The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered as the most prestigious stage in the world of country music. For artists, receiving an invitation to perform or becoming an official member of this revered venue is a significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, not all country music stars have a consistently positive association with the Opry over the course of their entire career. Throughout the years, several artists have been requested to exit the stage for various reasons, including breaching the venue's unwritten behavioral guidelines or not meeting the official requirements for membership.
At Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, 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, openly admitting that she was heavily intoxicated. She engaged in somewhat confrontational exchanges with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Parton's song "Marry Me."
The establishment expressed regret to individuals who were upset by the language used by King. However, numerous supporters of the Opry took to social media to demand that King herself issue an apology. Some even believed that her actions were serious enough to warrant being banned from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, there have been multiple occurrences where artists were banned from performing at the Opry. However, is King's conduct truly deserving of such a drastic measure? If we examine a few instances from the venue's early history, all of which took place in 1973 or earlier, it becomes evident that it is indeed a possibility.
Johnny Cash was no longer allowed to perform at the Opry after a memorable show in 1973 where he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand. Alcohol played a significant role in that incident. Hank Williams, who is widely known for being banned from the Opry, lost his membership due to his excessive drinking and untrustworthiness. Jerry Lee Lewis, on the other hand, was removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, including uttering an explicit word during a live broadcast.
However, it is important to note that there is only one instance of a singer being permanently banned from the Opry, and it was not the decision of the venue to impose this ban indefinitely. Therefore, it appears that even if King's actions lead to her taking a break from performing at the Opry, it is unlikely to have any lasting impact on her ability to play at the Grand Ole Opry.
Continue reading to explore 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 their stage, and here are the reasons why they were expelled. The credit for the gallery goes to Carena Liptak.
Here are 26 country music stars who surprisingly are not members of the Grand Ole Opry. Credit for the gallery goes to Billy Dukes.
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