The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered to be the most esteemed stage in country music. For artists, receiving an invitation to perform at this iconic venue, and eventually becoming an official member, is often a significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, not all country music stars have a consistently positive association with the Opry throughout their entire career. Throughout the years, several performers have been requested to exit the stage for various reasons, such as disregarding the venue's unwritten rules of behavior or not meeting the official requirements for membership.
At the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, there was a special tribute show called Opry Goes Dolly, which was organized to celebrate Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024. However, during the show, one of the performers named Elle King caused controversy. She appeared on stage visibly intoxicated, openly admitting that she was heavily drunk. Elle engaged in light argumentative conversations with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me." This behavior led to outrage among the concert-goers.
The establishment expressed regret to individuals who were upset by King's choice of words. However, several fans of the Opry expressed on social media that they believed King should personally apologize and some even went as far as suggesting that her actions were deserving of being banned from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, there have been multiple occasions where artists were prohibited 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 early years of the venue, specifically from 1973 or before, it becomes evident that it is a possibility.
After an eventful performance in 1973, Johnny Cash was prohibited from performing at Opry. During the show, he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand, and alcohol played a significant role in this incident. Hank Williams, who is widely known as the most renowned banned artist from Opry, had his membership revoked due to his consistent drunkenness and unreliability. Additionally, Jerry Lee Lewis was expelled from the Opry stage for various offenses, one of which included using profanity live on air.
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 enforce this permanent ban. Therefore, it is probable that even if King's actions justify a temporary absence from the Opry stage, it will not have lasting consequences 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 due to their inappropriate conduct!
Here are six notable stars who were banned from performing at the Grand Ole Opry and the reasons behind their removal. Gallery credit goes to Carena Liptak.
26 Country Artists Who Are Surprisingly Not Members of the Grand Ole Opry
Photo Credit: Billy Dukes
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