The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered as the most esteemed stage in country music. When musicians are invited to perform or become official members, it is often seen as a significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for country music artists to encounter difficulties in their association with the Opry over the course of their careers. Throughout the years, various performers have faced the consequence of being removed from the stage due to reasons such as disregarding the venue's unwritten rules of behavior or not meeting the official criteria for membership.
At the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, there was a tribute show called Opry Goes Dolly in honor of Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024. During the show, one of the performers named Elle King caused controversy by appearing on stage visibly intoxicated. She openly admitted to the audience that she was heavily intoxicated, engaged in mildly confrontational conversation with the concert attendees, 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 express their belief that King should be the one apologizing and that her actions were severe enough to deserve a ban 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? If we examine a few instances from the venue's early years, specifically those that occurred in 1973 or before, it becomes evident that it could indeed be justified.
Johnny Cash was prohibited from performing at the Opry after a highly charged show in 1973, during which he used a microphone stand to destroy stage lights. Alcohol played a significant role in this incident. Hank Williams, who is widely recognized as the most renowned artist to be banned from the Opry, lost his membership due to his excessive drinking and lack of reliability. As for Jerry Lee Lewis, he was removed from the Opry stage for various offenses, one of which included uttering an explicit word 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 venue's decision to impose the ban indefinitely. 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 removal!
Here are six famous artists who were banned from performing at the Grand Ole Opry, along with the reasons behind their expulsion. The credit for the gallery goes to Carena Liptak.
26 Country Music Artists Who Are Surprisingly Not Members of the Grand Ole Opry
Credit for the Gallery: Billy Dukes
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