The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered as the most respected stage in country music. For musicians, receiving an invitation to perform at this prestigious venue or being granted official membership is a highly significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for country music stars to have a somewhat strained association with the Opry over the course of their careers. Throughout the years, several artists have been requested to step down from performing on the stage due to various reasons. These reasons may include breaching the venue's unwritten rules of behavior or not meeting the required standards for membership.
At an event called Opry Goes Dolly held at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium to honor Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024, there was a performance by Elle King that caused controversy. She appeared on stage visibly intoxicated, openly admitting she was heavily intoxicated to the audience. During her performance, she engaged in confrontational exchanges with some of the concert attendees and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me."
The place where the event took place expressed regret to those who were upset by the language used by King. However, numerous fans of the Opry argued on social media that King should be the one to apologize and that her actions were serious enough to be banned from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, there have been multiple cases where artists were prohibited from performing at the Opry. However, is King's actions truly deserving of such a drastic measure? If we examine some instances from the early years of the venue, all occurring in 1973 or before, it becomes evident that it might indeed be justified.
Following a highly energetic performance in 1973 where Johnny Cash destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand, he was prohibited from performing at the Opry. Alcohol played a significant role in this incident. Hank Williams, who is widely recognized as one of the Opry's most renowned banned artists, lost his membership due to his excessive drinking and lack of dependability. Jerry Lee Lewis, on the other hand, was removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, one of which included him using profanity live on air.
However, it is important to note that there is only one singer who has been 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 suspension from performing on the Opry stage, it is unlikely to have a lasting impact 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, along with the actions that led to their removal!
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Image Credit: Carena Liptak
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