The Grand Ole Opry is widely considered as the most respected stage in country music. For artists, receiving an invitation to perform at this prestigious venue, and eventually becoming a member, is a significant milestone in their career.
Nevertheless, it is not uncommon for country music stars to have a somewhat rocky connection 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 for various reasons. These reasons may include infringing upon the venue's unwritten rules regarding behavior or not meeting the official criteria for membership.
At the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, there was a special tribute show called Opry Goes Dolly, organized by the Opry to celebrate Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024. However, during the performance, Elle King, one of the performers, caused a lot of anger and upset. She appeared on stage clearly intoxicated, openly admitting that she was heavily intoxicated. She engaged in somewhat confrontational exchanges with the audience and even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me."
The venue expressed regret to those who were upset by King's choice of words. However, a large number of Opry supporters on social media believed that King should be the one to apologize and that her actions were serious enough to justify her being banned from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, there have been multiple occasions where artists were prohibited from performing at the Opry. However, the question arises whether King's actions truly justify such a drastic measure. By examining a few instances from the venue's early history, specifically from 1973 or before, it becomes evident that it is indeed a possibility.
In 1973, Johnny Cash was prohibited from performing at the Opry due to a memorable incident during his show. He had destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand, and alcohol played a significant role in this event. Hank Williams, who is widely known as the most renowned artist banned from the Opry, lost his membership because of his excessive drinking and untrustworthiness. Jerry Lee Lewis, on the other hand, was removed from the Opry stage for various reasons, one of which included him uttering an explicit word live on air.
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 justify a temporary absence from the Opry stage, it is unlikely to have a lasting impact on her future ability to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Continue reading to explore the celebrities who have been prohibited from performing on the Opry stage due to their misconduct and the actions that led to their removal.
6 Celebrities Excluded from the Grand Ole Opry (and the Reasons Behind Their Ban)
Image Credit: Carena Liptak
Here are 26 country stars who surprisingly are not members of the Grand Ole Opry. The credit for this gallery goes to Billy Dukes.
Additional articles from Taste of Country can be found here. For more updates and news