023: Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson was honored upon his 62nd anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was recognized as the longest-tenured member in the history of the show, passing Herman Crook. 

July 27, 2024: Steven Curtis Chapman was invited by Opry member Ricky Skaggs to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. His induction would take place later in the year. 

There you have it for this month. Another busy one at the Opry.

Mid-Week Opry Shows

I know there were a few of us who thought not if, but when would Rhett Akins be invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Well, it happened last night during the special Sunday Night Opry. I am very happy for Rhett, and I believe he will be a very good and supportive member of the Opry. He has been appearing on the show for decades, and while he hasn't had a great deal of chart success as a singer, he certainly has had success as a songwriter. 

Here is the official press release from the Opry: 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (June 29, 2026) – Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Rhett Akins, writer of 36 No. 1 country hits for artists including Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, and more, was surprised with an invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry tonight by friend and Opry member Jon Pardi. 

Pardi slipped into the Opry House under the radar and made his way to center stage to surprise Akins as he finished his set, saying, “Rhett has always been somebody who has always been a mentor and taught a lot to me about how to write songs, how to be a co-writer. He has over 30 No. 1’s.” Turning to Akins, he continued, “You’ve always been family to me, but I’m here to invite you to be part of a different family. Rhett Akins I am here to invite you to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

As his wife and children walked out to the stage, an emotional Akins ‘officially’ stepped foot back into the circle, knelt down in the circle in gratitude and said, “All I do everyday is write words and I can’t think of any words right now except, ‘Thank you Lord Jesus.’” 

He added, “I have been listening to the Grand Ole Opry since I was a little kid with my grandparents. Watching it when it used to be on TNN. Anytime they’d ask me to play, if I was in Alaska, I’d fly home immediately.  I love country music with all my heart and all I ever wanted to do was meet Hank Jr.. Meet George Strait. I never dreamed I’d be in this circle right here with Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff, Garth and Alan…and Jon Pardi. This is just unbelievable.”

After the show, Akins carried the celebration to a special post-show party with fans in Opry House Studio A, where Pardi joined him for a medley of songs and a rousing performance of “Dirt On My Boots”, the song written by Akins, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley which became Pardi’s second career No. 1 and one of his biggest hits to date. Later in his Studio A set, Akins welcomed his son Thomas Rhett, who collaborated on more hits including “What’s Your Country Song?” and the Merle Haggard classic “Misery and Gin.” 

“We’re going to be so pleased to welcome a fellow like Rhett who has made such an impact both as a recording artist and an often-recorded songwriter into the Opry family.” said Dan Rogers, Opry executive producer. Rhett lauds the Opry’s traditions and is excited to help build its future as the show enters its second century. This is going to be a great marriage.” 

Akins will officially join the Opry family later this year on a date to be announced. 

 About Rhett Akins:

Rhett found his way to a professional music career when Decca Records (which had been reactivated then) heard one of his demos. He dropped his first album, A Thousand Memories, in 1995. The record was critically acclaimed and produced four chart singles including his first No. 1 hit, “That Ain’t My Truck,” which he also co-wrote. The song has since become Rhett’s signature song but his success story was just getting started. The following year he released Somebody New which produced another No. 1 hit, “Don’t Get Me Started.” 

Akins has written 36 No. 1 singles (and counting), and his impressive catalog hasn’t gone unnoticed in the music industry. Akins has been the recipient of renowned awards and titles. In 2010, Rhett was named the No. 4 Billboard Country Songwriter. The following year, BMI named him Songwriter of the Year. He won it again in 2014. His song “Honey Bee” became the highest selling digital debut by a country male solo artist. His biggest accomplishment, though, may be winning the CMA Triple Play award a total of seven times. The award is presented to a songwriter who penned three No. 1 singles in 12 months, and he won it in October 2010, January 2012, February 2014, February 2015, February 2016, February 2017, and again in February 2018! In April 2018 Rhett was named Songwriter of the Year and in September 2019 named the first Songwriter of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music. In July 2021, Rhett was announced as an inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Moving on, there are only two shows on the mid-week schedule and taking a look at the Tuesday Night Opry, members Mandy Barnett, Del McCoury and Charlie McCoy are on the schedule. Comedian Brian Bates is listed as are Jamie O'Neal, Jake Hoot, Christian Lopez and Angie K. 

The Wednesday Night Opry lists Crystal Gayle, T. Graham Brown, Rhonda Vincent and comedian Gary Mule Deer on the schedule. Guesting are Willow Avalon, Bryce Leatherwood and making their Opry debut, The Often Herd. 

Tuesday June 30
7:00: Mandy Barnett, Jake Hoot, Angie K, Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:20: Christian Lopez, Brian Bates, Jamie O'Neal, Charlie McCoy

Wednesday July 1
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Bryce Leatherwood, The Often Herd, Crystal Gayle
Intermission
8:20: Willow Avalon, Gary Mule Deer, Wade Hayes, Rhonda Vincent

The Often Herd transcend the traditional boundaries of bluegrass music. Although they might resemble an American string band, complete with driving energy, tight vocal harmonies and dazzling instrumental interplay, their vibrant, transatlantic sound is deeply coloured by their surroundings; the striking natural and industrial landscapes of Northern England. This unique approach won them the title of “Best European Bluegrass Band 2018” at the prestigious La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France. 

Rupert Hughes (guitar) and Evan Davies (mandolin), write songs steeped in personal experience whilst drawing from a wide pool of influences ranging from old-time to psychedelia. American-born fiddler Niles Krieger and jazz bassist Sam Quintana add fiery instrumental skills to the mix, launching the band’s arrangements into the stratosphere. Together, their sound is both boldly contemporary and soothingly familiar, taking time-honoured traditions to new places with a fresh perspective. Flock to the herd, you won’t be disappointed. 

(From the website)

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Grand Ole Opry 6/26 & 6/27

There was some breaking news this afternoon regarding Opry Entertainment Group. Here is the story as reported by Bloomberg: 

Bloomberg) -- Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. is exploring the sale of its 70% interest in Opry Entertainment Group, which owns storied country music venues such as the Grand Ole Opry House and the Ryman Auditorium.

The Nashville-based real estate investment trust has hired Morgan Stanley & Co. to find a buyer. There’s no certainty that a sale will occur, however.

“With the rise in global popularity of country music and the increasing demand for live experiences, we have received inbound interest from a range of organizations seeking to partner with our entertainment business,” Colin Reed, chairman of Ryman Hospitality, said in a statement, which was issued after Bloomberg first reported on the potential sale. “In that context, we have engaged Morgan Stanley & Co. to assist in evaluating potential opportunities. We expect to play an integral role in the continued growth of OEG irrespective of any strategic partnerships being considered.”

Ryman owns a number of hotel properties, including the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville and the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center outside Dallas. Those would not be part of the sale. 

The Grand Ole Opry is a regular, live country-music radio broadcast and the longest-running radio show in America. It began in Nashville in 1925 on WSM, showcasing a mix of famous singers performing a mix of bluegrass, folk and gospel music, among others, and helped catapult country music from a niche genre to the global industry that it is today. Some of the many stars who have graced its stage over the years include Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Luke Combs and Taylor Swift.

The Ryman Auditorium, known as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974 when it moved to its current location. Opened in 1892, its construction was spearheaded by a Nashville businessman as a tabernacle for an influential local revivalist. Today it is a 2,362-seat performance venue and museum.

Opry’s other entertainment assets include Ole Red music clubs and the Texas theater that hosts the Austin City Limits TV series.

Opry Entertainment was valued at $1.4 billion in 2022 when Atairos and NBCUniversal made a 30% strategic investment in the group, according to a statement at the time. The business generated operating income of $68.5 million on revenue of $434 million last year. 

Opry’s owner, Ryman Hospitality, has an enterprise value of $12 billion and the entertainment segment contributed about 17% of last year’s revenue, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Investor Mario Gabelli has periodically argued that the real estate company should spin off the entertainment assets, which could get a higher value when separated. It’s a strategy Ryman has explored in the past. 

Ryman Chief Executive Officer Mark Fioravanti told investors at a Gabelli conference on June 4 that the company has made progress to “get this business ready for it to be on its own and there’s a number of different ways that structurally that can happen.”

Personally, I am not surprised by this news as I thought after selling 30% of OEG to Atairos and NBCUniversal, that it was just a matter of time until Ryman was approached about selling more of OEG. As a publicly traded company, leadership owes it to their stakeholders to explore all of the options. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out over the next several months. 

It's going to be a big Saturday night in downtown Nashville as Alan Jackson's final concert will be taking place at Nissan Stadium. The concert has been sold out since the day tickets went on sale and in addition to Alan, there is an "A" list of artists that will be taking part in the show. 

The list includes Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnston, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson and Lee Ann Womack. 

Due to public demand, the show is being livestreamed for free on screens that will be set up on Lower Broadway. This is in addition to the concert being filmed by NBC for a future special. 

Now taking a look at the Grand Ole Opry schedule for this weekend, the Friday Night Opry will feature members Crystal Gayle, John Conlee and Mandy Barnett. I find it hard to believe but here we are at the end of June, and this is only Crystal's second appearance on the Opry in 2026. 

The group Exile has been around for over 50 years and during that time they have performed on the Opry over 100 times. Recently during an interview, it was stated that they would love to become members of the Opry, and even Trace Adkins was quoted as saying that he thought Exile ought to be members. While Exile is not an Opry member, they will be appearing on Friday night. 

In addition to Exile, comedian Jeff Allen, American Aquarium, The Kody Norris Show and Chris Housman, who will be making his Opry debut, round out the schedule. 

While most of the focus on Saturday night will be on the Alan Jackson concert, the Opry has a good Saturday lineup. Members T. Graham Brown, The Whites, Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky and Steven Curtis Chapman headline the show. Guesting are Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, Madeline Edwards, and Dave Fenley, who is making his Opry debut. 

Finally, there is a rare Sunday night show scheduled that will focus on '90s country. That lineup includes Opry members Lorrie Morgan and Dailey& Vincent, along with Rhett Akins, Billy Dean, Walker Montgomery, Lee Roy Parnell and Carlisle Wright. Carlisle Wright is the great-niece of Alan Jackson, and it was Alan who called Carlisle and surprised her with the invitation to appear on the Opry. 

Friday June 26
7:00: Mandy Barnett, John Conlee, Chris Houseman, American Aquarium
Intermission
8:20: The Kody Norris Show, Jeff Allen, Exile, Crystal Gayle

Saturday June 27
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, T. Graham Brown, The Whites, Dave Fenley, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
Intermission
8:20: Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky, Opry Square Dancers, Madeline Edwards, Steven Curtis Chapman

Sunday June 28
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Walker Montgomery, Carlisle Wright, Billy Dean
Intermission
8:20: Lee Roy Parnell, Rhett Akins, Lorrie Morgan

It is always a special weekend when Grand Ole Opry member Garth Brooks makes an appearance and during the weekend of June 26 & 27, 1998, he appeared on both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. 

From The Tennessean: 

Last week, Garth Brooks made an unscheduled appearance at Fan Fair to sing two songs with Steve Wariner and two more on his own. This weekend, he's on the schedule to sing on the Grand Ole Opry on both Friday and Saturday. The last time he appeared on the Opry was exactly one year ago. Since then, he turned New York's Central Park into one big fan appreciation, put together a live NBC special that covered his tour in Ireland, hosted Saturday Night Live, reclaimed the Country Music Association's entertainer of the year award and released both his delayed Sevens album and a six-album set. Brooks latest single, the Bob Dylan-penned To Make You Feel My Love, appears in the movie Hope Floats. 

Here's the complete posted schedule for that weekend: 

Friday June 26
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Oswald & Charlie, Skeeter Davis, Ricky Skaggs
8:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Ray Pillow, Bill Carlisle, Lil General Cloggers
8:30: Billy Walker (host): Jan Howard, Jim & Jesse, Jean Shepard, Jack Greene
9:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Holly Dunn, Garth Brooks
9:30: Mike Snider (host: Jim Ed Brown, Jeanne Pruett, Del Reeves, The 4 Guys

Saturday June 27
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Bill Carlisle
6:45: Charlie Walker (host): Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Stonewall Jackson, Oswald & Charlie, Skeeter Davis, Jack Greene
7:30: Johnny Russell (host): Boxcar Willie, Garth Brooks
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jeanne Preutt, Mike Snider, The 4 Guys, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Billy Walker (host): The Whites, Charlie Louvin, Stu Phillips, Johnny Counterfit

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Bill Carlisle, Stonewall Jackson, Boxcar Willie
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Skeeter Davis
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host): Ray Pillow
10:30: Garth Brooks
10:45: The 4 Guys (host): Charlie Walker, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Mike Snider (host): Jeanne Preutt, Billy Walker, Jack Greene, Charlie Louvin
11:30: Johnny Russell (host): The Whites, Stu Phillips, Johnny Counterfit 

A lot going on this weekend at the Opry. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

There is another full week of Opry shows on the calendar beginning with the Tuesday Night Opry. There are only two Opry members on the Tuesday schedule, Rhonda Vincent who will open the show and The Isaacs who will close. Comedian Killer Beaz and The Tennessee Four are among the artists on the schedule, along with Mark Geiger, who will be making his Opry debut. 

Tuesday June 23
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Elizabeth Nichols Mack Geiger, Trey Hensley
Intermission
8:20: The Tennessee Four, Killer Beaz, Dillon Carmichael, The Isaacs

There are three Opry members on the Wednesday schedule: Dailey & Vincent, T. Graham Brown and Charlie McCoy. Also on the schedule is Adam Sanders and Mike Reid, both of whom will be making their Opry debuts. 

Wednesday June 24
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, T. Graham Brown, Adam Sanders, Ty Herndon with special guests Michael Passons & Melissa Greene
Intermission
8:20: Mike Reid, The Brothers Comatose, Emily Ann Roberts, Charlie McCoy

Finally, the Thursday Night Opry features members Chris Janson and Mandy Barnett, Also scheduled is Rhett Akins, who has been making a few Opry appearances lately, Chris Scruggs and The Stone Fox Five, RaeLynn, Tigirlily Gold and Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel. 

(The Thursday running order has not been finalized as of yet)

I find it hard that Wednesday night will be the Opry debut for Mike Reid. He received his degree in music from Penn State University in 1970. But that achievement was considerably overshadowed by his reputation on the football field. At Penn State he was an All-America selection and won the Outland Trophy as the country's outstanding collegiate lineman. He was the first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals that year and at the end of his first season in the NFL, was named Defensive Rookie Of The Year. 

 Reid's success continued when he was voted NFL All-Pro in 1972 and '73. In spite of these honors, Reid decided he would rather play music than football for a living. He retired from the Bengals and in 1980, moved to Nashville to pursue song writing.

Since 1983 when Mike Reid scored his first number one country hit song "Inside" by Ronnie Milsap, he has composed more than 30 top ten country and pop hits. Twenty-one of those records have gone all the way to number one on the charts.

 He has been the recipient of ASCAPS' "Songwriter of the Year" award and one of the many songs that Milsap recorded, "Stranger In My House", has earned a Grammy award. 

In addition to Milsap, Reid has had his songs recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Anita Baker, Bette Midler, Prince, George Michael, Nancy Wilson, Etta James, Kenny Rogers, Ann Murray, Wynonna Judd, Alabama, Joe Cocker, Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, Collin Raye and Tim McGraw. Among the songs that Mike has composed are "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Raitt, Michael and Prince), "My Strongest Weakness" and "To Be Loved By You" (Judd), "In This Life" (Raye and Midler), "Sometimes I Wonder Why" (Baker), "Forever's As Far As I'll Go" (Alabama) and "Everywhere" (McGraw).

Grand Ole Opry 6/19 & 6/20

Earlier this week, a friend of mine passed away. The name Jim Herzog might not mean anything to a few of you, but he was a great fan of the Grand Ole Opry. Much like me, Jim was one of the early members of the Grand Ole Opry Fan Club (yes, at one time there was a very active fan club). For many years, Jim, who lived in Michigan, would attend the Opry during Fan Fair week and the annual birthday celebrations. It was at one of the birthday weekends that I first met Jim, many years ago. We communicated on a regular basis, and he was more than generous with sharing items in his collection with me. 

One great memory I have of Jim is the night Rhonda Vincent was asked to become a member of the Opry. Jim called right after she received her invitation, so excited that Rhonda was finally going to be an Opry member that he was almost speechless. 

The last time I spoke with Jim was over the winter and while I can't remember the exact details of the call, I would assume it had to do with something I wrote on the blog, of which Jim was a regular reader. While Jim hadn't been at the Opry for a few years, he still listened to every Opry show. Personally, I was hoping that he would be able to attend the Opry's 100th last November but I am happy that he was able to watch the livestream that night. And yes, he did enjoy it. 

Much like Glen Thompson, who was the founder and president of the Grand Ole Opry Fan Club, Jim's love of the Opry started many, many years ago. He was a fan of the older acts and of bluegrass music. 

While many of you had never met Jim, there are several who read the blog who have. Like me, they enjoyed seeing and talking to Jim on every visit to the Opry. He was usually easy to find as he always wore his Grand Ole Opry jacket. 

One of the joys of writing this blog has been the number of Grand Ole Opry fans I have had the pleasure of connecting with, either in person at the Opry, via email or messaging, or with phone calls. Jim Herzog was one of the special ones and I will miss him. 

Now moving on to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry and taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, there are four members on the schedule: Mark Wills, Gene Watson, Connie Smith and Riders In The Sky. Denitia, who made her Opry debut in 2024, is scheduled to appear, as is Mae Estes and Wyatt Ellis. Rounding out the Friday show, and making his Opry debut, Aaron Rowe. 

Saturday night will feature four different Opry members: Del McCoury, John Conlee, The Whites and T. Graham Brown. The legendary Hall of Famer Tanya Tucker will be making a guest appearance, along with Taylor Hicks, Colin Stough and Dennis Quaid. Between Tanya and Dennis, that makes for a pretty star studded show. 

Friday June 19
7:00: Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Aaron Rowe, Wyatt Ellis
Intermission
8:20: Denitia, Gene Watson, Mae Estes, Riders In The Sky

Saturday June 20
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, T. Graham Brown, Colin Stough, The Whites, Taylor Hicks
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Del McCoury Band, Opry Square Dancers, Dennis Quaid, Tanya Tucker

One of the great comedians in the history of the Grand Ole Opry, Whitey Ford, known as the Duke of Paducah, passed away on June 20, 1986. 

From The Tennessean June 22, 1986: 

The Duke of Paducah, a humorist known for his tag line "I'm goin' back to the wagon; these shoes are killin' me," is dead at age 85. 

The entertainer, whose real name was Benjamin "Whitey" Ford, died Friday at St. Thomas Hospital after being in failing health for several months. Services will be at 2:30 tomorrow at the Chapel of Roses of Woodlawn Funeral Home, with entombment at the Cross Mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery. 

Ford, known for his garish green outfits, was a short, stocky man who played banjo when not telling homespun tales in a drawling monotone. He performed as a regular cast member of the Grand Ole Opry from 1942 to 1958 and twice in recent years was among the finalists for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

In a 50-year show business career, Ford appeared with medicine shows, stage presentations, burlesque, dramatic tent shows and vaudeville. His outfit included a green hat, a green coat with brass buttons, green pants, a red bow tie and high button shoes. He never lived in a town called Paducah but got the name in 1935 while working at radio station KWK in St. Louis. He was born in Desoto, Mo. 

He appeared on the original Gene Autry radio show on WLS in Chicago and on the WLS Barn Dance show in Chicago. Ford spent nine years as the star and master of ceremonies on The Plantation Party, a nationally broadcast music and comedy show on NBC radio. 

"He was a fine gentleman," said Roy Acuff, 82, the "king of country music" and veteran Grand Ole Opry star. "He was a fine comedian. We'll miss him in the entertainment world." 

Back in April of that year, a group of Grand Ole Opry members that included Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Jimmy Dickens, Bill Carlisle, Charlie Walker and Roy Drusky visited him and held a surprise party at the Hickory Hollow Health Care Center, where he was living due to his declining health. It was reported that Ford was in good spirits and warmly received his guests. At the party, Jimmy Dickens said, "If it wasn't for the Duke and Rod Brasfield and Minnie Pearl, there wouldn't be any Jimmy Dickens.”

In October of 1986, Whitey Ford was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, becoming only the second comedian to have been elected to the Hall. (What is interesting is that among the other finalists for the Hall that year were Rod Bradfield and Homer & Jethro). 

Although the Duke left the Opry and gave up his membership, he would still make occasional appearances on the show and would also appear on a few of the annual reunion shows, including the 1983 show. 

Here is the running order from that night, April 9, 1983: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Louvin (host): Let Her Go; God Bless Her
Ernie Ashworth: There's No Place I'd Rather Be Tonight
Del Wood: Are You from Dixie

6:45: Rudy's
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Jack
Wilma Lee Cooper: A Daisy A Day
David Houston: Almost Persuaded
Grandpa Jones: Neighbors

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'all Come
Pee Wee King: Tennessee Waltz
Duke of Paducah: Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas
Jim Ed Brown: I Don't Want to Have to Marry You
Skeeter Davis: I Gotta Know; I Gotta Know
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Porter Wagoner: The Cowboy's Hat

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Jean Shepard: Too Many Rivers
Roy Drusky: What About You
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Lafayette
Bill Anderson: Thank You Darling for Loving Me

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Sid Harkreader: Amazing Grace/Mockingbird Breakdown/Red Wing/Easter Parade
Connie Smith: Till I Kissed Ya
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Forever and One Day
4 Guys: Ruby Red
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Paul Howard: Stay A Little Longer
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
Hank Snow: Nevertheless, I'm In Love With You

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Jeannie Seely: He's All I Need
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Lonzo & Oscar: That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine
Porter Wagoner: The Cowboy's Hat

10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Anderson (host): How Married Are You Mary Ann
Jean Shepard: Home in San Antonio/Time Changes Everything/Roly Poly
Pee Wee King: Slow Poke/Tennessee Waltz
Bill Anderson: Golden Guitar

10:15: Sunbeam
Grandpa Jones (host): Mountain Dew
Billy Grammer: Blue Water
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Ray Pillow: Too Many Memories

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): I Couldn't Believe It Was True
Stu Phillips: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me
Teddy Wilburn: Born to Love Me

10:45: Beech-Nut
Jim Ed Brown (host): Fools
Vic Willis Trio: You Feel Good All Over
Connie Smith: Satisfied
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): That Heart Belongs to Me
Hank Locklin: Tin Roof
Roy Drusky: Wings of A Dove
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bile Them Cabbage Down
Curly Fox: Alabama Jubilee
Kirk McGee: While I'm Away
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing That Was good In My Life

11:30: Hardee's
Jack Greene (host): Happy Tracks
4 Guys: Ruby Red
Paul Howard: Come On In Baby; The Boogie's Fine Tonight
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours/It's Too Late
Jack Greene: From Cotton to Satin

It's been 40 years since the Duke of Paducah has passed away and sadly, he is largely forgotten. But for his time, he was a wonderful comedian and as Roy Acuff said, he was a fine gentleman, much loved and appreciated. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

There is another full week of shows at the Grand Ole Opry beginning with the Tuesday Night Opry and an appearance by Opry member Darius Rucker. T. Graham Brown is also on the schedule, as is one of my personal favorites, Sunny Sweeney. Tyler Nance will be making his Opry debut. 

Tuesday June 16
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Sunny Sweeney, Tyler Nance, The SteelDrivers
Intermission
8:20: Aaron Weber, Tommy Emmanuel, Darius Rucker

There is another Opry debut on Wednesday night as Adrien Nunez is on the schedule, along with members Mandy Barnett, Connie Smith, Dailey & Vincent, The Whites and Charlie McCoy.

Wednesday June 17
7:00: Mandy Barnett, Connie Smith, Adrien Nunez, Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:20: The Whites, Ron Pope, Tenille Towns, Charlie McCoy

Finally, there will be two more Opry debuts on Thursday night: Jordan McCullough and Tori Kelly. Opry member Chris Young is back, as are Rhonda Vincent and Gene Watson. And closing out the show will be Neal McCoy. Who remembers his last Opry appearance from earlier this year? I am somewhat surprised he was invited back. 

Thursday June 18
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Caroline Jones, Jordan McCullough, Chris Young
Intermission
8:20: Gene Watson, Redferrin, Tori Kelly, Neal McCoy

Tyler Nance who is debuting on Tuesday night, received his invitation to make his Opry debut from Tracy Lawrence. There was a time when Tracy was making a lot of Opry appearances and seemed in line to possibly become an Opry member. But then, he stopped coming. 

As far as Tyler, he blends emotionally honest songwriting with the traditions of Country, Bluegrass, Folk, and Americana. The 22-year-old Missouri native broke through with his current radio single “Keeps Me Sane,” which has amassed nearly 100 million global streams, landed among the Top 50 most viral songs worldwide, and reached the Top 40 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Now boasting more than 187 million global streams and over 2.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Nance recently released his debut album, Midwest Memoir, via Santa Anna Nashville. The 17-track project features collaborations with Jackson Dean, Karley Scott Collins, and The Castellows.

Adrien Nunez was invited by Russell Dickerson to appear on the Opry. He is originally from Brooklyn and was a basketball star at the University of Michigan. After a move to LA, Nunez carved out a path as a successful influencer. Known for his signature red glasses and reaction videos, Adrien found a way to resonate with the masses by supporting some of the breakout stars in country music, including having a helping hand in the massive success of Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”.

His first single for Warner Records “LOW ROAD” (2024) was a viral hit that has since garnered millions of streams and captivated new and old fans alike. Since then, he’s released a constant flow of tracks that have established Nunez as a musical force of nature. He released his 6-song EP, Don't Wanna Go Home earlier this year and continues to work on his debut album. 

Jordan McCullough debuts on Thursday night. He was the American Idol Season 24 runner-up. The invitation came unexpectedly during a surprise visit to the Opry earlier in the month, when he was blindfolded and unknowingly walked onto the historic stage. Host Kelly Sutton told him, “We want you to come back here next month and make your Grand Ole Opry debut,” and McCullough accepted with excitement. The Opry surprise video showed McCullough initially confused and nervous, joking that it felt like “walking into a big bonfire” without knowing where he was going. Once he learned the truth, he embraced the moment, calling it “blowing my mind". As a hometown artist, stepping into the Opry circle in Nashville was described as nothing short of an honor.

Tori Kelly is the final debut this week. She is a three-time Grammy winner and Southern California–bred singer-songwriter. Her latest album, God Must Really Love Me was released in early 2026 Opry. The record, which she completed in just two months after giving birth to her first child, is described as a joyful, intimate exploration of love, identity, and self-protection. She crafted most of the songs in solitude before collaborating with producers/co-writers like DIXSON, Nija Charles, Emily Warren, and Ammo. While Kelly is best known for her R&B, pop, and gospel–infused work, her Opry debut marks a significant crossover moment,

Grand Ole Opry 6/12 & 6/13

This announcement was made last week by the Opry: 

NEW! OPRY HOUSE VIP SUITES

Enjoy the Opry show from your own private box on the stage wings, plus exclusive takeaways and extras delivered straight to your seat. Learn more about this new, exclusive space, now booking for June and July shows!

VIP Suite Inclusions:

Validated parking
Welcome drink in a souvenir glass
Official show poster
Souvenir copy of the Opry Family Album
In-suite food and beverage service
Sodas, water, popcorn, and charcuterie
Cookie tray delivered at intermission

For those familiar with the Grand Ole Opry House, these suites are located along the side of the stage where the old concession stands were at one time. The view of the seats is basically the same as if you were sitting closest to the wall in section one or seven. 

There are three rows of four seats each. The ticket price seems to fluctuate depending on the day of the week, the show and the row of the seat purchase. If you were to buy a seat in the box for this coming Saturday night, the price would be $265 in the first two rows and $239 in the last row. I would assume the view is the same for all of the seats. 

It will be interesting to see how this all goes. Could this be something that gets expanded over time?

Now moving ahead to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry. Taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, members Craig Morgan, John Conlee, Henry Cho, Steven Curtis Chapman and Chris Janson are on the schedule. It is nice to see Chris back on the Opry's schedule, and it should be noted that as one of the Opry's newest members, Steven Curtis will be making his 5th appearance of the year. 

Saturday night's Grand Ole Opry is being dedicated to Bill Cody. I would expect Dan Rogers to again, give a heartfelt dedication and I am sure a lot of memories will be shared, not only on Saturday night, but also on Friday. There are only three Opry members on the Saturday schedule: Riders In The Sky, Dailey & Vincent and T. Graham Brown. 

Guesting on Friday are Tigirlily Gold and Steep Canyon Rangers. Very frequent Opry guest Charles Esten will be appearing on Saturday, along with The French Family Band, Payton Smith and making her Opry debut, Maisie Peters. 

Friday June 12
7:00: Craig Morgan, Tigirlily Gold, John Conlee, Steep Canyon Rangers
Intermission
8:20: Henry Cho, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Janson 

Saturday June 13
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Payton Smith, Maisie Peters, Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:20: The French Family Band, Opry Square Dancers, Charles Esten, T. Graham Brown 

(The Saturday lineup is the posted lineup that I received. After receiving it, John Carter & Ana Cristina Cash with Jamey Johnson was added to the lineup. Thus, the schedule posted is subject to change, and it will change)

Maisie Peters, who makes her Opry debut on Saturday, is from the UK. As the first female signee to Ed Sheeran's Gingerbread Man Records, she has built one of pop’s most dedicated fan bases across two critically acclaimed albums and over a billion streams. Her 2023 album, The Good Witch, hit #1 on the UK Official Album Chart, making her the youngest British female solo artist to achieve this since 2014. Maisie’s third studio album Florescence, co-produced with 2x GRAMMY winner Ian Fitchuck, was released on May 22nd via Atlantic/Gingerbread Man Records.

Taking a look back 25 years ago, Fan Fair was taking place in Nashville, but a lot of the attention was at the Grand Ole Opry House, 

From The Tennessean Friday June 15

While the industry's record labels and distributors worked hard to book excellent talent for Fan Fair's Adelphia Coliseum evening showcases, the weekend's greatest collection of singers, pickers, legend and upstarts can be found today and tomorrow at the Grand Ole Opry. 

All-time greats such as Porter Wagoner, Jimmy Dickens, Connie Smith, The Osborne Brothers and Bill Anderson will be there, as will critically acclaimed young bloods BR5-49 and Elizabeth Cook. In addition, three acts will be making their Opry debuts on the hallowed stage: Chris Gagle, Jamie O'Neal and indie hitmaker Mark McGuinn. 

This week's complete Opry schedule, including information about tomorrow's special matinee at Ryman Auditorium: 

Friday June 15
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): The Whites, Bill Carlisle, BR5-49, Pam Tillis
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host): Eric Heatherly, George Hamilton IV, Mark McGuinn, Jack Greene
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jeannie Seely, Osborne Brothers, Jamie O'Neal
9:00: Bill Anderson (host): Sara Evans, Charley Pride
9:30: Vince Gill (host): Mike Snider, Brad Paisley, Trisha Yearwood

Saturday June 16
Opry Matinee at The Ryman Auditorium
3:00: Porter Wagoner, Pam Tillis
3:30: Osborne Brothers, Connie Smith
4:00: Vince Gill, Jim Ed Brown
4:30: Jimmy Dickens, Patty Loveless

Saturday June 16
1st show
6:30: Steve Wariner (host): Connie Smith, Bill Carlisle, Osborne Brothers, Jim Lauderdale
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host): Jimmy C Newman, The Whites, Jim Ed Brown, Ricky Skaggs
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Chris Cagle, Mark McGuinn
8:00: Bill Anderson (host): Billy Walker, Charley Pride, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Del Reeves, Hal Ketchum, Alan Jackson

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Hal Ketchum, Chris Cagle, Connie Smith
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Charlie Louvin, Jimmy C Newman, Charley Pride
10:30: Steve Wariner (host): Hank Locklin, Ricky Skaggs, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host): Jan Howard, Billy Walker, Pam Tillis
11:30: Charlie Walker (host): Elizabeth Cook, Del Reeves, Mark McGuinn

A lot can happen in just 25 years. This about this. Of the Opry members who were on the schedule that weekend, Porter Wagoner, Bill Carlisle, Buck White, Jim Ed Brown, George Hamilton IV, Jack Greene, Jimmy Dickens, Jeannie Seely, Osborne Brothers, Charley Pride, Jimmy C Newman, Billy Walker, Melvin Sloan, Del Reeves, Hal Ketchum, Charlie Louvin, Hank Locklin and Jan Howard have all passed away. 

You blink an eye and so much is missed.