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.
Nevertheless, it is worth noting that not all country music stars have a completely positive and harmonious association with the Opry throughout their entire professional journey. Throughout the years, various artists have been requested to exit the stage at the Opry for different reasons. These reasons may include disregarding the venue's unwritten rules regarding behavior or not meeting the official requirements for becoming a member.
At the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, a tribute show called Opry Goes Dolly was held to celebrate Dolly Parton's 78th birthday in 2024. However, there was a controversial moment during the performance when Elle King, one of the performers, appeared on stage visibly intoxicated. She openly admitted to being heavily intoxicated and engaged in slightly confrontational exchanges with the audience. Furthermore, she even forgot the lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Marry Me." This incident caused a great deal of outrage among the attendees.
The venue expressed remorse to those who were upset by King's choice of words. However, numerous fans of the Opry argued on social media that King should be the one to apologize and some even believed that her actions were severe enough to justify being prohibited from performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Throughout the years, there have been numerous cases where artists were prohibited from performing at the Opry. However, is King's conduct truly deserving of such a drastic measure? To determine this, we can examine a few instances that occurred in the venue's earlier years, specifically in 1973 or earlier. From these examples, it becomes evident that King's behavior could indeed warrant such action.
Johnny Cash was forbidden from performing at the Opry following a memorable performance in 1973. During this show, he destroyed stage lights using a microphone stand, with alcohol playing a significant role in the incident. Hank Williams, a well-known artist, also faced a ban from the Opry due to his consistent drunkenness and unreliable behavior. In addition, Jerry Lee Lewis was removed from the Opry stage for various offenses, including using profanity live on air.
However, it is important to note that there is only one instance of a singer being permanently banned from the Opry, and this decision was not made by the venue itself. Therefore, it is likely that even if King's actions result in a temporary absence from the Opry stage, it will not have a lasting impact on her ability to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Continue reading to explore the individuals in the entertainment industry 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)
Photo Credit: Carena Liptak
Here are 26 country music stars who are not members of the Grand Ole Opry, and it may surprise you. The credit for the gallery goes to
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