The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered as the most prestigious stage in country music. For artists, receiving an invitation to perform at this esteemed venue, and later becoming an official member, is often seen as a significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, not all country music stars maintain a consistently positive relationship with the Opry throughout their entire careers. Throughout the years, numerous performers have been requested to exit the stage for various reasons, such as breaching the venue's unwritten code of behavior or not meeting the official membership criteria.
At Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, 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 performance, Elle King, one of the performers, caused a lot of anger and upset. She appeared on stage clearly intoxicated, openly admitting that she was heavily intoxicated. She engaged in somewhat confrontational exchanges with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me."
The establishment expressed regret to those who were upset by King's words. However, numerous supporters of the Opry on social media believed that King should be the one to apologize and even suggested that her actions were severe enough to be banned from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, the Opry has banned numerous artists, but 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 earlier, it becomes evident that it is indeed a possibility.
After a memorable and chaotic performance in 1973, Johnny Cash faced a ban from the Opry due to his destructive behavior of smashing stage lights using a microphone stand. Alcohol played a significant role in this incident. Hank Williams, known as one of the most renowned artists banned from the Opry, lost his membership due to his consistent drunkenness and inability to be reliable. Additionally, Jerry Lee Lewis was removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, including the inappropriate use of profanity during a live broadcast.
However, it is important to note that there is only one instance of a singer who was 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 suspension from performing on the Opry stage, it is unlikely to have lasting consequences on her ability to play at the Grand Ole Opry.
Continue reading to explore in-depth about the celebrities who have been prohibited from performing on the Opry stage due to their unacceptable conduct!
The Grand Ole Opry has banned six stars from performing, and here are the reasons why they were kicked out. The credit for the gallery goes to Carena Liptak.
26 Country Artists Who Are Surprisingly Not Members of the Grand Ole Opry
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
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