Grand Ole Opry: the show that made country music famous
No trip to Music City is complete without a night at the Grand Ole Opry. It began in 1925 as a radio broadcast on WSM, and it has never stopped. Today it's the longest-running radio show in the world, still billed as the show that made country music famous. The Opry has been celebrating its 100th anniversary with Opry 100, a stretch of bigger, bolder shows honoring a century on the air. Generations of country music's biggest names have played its stage, and many still come back.
What an Opry show is like
An Opry show isn't a typical concert. Instead of one headliner, you'll see a lineup of eight or more artists, each playing a few songs. You might hear bluegrass, classic country, a comedy set and a brand-new hit in the same hour, all as live music broadcast to fans around the world.
Longtime Opry members like Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs and Rhonda Vincent appear regularly. So do newer members like Ashley McBryde and Suzy Bogguss, and comedian Gary Mule Deer, whose dry humor has been an Opry favorite for years. This season's lineups also include rising artists like Hannah Harper, Alexandra Kay and Jake Worthington.
Some of the most emotional nights happen when a newcomer makes an Opry debut, or when an artist is invited to become an official member. Charlie Worsham is the latest to receive that invitation. Inductions happen right on the Opry stage, often as surprises, and the crowd always feels like part of the moment.
Special shows through the year
Beyond the regular Grand Ole Opry shows, the calendar includes themed nights worth planning around. Opry Country Classics celebrates the songs and stars of traditional country. Opry NextStage spotlights up-and-coming artists, like Georgia-born singer Willow Avalon, who are just starting to make their mark. During the holidays, Opry Country Christmas fills the house with seasonal favorites.
The Grand Ole Opry House
The Opry spent three decades at the Ryman Auditorium before moving to the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. When it moved, a circle of wood was cut from the Ryman stage and set into the center of the new one. Artists still stand on that circle today, in the same spot where Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash once sang.
For part of the winter, the Opry traditionally returns to its old home at the Ryman, just around the corner from Noelle. Check the calendar to see which venue your show is in.
Backstage tours
Daytime backstage tours take you behind the curtain at the Opry House. You'll see the artist entrance, dressing rooms and the side-stage areas where performers wait for their turn in the circle. Tours run most days, and some packages pair a tour with an evening show.
Grand Ole Opry tickets
Shows run several nights a week, usually starting at 7 p.m. Buy tickets at opry.com to avoid resale markups, and check the lineup before you choose a night. Lineups are announced in advance and updated as more artists are added. Can't make it in person? Tune in to WSM 650 AM or stream it live.
Getting there from Noelle
The Grand Ole Opry House is at 600 Opry Mills Drive in Nashville, Tennessee, about 10 miles northeast of downtown. It's an easy 15- to 20-minute drive or rideshare from Noelle, though traffic builds on show nights, so leave a little extra time. Opry Mills shopping and dining are next door if you want to make an evening of it. Afterward, head back downtown to Nashville, TN's best-known music district for a nightcap on our rooftop or a late set in Printers Alley.