The Grand Ole Opry Celebrates 100 Years

It’s hard to imagine a big name who hasn’t played at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, from early hosts such as Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl to greats like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. Staples of the stage include legends Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, and Bill Anderson, along with contemporary members Lainey Wilson and Luke Combs.

“I love that it's one of the only places on Earth that's inclusive of everyone, even after their hot streaks have run their course,” says Gill, 68, who spoke to AARP from a hotel room in Las Vegas where he is in residency with the Eagles. “The respect that they show to those that have come before is pretty magical.” Gill is a modern-day Acuff, acting as the Opry’s elder statesman and spokesman, “just in the fact that I'm out there a good bit, I support it, and I'm reverent about it.”

“100 Years of Grand Ole Opry” is packed with photos and tributes from country music’s biggest names.

courtesy of Abrams

This year, the Opry is celebrating its 100th birthday with multiple events and a star-filled new book by veteran music journalist Craig Shelburne and historian Brenda Colladay called 100 Years of Grand Ole Opry: A Celebration of the Artists, the Fans, and the Home of Country Music, out April 15.

The 352-page, photo-rich book mixes history and behind-the-scenes lore for casual fans and aficionados alike and features a foreword by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: “Whether you are Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, or the newest artist to just make your debut on the Opry stage, you are part of the family … a page in its beloved history.”

Shelburne echoes that the country music family is a big part of the Grand Ole Opry’s history and is showcased in the book. “Pretty much everything in music and entertainment has changed over the past 100 years, but the Opry provides familiarity and a comfort zone,” he says. “That could be why so many artists consider the Opry to be a family.”

The Grand Ole Opry House celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. The facility opened in 1974 when the Opry moved there from the Ryman Auditorium, the show's home since 1943.

Chris Hollo/Courtesy Ryman Hospitality Properties

The radio show that made country music famous first hit airwaves in 1925 and today attracts 250,000 visitors each year, along with millions of radio and internet listeners. It blends legendary acts and current chart-toppers who sing and play not only country but also Americana, bluegrass and gospel music. The stage fosters a deep sense of community, notes Shelburne. “There aren’t a lot of places like that, where you are stepping into a hundred years of history and still have the feeling that there’s still a lot more to look forward to.”

(From left) Jeannie Seely, Lorrie Morgan and Vince Gill are all prominently featured in "100 Years of Grand Ole Opry."

Chris Hollo/Courtesy Ryman Hospitality Properties; Getty Images; Chris Hollo/Courtesy Ryman Hospitality Properties

Honoring those who came before and mentoring the next generation is important to Opry members like Gill: “I try to be there for everybody, because there's so many people that welcomed me when I came out [to Nashville].” Gill, who’s been a member since 1991, is well-known for encouraging promising talent, including bringing Black singer Wendy Moten to the show as a frequent performer.