The Story Behind How the Grand Ole Opry Got Its Famous Name
Celebrating 100 years of country music excellence, the Grand Ole Opry boasts a storied history.
NBC's Opry 100: A Live Celebration is set to be one of the Grand Ole Opry's most historic shows as country music's biggest stars assemble at the legendary Nashville venue to celebrate its milestone anniversary.
As fans prepare for the stacked lineup of performances, some may be wondering how the Grand Ole Opry became a symbol for the country genre. Beginning as a humble radio show, the Grand Ole Opry has become more than a treasured performance venue; it's a cherished institution that encapsulates the spirit and evolution of the genre.
As the Opry celebrates its 100th birthday in 2025, it is a fond reminder of the great artists who've graced the Opry stage and the incredible journey the show has taken since the 1920s. Many country fans dream of one day attending a show at the Opry to bear witness to country music's past, present, and future.
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From the endless lineup of performances to its lush history, the Grand Ole Opry has been shaping country music for generations. Read on to learn all about the history of the legendary venue.
How did the Grand Ole Opry get started?
The Grand Ole Opry's tale began in 1925 when a radio enthusiast and founder of National Life and Accident Insurance Company voiced his dream of launching a radio show, according to the Opry's website. The show was greenlit to boost the company's profile and was titled WSM after the company's slogan, "We Shield Millions." WSM went live for the first time on October 5, 1925, from a modest studio in downtown Nashville.
But WSM's journey into becoming the Grand Ole Opry we know and love today was just beginning. The radio show picked up momentum after National Life recruited George D. Hay, a prominent announcer and program director famous for his National Barn Dance program in Chicago. Hay then created WSM Barn Dance, featuring 77-year-old fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson. The group's performance on November 28, 1925, is widely recognized as the birth of the Grand Ole Opry, marking the beginning of an influential tradition that continues today.
How did the Grand Ole Opry get its name?
WSM delivered beloved radio shows for two years under that title until its rebrand in December 1927, which wasn't all that intentional. Following an NBC broadcast of Walter Damrosch's Music Appreciation Hour, George D. Hay proclaimed on-air, "For the past hour, we have been listening to the music taken largely from the Grand Opera, but from now on, we will present the Grand Ole Opry."
The catchy moniker had a nice ring to it. Thus, the WSM Barn Dance was officially renamed.
How is the Grand Ole Opry connected to the Ryman Auditorium?
For several decades, the Grand Ole Opry hosted live performances at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, A.K.A. the "Mother Church" of country music. Many historic moments happened within the walls of the mythic Ryman. Country titans like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn were all inducted into the Opry there. Elvis Presley delivered his one and only Opry performance at the Ryman. Johnny Cash met his wife at the Ryman, and according to the Opry, once broke all of the footlights at the front of the stage during an infamous show.
The Ryman has hosted a storied history and successfully put the Grand Ole Opry on the map, but it wouldn't be the permanent home of the Opry. As the show gained popularity, it began to outgrow Ryman Auditorium. The Opry broadcast its last Friday show from the Ryman Auditorium on March 15, 1974, moving to the new 4,440-seat Grand Ole Opry House.
After leaving the Ryman on Friday, the Grand Ole Opry returned with a star-studded inaugural show the next night. President Richard Nixon attended the festivities, at one point leading the Opry audience in singing "Happy Birthday" to First Lady Pat Nixon.
The venue change gave the Orpy more space and facilities for fun, allowing producers to dream even bigger. In March 1978, the Grand Ole Opry aired its first live televised performance as part of a PBS fundraising special, later broadcasting live shows regularly in 1985. As the years passed, the Opry welcomed more and more country music legends, further solidifying its status as a pillar of the music industry.
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The Grand Ole Opry has been a symbol of country music for a century
The music never stops at the Grand Ole Opry, which is evident in its ability to weather whatever challenge it faces. The venue was forced to complete significant restorations after a historic flood ravaged the Opry in 2010. During the reconstruction, the Grand Ole Opry operated out of various venues in Nashville, officially reopening four months after the incident.
The COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to live audience shows in 2020, inspiring the Opry to broadcast performances to homes nationwide. After seven months of virtual shows, the Opry proudly celebrated its 95th anniversary by inviting patrons back, marking a triumphant return to live performances. No matter what happens around it, the Grand Ole Opry keeps the music playing.
The Grand Ole Opry remains an enduring symbol of country music, where legends are born and the spirit of the genre is celebrated.
To see more Opry history in the making, watch NBC's Opry 100: A Live Celebration, a three-hour special airing live from the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday, March 19, starting at 8 p.m. ET and simulcast on Peacock.
