by Kathy Megyeri
“100 Years of Grand Ole Opry, A Celebration of the Artists, the Fans and the Home of County Music” by the Members of the Grand Ole Opry and Craig Shelburne with Brenda Colladay, Abrams Books
If you’ve ever been to Nashville and have either attended a performance or walked up to the stage on a tour of the Ryman Auditorium theatre, you feel like you are standing on sacred ground. The Grand Ole Opry is about to celebrate 100 years, and this official book gives fans a behind-the-curtains look at never-before seen photos and with written tributes in a gorgeously illustrated volume.
Since 1925, this longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history – which began as an impromptu performance of old-time fiddle tunes – made country music famous and helped the careers of Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Carrie Underwood and Luke Combs. The Opry not only popularized the country music genre but preserved its history and made it a valued part of the nation’s history.
The requirements for membership are the artists’ overall talent and potential, their commitment to country music, rapport with others, and the response from the audience. In the beginning, the Opry had a cast of regulars; Uncle Dave Macon was the most famous as recorded in a 1928 souvenir group photo. Cast members were expected to appear every Saturday night. Performers could advertise their upcoming appearances and then label themselves as Grand Ole Opry members on their promotional materials so ticket sales increased for their own shows.
Related: Book Review: What Jackie Taught Us
The Opry’s founder was George D. Hay and as the show gained popularity, performers were added to the cast and they became even more popular thanks to WSM-AM, a 50,000-watt radio station. By the late l940s, members had radio experience and recording contracts and names like Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl and Ernest Tubb became household names. In 1985, the show came to TV and Reba McEntire was introduced that year as a new member. In the 1990s, Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and Alan Jackson were featured. When a member was inducted beginning in 2001, a 14” replica of an old Opry microphone stand containing a small piece of wood from the original Ryman Auditorium pews was given to the performer and this award continues to be presented to inductees.
This showcase, coffee-table book is already available for pre-order (delivery in April 2025) and would make a treasured gift for any fan of country music and especially for anyone who’s paid a visit to the Ryman Auditorium’s Grand Ole Opry and wants to re-live that memorable visit.
