The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered as the most respected stage in country music. For artists, receiving an invitation to perform at this prestigious venue, and eventually earning official membership, is often seen as a significant milestone in their career.
However, it is common for not all country stars to have a perfect relationship with the Opry for their entire career. Throughout the years, there have been instances where performers have been asked to leave the stage due to various reasons. These reasons can include not adhering to the venue's unwritten rules of behavior or not meeting the official requirements for membership.
At the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, there was a tribute show called Opry Goes Dolly to celebrate Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024. However, one of the performers, Elle King, caused controversy during the show. She appeared on stage visibly intoxicated and openly admitted to being heavily drunk. She engaged in somewhat confrontational exchanges with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me."
The location expressed regret to those who were upset by King's choice of words. However, numerous fans of the Opry argued on social media that King should be the one to apologize, and some even believed that her actions were severe enough to justify being banned from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, the Opry has imposed bans on various artists, but is King's behavior truly deserving of such a severe measure? If we examine some instances from the early years of the venue, all occurring in 1973 or before, it becomes apparent that it is indeed a possibility.
Johnny Cash was not allowed to perform at the Opry anymore after a dramatic show in 1973. During that performance, he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand, and alcohol played a significant role in that incident. Hank Williams, who is widely known as the most famous artist banned from the Opry, had his membership revoked due to his frequent drunkenness and lack of reliability. Jerry Lee Lewis was also removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, one of which was using profanity live on air.
However, it is important to note that there is only one instance of a singer being permanently and completely banned from the Opry. Furthermore, this decision was not made by the venue itself. Therefore, it is probable that even if King's actions justify a temporary absence from the Opry stage, it is unlikely to have any lasting impact on her ability to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Continue reading to explore the celebrities who have been prohibited from performing on the Opry stage, and the actions that led to their removal!
6 Celebrities Excluded from the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons for Their Exclusion)
Photo Credit: Carena Liptak
26 Country Artists Who Are Surprisingly Not Members of the Grand Ole Opry
Credit for the Gallery: Billy Dukes
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