The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered to be the most esteemed stage in country music. When artists are invited to perform a show at this revered venue for the first time, and later on, when they become official members, it is seen as a highly significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for country music stars to have a somewhat tumultuous affiliation with the Opry over the course of their careers. Throughout the years, numerous performers have been requested to step down from performing on the Opry stage due to various reasons. These reasons may include breaching 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, one of the performers, Elle King, caused a lot of anger and upset when she appeared on stage visibly intoxicated. She openly admitted to the audience that she was extremely drunk and engaged in confrontational exchanges with the concert attendees. In addition, she even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me" during her performance.
The establishment 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 personally apologize and that her actions were severe enough to be 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 actions truly deserving of such a drastic measure? To determine this, we can examine a few incidents that occurred in the venue's early days, all of which took place in 1973 or earlier. Based on these examples, it can be concluded that King's behavior could indeed warrant such action.
Following a memorable performance in 1973, Johnny Cash faced a ban from the Opry for his destructive act of smashing stage lights using a microphone stand, with alcohol playing a significant role in this incident. Hank Williams, considered one of the most renowned artists banned from the Opry, lost his membership due to his consistent drunkenness and lack of reliability. Similarly, Jerry Lee Lewis was removed from the Opry stage for various offenses, including the use of profanity during a live broadcast.
However, it is important to note that there is only one instance where a singer was permanently and completely 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 a lasting impact on her ability to play 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 Barred from the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons for their Exclusion)
Credit for Gallery: Carena Liptak
26 Country Artists Who Are Surprisingly Not Members of the Grand Ole Opry
Credit for the Gallery: Billy Dukes
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