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 an incredibly significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that not all country stars have a consistently positive relationship with the Opry throughout their entire professional journey. Throughout the years, there have been instances where various performers have been requested to exit the stage due to different reasons. These reasons can range from disregarding the venue's unwritten code of conduct to not meeting the official requirements for membership.
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 during her performance. She appeared to be intoxicated and openly admitted to being heavily drunk. She engaged in slightly confrontational conversations with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me." This behavior left many people outraged.
The venue expressed regret to those who were upset by King's words. However, numerous fans of the Opry voiced on social media that they believed King should issue the apology herself, and some even suggested that her conduct justified being prohibited from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, the Opry has banned multiple artists, but is King's behavior truly deserving of such a drastic measure? By examining past incidents that occurred in 1973 or before, it becomes apparent that the answer to that question could very well be yes.
The Opry decided to ban Johnny Cash after a memorable 1973 performance where he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand, and alcohol played a significant role in that incident. Hank Williams, who is renowned for being banned from the Opry, lost his membership due to his excessive drinking and lack of reliability. Additionally, Jerry Lee Lewis was expelled from the Opry stage for various reasons, including the inappropriate use of explicit language during a live broadcast.
However, it is important to note that there is only one instance where a singer was completely and permanently banned from the Opry, and it was not the decision of the venue to enforce this ban indefinitely. Therefore, it is likely that even if King's actions justify a temporary absence from performing at the Opry, it will not 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, and the actions they took that led to their removal!
6 Celebrities Forbidden from Performing at the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons for Their Exclusion)
Credit for Gallery: Carena Liptak
Here are 26 country music artists who surprisingly are not members of the Grand Ole Opry. The credit for this gallery goes to Billy Dukes.
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