Grand Ole Opry

Grand Ole Opry
Other namesWSM Barn Dance (1925–1927)
Genre
Running timeSaturdays: 120 minutes (+15-minute intermission) (7:00 pm – 9:15 pm)
Country of originUnited States
Home stationWSM
Syndicates
Announcer
Created byGeorge D. Hay
Recording studio
Original releaseNovember 28, 1925 (1925-11-28)
No. of episodes5,125 (as of March 23, 2024; counting only Saturday prime time editions)
Sponsored byHumana
Websiteopry.com

The Grand Ole Opry is a regular live country-music radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee on WSM, held between two and five nights per week, depending on the time of year. It was founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as the WSM Barn Dance, taking its current name in 1927. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a joint venture between NBCUniversal, Atairos and majority shareholder Ryman Hospitality Properties[1]), it is the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history.[2][3] Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases a mix of famous singers and contemporary chart-toppers performing country, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and gospel music as well as comedic performances and skits.[4] It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and millions of radio and internet listeners.

In the 1930s, the show began hiring professionals and expanded to four hours. Broadcasting by then at 50,000 watts, WSM made the program a Saturday night musical tradition in nearly 30 states.[5] In 1939, it debuted nationally on NBC Radio. The Opry moved to its most famous former home, the Ryman Auditorium, in 1943. As it developed in importance, so did the city of Nashville, which became America's "country music capital."[6] The Grand Ole Opry holds such significance in Nashville that it is included as a "home of" mention on the welcome signs seen by motorists at the Metro Nashville/Davidson County line.

Membership in the Opry remains one of country music's crowning achievements.[7] Since 1974, the show has been broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House east of downtown Nashville, with an annual three-month winter foray back to the Ryman from 1999 to 2020, and again for shorter winter residencies beginning in 2023. In addition to the radio programs, performances have been sporadically televised over the years. Video compilations of previous Opry performances are distributed digitally every Saturday evening on FAST network Circle Country as well as the Opry's YouTube and Facebook outlets, and syndicated to a number of television stations across North America.

  1. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (April 4, 2022). "'Grand Ole Opry' Owner Sells Minority Stake to Atairos and NBCUniversal for Nearly $300 Million". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Grand Ole Opry". National Radio Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017. radio's longest-running musical program
  4. ^ "About The Opry". Grand Ole Opry. Gaylord Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  5. ^ "Music/Grand Ole Opry". The Radio Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  6. ^ "Grand Ole Opry". The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Columbia University Press. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  7. ^ "Country Music History". Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Country Music Foundation, Inc. Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2010.