The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered to be the most esteemed stage in country music. When artists are invited to perform at this revered venue for the first time, and later become official members, it is a significant milestone in their career.
However, it is not uncommon for country stars to have a somewhat troubled 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. These reasons may include not following the venue's unwritten rules of behavior or not meeting the official requirements for membership.
At a special event called Opry Goes Dolly, which was organized to honor Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024 and took place at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, there was a controversial incident involving performer Elle King. She appeared on stage clearly intoxicated, openly admitting to being heavily drunk. During her performance, she engaged in somewhat confrontational exchanges with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me." This behavior caused a significant amount of outrage among those in attendance.
The venue expressed regret to those who were upset by King's choice of words. However, numerous fans of the Opry took to social media to assert that King herself should apologize and some even believed that her actions justified being banned from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, the Opry has banned multiple artists, but is King's conduct truly deserving of such a severe action? Well, if we examine a few cases from the venue's earlier years, specifically those that occurred in 1973 or earlier, the clear response is that it's indeed possible.
Johnny Cash was prohibited from performing at the Opry following a highly energetic concert in 1973, during which he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand. The incident was greatly influenced by his consumption of alcohol. Hank Williams, who is widely known as one of the Opry's most renowned artists, lost his membership due to his excessive drinking and lack of reliability. Additionally, Jerry Lee Lewis was removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, including the incident in which he used profanity live on air.
However, it is important to note that there is only one case of a singer being permanently and completely banned from the Opry. This decision to maintain the ban forever was not made by the venue itself. Therefore, it is probable that even if King's actions warrant her being temporarily removed from performing at the Opry, it is unlikely to have any 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, as well as the actions that led to their expulsion.
6 Celebrities Forbidden from Performing at the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons for Their Exclusion)
Photo Credit: Carena Liptak
These 26 country stars are not members of the Grand Ole Opry, and it may surprise you. The credit for the gallery goes to Billy Dukes
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