The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered to be the most prestigious stage in country music. When artists receive their initial invitation to perform at this revered venue, and later become official members, it is often regarded as one of the most significant milestones in their career.
Nevertheless, not all country music stars have a consistently positive relationship with the Opry throughout their entire career. Throughout the years, there have been instances where performers have been asked to leave the stage for various reasons. This could be due to their failure to adhere to the venue's unwritten code of conduct or for not meeting the official membership expectations.
At a tribute show called Opry Goes Dolly, held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to celebrate Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024, one of the performers named Elle King caused a lot of anger and upset. She appeared on stage clearly intoxicated, openly admitting that she was very drunk. She engaged in slightly confrontational exchanges with members of the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me."
The establishment expressed regret to those who were upset by King's choice of words. However, numerous supporters of the Opry on social media believed that King should be the one to apologize and some even felt that her actions were severe enough to merit a ban from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, the Opry has imposed bans on numerous artists. However, is King's conduct truly deserving of such a drastic measure? Well, when examining certain instances from the venue's early years, specifically before 1973, it becomes evident that it is indeed a possibility.
After a memorable performance in 1973, Johnny Cash was prohibited from performing at the Opry due to his destructive behavior of breaking stage lights with a microphone stand, which was greatly influenced by his consumption of alcohol. Hank Williams, one of the most renowned banned artists of the Opry, lost his membership due to his consistent drunkenness and unreliability. Furthermore, Jerry Lee Lewis was removed from the Opry stage for various offenses, including the incident of using an inappropriate language live on air.
However, it is important to note that there is only one singer who has been permanently and completely banned from the Opry, and this decision was not made by the venue itself. Therefore, it is probable that even if King's actions result in her being temporarily absent from the Opry stage, it is unlikely to have lasting consequences on her ability to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Continue reading for a detailed exploration of the celebrities who have been prohibited from performing on the Opry stage, as well as the actions that led to their removal.
The Grand Ole Opry has banned six stars from performing at their venue, and here are the reasons why they were removed. Photo credit goes to Carena Liptak.
These 26 country stars are not members of the Grand Ole Opry, and it may surprise you. Credit for the gallery goes to Billy Dukes.
Additional content can be found on Taste of Country's website. Stay connected with us