The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered as the most respected stage in country music. For artists, receiving an invitation to perform or becoming an official member at this esteemed venue is often seen as a significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for some country music stars to have a somewhat strained relationship with the Opry over the course of their careers. Throughout the years, several performers have been requested to leave the stage due to various reasons, such as disregarding the venue's unwritten code of behavior or not meeting the official criteria 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, during the show, one of the performers named Elle King caused a lot of anger and upset. She appeared on stage clearly intoxicated, openly admitting she was heavily drunk. She engaged in confrontational conversations with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me."
The place where the incident occurred expressed regret to those who were upset by King's choice of words. However, numerous fans of the Opry took to social media to demand that King personally apologize and even suggested that her actions were severe enough to justify a ban from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, the Opry has imposed bans on multiple artists. However, is King's behavior truly deserving of such a drastic action? If we examine a few cases from the venue's past, all dating back to 1973 or earlier, it becomes evident that it is indeed possible.
Johnny Cash was not allowed to perform at the Opry anymore after his wild show in 1973 where he broke stage lights with a microphone stand. Alcohol played a significant role in that incident. Hank Williams, who is one of the most well-known artists banned from the Opry, lost his membership due to his excessive drinking and lack of reliability. Jerry Lee Lewis was also removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, including using profanity during a live broadcast.
However, it is important to note that there is only one instance of a singer being completely and permanently banned from the Opry, and it was not the decision of the venue to impose this ban indefinitely. Therefore, it is probable that even if King's actions justify a temporary absence from the Opry stage, it will not have a 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, along with the actions that led to their removal.
6 Celebrities Excluded from the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons behind Their Exclusion)
Image Source: Carena Liptak
26 Country Artists Who Haven't Joined the Grand Ole Opry Yet
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
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