The Grand Ole Opry is considered by many as the most respected and important stage in country music. Being invited to perform a show at this prestigious venue is a significant milestone in an artist's career. Additionally, becoming an official member of the Grand Ole Opry holds great significance and is cherished by musicians.
Nevertheless, not all country music stars enjoy 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 breaking the venue's unwritten code of conduct or not meeting the official membership expectations.
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 controversy during the show. She appeared on stage visibly intoxicated and openly admitted to being heavily drunk. She engaged in mildly confrontational conversations with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me." This behavior generated a great deal of outrage among the concert-goers.
The place where the event took place expressed regret to individuals who were upset by King's choice of words. However, numerous fans of the Opry took to social media to demand that King herself apologize, and some even believed that her actions were severe enough to merit 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? By examining certain instances from the venue's early days, specifically from 1973 or earlier, it becomes clear that it is indeed a possibility.
Johnny Cash was prohibited from performing at the Opry following a memorable concert in 1973, during which he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand. Alcohol played a significant role in this incident. Hank Williams, a well-known artist, also faced a ban from the Opry due to his frequent intoxication and lack of dependability. Jerry Lee Lewis, on the other hand, was removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, including the use of profanity during a live broadcast.
However, it is important to note that there is only one singer who has been 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 lead to her being temporarily suspended from performing on the Opry stage, it is unlikely to have lasting consequences on her future 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 Who Were Forbidden from Performing at the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons Behind Their Exclusion)
Image Credit: 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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