The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered to be the most respected stage in country music. For artists, receiving an invitation to perform at this prestigious venue, and later becoming an official member, is often a significant milestone in their career.
However, it is not uncommon for country music artists to have a somewhat turbulent relationship with the Opry at some point in their career. Throughout the years, several performers have been removed from the stage due to various reasons. This could be because they have violated the venue's unwritten rules of behavior or have not met the official membership requirements.
At the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, there was a special tribute show called Opry Goes Dolly in honor of Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024. However, one of the performers, Elle King, caused controversy when she appeared on stage clearly intoxicated. She openly admitted to being drunk and engaged in mildly confrontational exchanges with the audience. Additionally, she forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me."
The establishment expressed remorse 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 believed that her actions were severe enough to justify 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 severe measure? To answer this, we can examine a few instances from the venue's early years, all occurring in 1973 or prior, and it becomes evident that it is indeed a possibility.
Johnny Cash was not allowed to perform at the Opry anymore because of a memorable show in 1973 where he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand. Alcohol played a significant role in that incident. Hank Williams, one of the most well-known artists banned from the Opry, lost his membership due to his frequent drunkenness and inability to be relied upon. Jerry Lee Lewis was also removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, one of which was uttering an explicit word live on air.
However, it is important to note that there is only one instance where a singer was completely and permanently banned from the Opry. This decision was not made by the venue itself to keep the ban in place 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 and the actions that led to their removal!
6 Celebrities Denied Access to Perform at the Grand Ole Opry (and Reasons for Their Removal)
Image Credit: Carena Liptak
26 Country Artists Who Have Not Yet Been Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry
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