The home of country music, the Grand Ole Opry is celebrating a birthday. It’s country music’s big birthday today! The Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running broadcast, debuted on WSM radio in Nashville on this day in history, Nov. 28, 1925.
“The showcase was originally named the Barn Dance, after a Chicago radio program called the National Barn Dance that had begun broadcasting the previous year,” according to History.com.
The Barn Dance was renamed the Grand Ole Opry two years later, courtesy of an unscripted moment of on-air inspiration by host George D. Hay on Dec. 10, 1927.
“Following an NBC broadcast of Walter Damrosch’s Music Appreciation Hour [a classical music program], Hay proclaimed on-air, ‘For the past hour we have been listening to the music taken largely from the Grand Opera, but from now on we will present the grand ole opry,'” writes the Opry website in its history of the moment that reshaped the future of American music.
I’ve seen Merle Haggard and many other country stars at the Ryman, which was home of the Grand Ole Opry until 1974, when the new Opry house was built at Opryland theme park in Nashville.
One of my favorite memories at the Opry was when I took my mom to see a show. Her favorite, Bill Anderson was there and we had a blast.
It’s Country Music’s Big Birthday Today! Happy Birthday, Grand Ole Opry! Here’s to 97 more years! Here are some of the best memories of the Opry over the years.
Martina McBride
Throwin' It Way Back With Willie Nelson
Dolly 1969!
An Emotional Luke Combs Invited To Be A Member
Harlem Georgia's Own Ray Fulcher Debut At The Opry
Garth And Trisha Perform At The Opry
Carrie Underwood Performing Randy Travis Song "I Told You So" And Randy Asks Her To Become A Member
Craig Morgan And Jelly Roll On Stage At The Opry
