The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered the most respected stage in country music. For musicians, receiving an invitation to perform at this prestigious venue, and later becoming an official member, is often a significant milestone in their career.
Although many country stars have a positive and long-lasting relationship with the Opry, there have been instances where performers were removed from the stage for various reasons. These reasons could include not following the venue's unwritten code of conduct or not meeting the official membership expectations.
At Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, there was a tribute show called Opry Goes Dolly to celebrate Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024. However, one of the performers, Elle King, caused controversy during the show. She appeared on stage visibly intoxicated and openly admitted to being heavily intoxicated. She engaged in somewhat confrontational exchanges with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me." This behavior generated outrage among the attendees.
The establishment expressed regret to individuals who were upset by King's choice of words. However, numerous supporters of the Opry on social media believed that King should be the one to apologize and that her actions were deserving of being prohibited from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, the Opry has experienced multiple cases of banning artists. However, is King's conduct truly deserving of such a severe measure? If we examine a few instances from the venue's early years, specifically from 1973 or earlier, it becomes evident that it is indeed possible.
After an intense performance in 1973, Johnny Cash was prohibited from performing at the Opry due to an incident where he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand. Alcohol played a significant role in that event. Another well-known artist, Hank Williams, had his membership revoked at the Opry due to his excessive drinking and lack of reliability. Jerry Lee Lewis was also removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, one of which was using profanity during a live broadcast.
However, it is important to note that there is only one case of a singer being completely and 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 absence from the Opry stage, it is unlikely to have any lasting impact on her ability to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Continue reading to explore the celebrities who have been prohibited from performing on the Opry stage, along with the actions that led to their expulsion!
6 Celebrities Excluded from the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons for Their Ostracism)
Image Credit: Carena Liptak
These 26 country stars are not members of the Grand Ole Opry, and you will be surprised to learn about it. The credit for the gallery goes
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