Grand Ole Opry 7/4 & 7/5

Starting off this week with this nice piece of news from the Grand Ole Opry:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (July 1, 2025) – The Grand Ole Opry today announced a one-night return to its most famous former home, Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, including an unprecedented re-creation of a past Opry show. The July 17 show will feature a collection of performances destined to return fans to the historic night of March 15, 1974, the final night of the Opry’s original Ryman run. Throughout that portion of the show, moments from the 1974 broadcast will be closely recreated for the Ryman and radio audiences. To purchase tickets to this one-night only recreation of the March 15, 1974, Opry show click HERE.

“I am certain this is going to be another unforgettable part of our 100th year,” said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “For generations of Opry fans and artists, the Opry’s 1943 – 1974 run at the Ryman was a truly magical part of the Opry’s 100-year history. While we can’t actually turn back time, we’re going to do our best with performances and even commercial reads to transport fans to that historic evening when the Opry said farewell to the Mother Church of Country Music. I grew up listening to my parents talk about having witnessed Opry shows at the Ryman during that era, and for an hour or so on July 17, we’ll all have an experience similar to theirs.” 

The Opry’s longest-serving member ever, Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson, was among those who performed on March 15, 1974, and is scheduled to return to reprise his set from that historic evening. “The last Grand Ole Opry show at the Ryman would have been special under any circumstances,” Anderson recalls, “but it was made extra special for me by the fact that my mom and dad had driven up from Georgia to be in the audience. Twenty years earlier, in 1954, they had brought me to Nashville and to the Ryman to see the Opry for the very first time. None of us could have ever imagined the summer before my senior year in high school that only a few years later I would be performing on that very stage, let alone go on to become the longest serving Opry member in history. That night in 1974 I stood alongside many of my heroes from those earlier days, smiling down at my parents, and saying so long to the only Opry home I had ever known...definitely a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. When the Opry asked me if I'd be part of helping to re-create that last night at the Ryman in 1974...and sing the songs I sang back then...I readily agreed. ‘Just don't ask me to wear the same clothes I wore that night,’”  I quipped. “’Even if I could find them, I'd never be able to get in them!’” 

Among those joining Anderson during the throwback will be Lorrie Morgan, whose father George Morgan was the final artist to perform on the March 15, 1974 Opry show, as well as Mandy Barnett and Chuck Mead. Among those appearing earlier in the night will be CMA award-winning group The Band Perry. 

In celebration, WSM Radio will re-air the historic shows from both the final Ryman show residency and the opening of the Grand Ole Opry House. Fans can relive these legendary moments in their entirety for the first time since they aired live on WSM-AM more than 50 years ago. WSM-AM will air the final Ryman Auditorium show on Thursday, July 17 at 10 a.m. CT and will air the first Grand Ole Opry House show on Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m. CT.

As the Grand Ole Opry continues to celebrate Opry 100, this will truly be a very special night, and in addition, it will be special to once again hear on WSM a reply of that final night at the Ryman Auditorium. 

Now moving on as we are now at the mid-point of 2025, which is also the mid-point of the Grand Ole Opry's 100th Anniversary. I thought it would be a good opportunity to see how things stand, especially regarding appearances, or non-appearances by Grand Ole Opry members. 

Not including the NBC Special, which was not aired on WSM and not an "official" Opry show, these are the active members who thus far have not appeared on the Opry this year: Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Emmylou Harris, Travis Tritt, Alison Krauss, Diamond Rio, Trisha Yearwood, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Josh Turner, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Chris Young and Luke Combs. (I won't even list the ones who have only appeared once or twice). Some very familiar names are on the list and in fact, the usual names that we see each year are listed. I would have thought with this being a special year, we would have seen a few of these acts. Now, I will say that Trisha, Darius and Chris have upcoming appearances on the schedule, but I would hope that for the others, we will see more of them than just on a network TV special. Hopefully in the fall, specifically during the birthday month in October and the 100th celebration in November, we will see a few of those on the list appear. 

Thankfully we have a number of members who have been appearing on a regular basis. Folks such as Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Vince Gill, Old Crow Medicine Show, Dailey & Vincent, Mark Wills, Gene Watson, Rhonda Vincent, The Isaacs, Mandy Barnett, Charlie McCoy, Ashley McBryde, Gary Mule Deer, T. Graham Brown, and especially Don Schlitz, who leads all members in appearances. As usual, the trend is for the older/veteran acts continuing to be the anchors for the shows. 

Let me wade into the comments regarding the number of members vs. non-members appearing on each Opry show. 

Like most, I think Grand Ole Opry members should be appearing at the Grand Ole Opry. With up to six shows a given week, there is plenty of opportunity to appear. While I realize that very few shows feature a lineup of only Opry members, it is a bit discouraging to see shows with only a couple appearing. As I mentioned, we should be thankful for the members who do appear. That said, I do appreciate the opportunity to see and hear non-members making guest appearances. I am even fine with a 50/50 mix. And I do enjoy the variety on the various shows. Looking ahead at future schedules, I see a nice group of Opry members listed, as well as some non-members that I am looking forward to hearing. Regardless of who is on the schedule, let's all enjoy what is being presented during the Opry's 100th year. 

Speaking of who is appearing on the Grand Ole Opry, taking a look at this weekend, there are four members on the schedule for the Friday Night Opry: T. Graham Brown, Gary Mule Deer, Riders In The Sky and Rhonda Vincent. Gary Mule Deer returns on Saturday night, along with Bill Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Don Schlitz and Steve Wariner. Five more members will be appearing on the Sunday Night Opry: Mandy Barnett, Charlie McCoy, Connie Smith, Pam Tillis and Rhonda Vincent. If my math is correct, 12 different Opry members will be appearing on the weekend shows. 

As far as non-members, singer/songwriter Tom Douglas will be guesting on Friday night, along with Brittney Spencer, Matt Schuster and Dee White. Saturday night, the very talented Malpass Brothers will be appearing, as will Kylie Frey, and making his Opry debut, JD Shelburne. Finally on Sunday night, those wonderful Cleverlys are back for another appearance, along with Madeline Edwards, and making their Opry debut, Straight No Chaser. 

(For whatever reason, the official running order for the shows this weekend has not been posted as of yet)


JD Shelburne, who is making his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night is a native of Kentucky. During his career, he has shared bills with ZZ Top, Marty Stuart, Craig Morgan, and Steve Wariner among many others, appeared on stage and on record with The Oak Ridge Boys, and performed at over a hundred fairs and festivals across the eastern U.S. He has taken songs to the iTunes Country Top Ten, debuted as the #1 trending artist on CMT.com, and been featured in People, American Songwriter, Country Weekly magazine and more. He has had eight straight videos land on CMT, including two #1’s on the 12-Pack Countdown, “Church Pew Barstool” and “Cars & Trucks.” He has performed at NASCAR, MLB, NBA, and NCAA events, and been featured on CBS, NBC, GAC, FOX, RFD-TV and TNN.

A proud Kentuckian, JD has appeared on the cover of the Kentucky Tourism Visitors Guide and at the Kentucky Derby and earned a four-year display at the Kentucky Hall of Fame & Museum. JD is about to release his seventh album. Raised on the Good Stuff, and now, with his appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, he is fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Straight No Chaser, who is debuting on Sunday night, has emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fanbase and a long list of accomplishments including 2 RIAA Gold Certified albums, over 1.5 million concert tickets sold, over 1 billion streams on Pandora, and over 2 million albums sold worldwide. Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense... and with a sense of humor.

Over the years, artists who were, or had been, members of the Grand Ole Opry, would at some point, be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. I think it showed the star power of the Opry and the talent that the show was able to recruit. 

At last count, and if I counted correctly, just over 75 former or current Grand Ole Opry members have been elected to the Hall of Fame. 

I went back 67 years ago, to Saturday July 5, 1958 and highlighted those who would eventually be elected to the Hall of Fame, and this was a pretty typical night at the Opry. Roy Acuff, Faron Young, Porter Wagoner, Flatt & Scruggs, Don Gibson, Bill Carlisle, Ray Price, Jordanaires, Chet Atkins and Rod Brasfield were scheduled. With the exception of Rod Brasfield, each made multiple appearances on the show that particular night. 

Here is the running order from 67 years ago, Saturday July 5, 1958: 

7:30: Nabisco
Roy Acuff: Little Moses
Wilburn Brothers: My Baby Ain't My Baby No More
June Webb: Love
Roy Acuff: Precious Memories
Howdy Forrester: Liberty

7:45 Sessions Peanut Butter
Faron Young: Alone With You
Porter Wagoner: Turn It Over In Your Mind
Cousin Jody: Television Set
Faron Young: Place For Girls Like You
Fiddle Tune: Ole Joe Clark

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs: Theme
Flatt & Scruggs: We'll Meet Again Sweetheart
Don Gibson: Old Lonesome Me
Carlisles: Lil Liza Jane
Justin Tubb: If You'll Be My Love
Flatt & Scruggs: A Hundred Years From Now
Possum Hunters: Tom and Jerry
Hilo Brown: Stone Wall
Don Gibson: I Can't Stop Loving You
Flatt & Scruggs: Rainbow
Fiddle Tune: Turkey In The Straw

8:30: Prince Albert
Ray Price: It's All Your Fault
Jordanaires: Search Me Lord
Jimmy Newman: I Thought I'd Never Fall In Love
Tommy Jackson: Sally Goodin
Ray Price: Call The Lord And He'll Be There
Chet Atkins: Black Mountain Rag
Jimmy Newman: I Want To Tell All The World
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Ray Price: City Lights
Tommy Jackson: Polk County Breakdown

9:00: Jefferson Island
Ernest Tubb: Mississippi Gal
Bill Monroe: Brand New Shoes
Benny Martin: Nine Pound Hammer
Wilburn Brothers: Let Me Be The First To Know
Ernest Tubb: Seaman's Blues
Fruit Jars: Fire In The Mountain
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Bill Monroe: Sally Joe
Wilburn Brothers: Hey Mr. Bluebird
Ernest Tubb: My Hillbilly Baby

9:30: Stephens
Hank Snow: I Wish I Was The Moon
Cowboy Copas: Won't You Ride
Don Gibson: Blue Blue Day
Lonzo & Oscar: Throw Out The Lifeline Sally
Hank Snow: A Fool Such As I
Crook Brothers: Lost Indian
Ladells: Honey, Be My Little Honeybee
Cowboy Copas: The Man Upstairs
Don Gibson: Heartbreak Avenue
Hank Snow: Golden Rocket

10:00: Standard Brands
Roy Acuff: New River Train
June Webb: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Porter Wagoner: Pay Day
Justin Tubb: I'm A Big Boy Now
Howdy Forrester: Patty On The Turnpike
Roy Acuff: Once More
Jimmy Newman: Cry, Cry Darling
Oswald: John Henry
Roy Acuff: Wreck On The Highway
Jimmy Riddle: Dill Pickle Rag

10:30: Delited
Ernest Tubb: This Troubled Mind Of Mine
Stonewall Jackson: Getting Older
Carlisles: Oh Boy
Ernest Tubb: Answer The Phone
Fiddle Tune: Sugar In The Gourd

10:45: De Con
Faron Young: Every Time I'm Kissing You
Flatt & Scruggs: Big Black Train
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Faron Young: Alone With You
Fiddle Tune: Leather Britches

11:00: Coca Cola
Jordanaires: Theme
Hank Snow: The Gold Rush Is Over
Wilburn Brothers: I'm Setting You Free
Don Gibson: Oh, Lonesome Me
Lonzo & Oscar: Flap Your Wings Pretty Jay Bird
Hank Snow: Just A Faded Petal
Del Wood: Ragging The Keys
Rod Brasfield: Comedy
Gully Jumpers: Tall Timber Dance
Hank Snow: Rumba Boogie

11:30: Jamison Bedding
Ray Price: Invitation To The Blues
Bill Monroe: Sitting On Top Of The World
Cousin Jody: Horses Carry Tales
Ray Price: Curtain In The Night
Fiddle Tune: Katy Hill

11:45: Midnight
Cowboy Copas: Down In Nashville Tennessee
Sam & Kirk: Roll On Buddy, Roll On
Benny Martin: Ice Cold Love
Fruit Jars: Take Me Back To Tulsa
Cowboy Copas: Gone And Left Me Blues

You could make the argument that several others who were on the schedule that night should be in the Hall of Fame. Certainly, a case can be made for the Wilburn Brothers, Cowboy Copas, along with Jimmy C Newman and Stonewall Jackson. 

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone is enjoying the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry. 

And a Happy July 4th to all!! Stay Safe. 

July Opry Highlights

If you go by the calendar, July marks the beginning of the second half of the year, which means we are now halfway through Opry 100. Still some milestone shows left to go. As with each month, here are the July Opry 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. Sadly, Jeannie has been missing from the Opry due to some very serious health issues. The hope is that she will be back soon. 

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 71/ 

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 63rd 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. Upon his 64th anniversary as a member of the Opry, Bill will become the first member in the history of the Opry to reach that milestone and is now the longest tenured member in the history of the Opry. 

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 60th year as an Opry member. Not only does Connie sound as good as every but she also has a new album that was released last year. 

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 53rd 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. 

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 52nd 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 32nd 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. Melvin passed away earlier this year. 

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 14th 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. 

July 19, 2019: Luke Combs was formally inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. While somewhat of a surprise, so far it has worked out pretty well as Luke has made a number of appearances. 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.