The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered as the most respected stage in country music. Being invited to perform or becoming an official member of the Opry is a highly significant milestone in any artist's career.
Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for country music artists to encounter some challenges in their relationship with the Opry over the course of their careers. Throughout the years, numerous performers have been requested to exit the stage due to various reasons, such as disregarding the venue's unwritten standards of behavior or not meeting the official requirements for membership.
At the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, there was a special show called Opry Goes Dolly, which aimed to celebrate Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024. However, during the performance, Elle King, one of the performers, caused a lot of controversy. She appeared on stage clearly intoxicated and openly admitted to being drunk. She engaged in slightly confrontational conversations 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 supporters of the Opry on social media believed that King should be the one to apologize and some even felt that her actions were serious enough to result in being banned from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, there have been multiple cases where artists were banned from performing at the Opry. However, is King's conduct truly deserving of such a drastic measure? By examining a few instances from the venue's early history, specifically from 1973 or before, it becomes clear that it is indeed possible.
In 1973, Johnny Cash was prohibited from performing at the Opry due to a controversial show in which he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand. Alcohol played a significant role in that particular incident. Hank Williams, who is widely recognized as one of the Opry's most renowned banned artists, lost his membership due to his excessive drinking and unreliable behavior. Jerry Lee Lewis, on the other hand, was expelled from the Opry stage for various reasons, one of which included swearing 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 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 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 and the actions that led to their expulsion.
6 Celebrities Excluded from the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons for Their Removal)
Photo Credit: Carena Liptak
These 26 country stars will surprise you as they are not members of the Grand Ole Opry. Photo credit goes to Billy Dukes.
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