The Rich History of the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry began its life inauspiciously as the WSM Barn Dance in 1925 in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The WSM Barn Dance was a radio program broadcasted out of a newly constructed five story radio station owned by the National Life and Accident Insurance Company.
The first broadcast hit the airwaves on November 28, 1925. This date is now celebrated as the Grand Ole Opry’s birthday. Some of the radio shows stars during this early period included classic style country musicians like the Fruit Jar Drinkers, the Binkley Brothers’ Dixie Clodhoppers, Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, and the Gully Jumpers.
The name the Grand Ole Opry was first used on December 10, 1927. The name was more or less a joke made by the show’s host, George D. “Judge” Hay, riffing on the fact that the WSM Barn Dance followed a broadcast of classical “grand opera” music. The name quickly caught on, and the program would forever be referred to as the Grand Ole Opry.
Not only was the radio show an enormous success, but the performances that were broadcasted on the radio show began to accumulate huge live audiences. As a result, the Grand Ole Opry had to be moved several times over the decades to accommodate growing audiences of fans.
This continued growth and popularity finally culminated in the construction of the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. This venue could seat 4,400 country music fans at a time, and the show remained hugely successful in this new space.
The new Opry House opened on the site of a theme park named Opryland USA that opened two years earlier. Opryland USA, like the Grand Ole Opry, was originally owned by the National Life and Accident Insurance Company. The park featured popular rides such as the Wabash Cannonball roller coaster, the Grizzly River Rampage raft ride, and the Old Mill Scream boat ride. Much like the Grand Ole Opry, the park featured a country music theme.
The amusement park became very popular during the 1970’s, drawing an attendance at one point of over two million visitors a year. Unfortunately, the park faced surmounting economic challenges. Many of the park’s problems were connected to its poor location that limited expansion and was prone to periodic flooding. While certainly a popular tourist destination for years, the park closed in 1997. The amusement park’s property was later used as the site for the Opry Mills shopping complex that was opened in 2000.
The Grand Ole Opry House, however, remained open on the property past 1997, and the Grand Ole Opry continued its rich country music heritage. Over the years, the Grand Ole Opry has hosted hundreds of country music stars that have gone on to become icons in the country music genre.
Such stars have included Hank Williams Sr., a country music pioneer whose chart topping hits in the 1940’s and 50’s still have a strong following. Today, he is often recognized as one of the greatest music artists of all time. His son, Hank Williams Jr., and his grandson, Hank Williams III, are also members of the Grand Ole Opry.
Another member of the Grand Ole Opry is Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks, of course, has since sky rocketed to super stardom. His progressive rock infused country music has led him to immense popularity to the point that he has become the best selling album releasing musician past 1991.
Other great country artists who have been members of or performed at the Grand Ole Opry have included Bill Monroe, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Ernie Tubb, Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire, and Roy Acuff.
Tragedy struck recently at the Grand Ole Opry House in May 2010 when the Opry House and very large portion of Nashville were hit by a devastating flood. It is currently unknown how devastating the damage was to the Grand Ole Opry House.
However, the Grand Ole Opry has remained resilient over its years, and it is no different today. After the flood, the Grand Ole Opry has continued its shows by implementing a number of venues across Nashville including the Ryman Auditorium, the TPAC War Memorial Auditorium, the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, and the Two Rivers Baptist Church.
Whether or not the Grand Ole Opry House can open again, it is certain that the Grand Ole Opry’s legacy in country music will continue.