Clockwise from top left: Patsy Cline, 1962; Reba McEntire, Lady A, 2025

IN HONOR of the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary on November 28, here are things you may not know about Nashville’s venerated home of country music—and America’s longest-running live broadcast show.

The show was free to attend in its early days, while the powerful WSM broadcasts reached radio listeners from Canada to the Caribbean.

In 1939, a 25-cent ticket charge was instituted. Today, tickets at the custom-built Grand Ole Opry House start at $46.

The Ryman Auditorium, home of the Opry from 1943 to 1974, is arguably the most iconic of its six venues. Hundreds of singers performed at the Ryman, including Elvis Presley in 1954. He sang the Bill Monroe standard “Blue Moon of Kentucky” and received a thumbs-up from Monroe.

Seven U.S. presidents have visited the Grand Ole Opry. In 1974, Richard Nixon played the piano in the first show at the current Opry House and led the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” to first lady Pat Nixon.

It takes 15.8 million feet of audio, video and lighting cable to produce the show today (on WSM and SiriusXM radio and internet video streaming). —Alanna Nash