OPRY M EMBER T R I V I A
C O U N T R Y ’ S B R I G H T E S T S TA R S M A K E U P C O U N T R Y M U S I C ’ S M O S T I M P O R TA N T FA M I LY
T R A C E A D K I N S , 2 003
The 6’6” star was invited to join the
Opry by 4’11” Little Jimmy Dickens,
who scaled a kitchen ladder to look
him in the eye while doing the
honors.
B I L L A N D E R S O N , 1961
Has had more than 80 singles
reach the country charts.
L I T T L E J I M M Y D I C K E N S , 194 8
First radio job was to crow like
a rooster to open the morning
program.
J O E D I F F I E , 1993
Once worked on an oil rig, in
an iron foundry, and in Gibson
Guitar’s Nashville warehouse.
PAT T Y L O V E L E S S , 19 8 8
Is a distant cousin of fellow Opry
member Loretta Lynn.
L O R E T TA LY N N , 196 2
Sissy Spacek won an Academy
Award for her portrayal of Lynn in
the film Coal Miner’s Daughter.
B A R B A R A M A N D R E L L , 1 97 2
The first person to win the CMA’s
Entertainer of the Year award two
years in a row.
D I E R K S B E N T L E Y, 2 005
His dog Jake shared in his Opry
induction moment on stage.
T H E G AT L I N S , 1976
Larry, Steve & Rudy Gatlin won
acclaim for “Broken Lady,” which
Larry wrote in 15 minutes.
C L I N T B L A C K , 1 991
He and his song “Good Run of
Bad Luck” appeared in the movie
Maverick.
V I N C E G I L L , 1991
Declined first call to perform on
the Opry to attend his daughter’s
recital.
G A R T H B R O O K S , 1990
He is the top selling country artist
in history.
T O M T. H A L L , 1 9 71
Had six songs he wrote recorded
by other artists on the charts at one
time.
D E L M C C O U R Y, 2 003
Was invited to join the Opry
while accepting the International
Bluegrass Music Association Award
for Entertainer of the Year.
G E O R G E H A M I LT O N I V, 1960
First million-selling record was
the 1956 pop classic “A Rose and A
Baby Ruth.”
R E B A M C E N T I R E , 19 8 5
Has earned more gold and
platinum awards than any female
artist in any field of music.
E M M Y L O U H A R R I S , 1992
One of her many Grammy Awards
is for her work on the album O
Brother, Where Art Thou?
JESSE MCREYNOLDS, 1964
Grew up singing on the family farm
in Virginia.
J I M E D B R O W N , 1963
First achieved success with
sisters, Maxine & Bonnie.
ROY CL ARK, 1987
Singer, comedian & musician, he
made his Opry debut at age 18.
T E R R I C L A R K , 2 004
Sang for tips at Tootsie’s on
Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway
before hitting the top of the charts.
J O H N C O N L E E , 198 1
One of the original organizers of
FarmAid.
C H A R L I E D A N I E L S , 2 008
Made his Opry debut at the
Ryman Auditorium as part of the
Earl Scruggs Revue. “…Quite a thrill
for a country boy who has been
listening to the Opry for as long
as he can remember,” Daniels says.
D I A M O N D R I O, 1998
Grammy-nominated for
their vocals as well as their
musicianship.
J A N H O WA R D, 1971
Has an expressway named after
her in her hometown, West Plains,
Missouri.
A L A N J A C K S O N , 1991
Before stardom, delivered mail to
the Opry House.
S T O N E WA L L J A C K S O N , 1956
Acuff-Rose’s Wesley Rose helped
him get an audition & an Opry
contract.
H A L K E T C H U M , 1994
Is a master carpenter and an
accomplished painter.
A L I S O N K R A U S S , 1993
Recorded her first album, Too Late
to Cry, at age 14.
M A R T I N A M C B R I D E , 1 99 5
Sold T-shirts for Garth Brooks one
year and the next year was the
opening act on his tour.
R O N N I E M I L S A P, 19 76
Blind since birth, he played the
violin by age 7, piano by age 8, and
guitar by age 12.
M O N T G O M E R Y G E N T R Y, 20 0 9
Were part of the group Early Tymz
in their native Kentucky before
becoming a duo.
CRAIG MORGAN, 2008
One of few country artists raised in
Nashville.
LORRIE MORGAN, 1984
Daughter of Opry star George
Morgan made her Opry debut at
age 13.
O A K R I D G E B O Y S , 2 011
Received video congratulations
from President George H. W.
Bush the evening of their Opry
induction.
O L D C R O W M E D I C I N E S H O W,
20 1 3
Among the group’s first Nashville
gigs were playing in the Opry Plaza
before and after Opry shows.
J E A N N I E S E E LY, 1967
Opry membership came a year
after recording her first No. 1 hit,
“Don’t Touch Me.”
B L A K E S H E LT O N , 2 010
Was invited to join the Opry via
Twitter the night the show returned
to the Opry House following
Nashville’s May 2010 flood.
THE OSBORNE BROTHERS,
1964
Pursued separate musical careers
until they teamed up in 1953.
R I C K Y VA N S H E LT O N , 1988
Was a pipefitter, construction
worker, car salesman, grocery store
clerk, and house painter before
becoming an Opry member.
B R A D PA I S L E Y, 2 001
At age 13, opened shows for Opry
members Ricky Skaggs and George
Jones.
J E A N S H E PA R D, 1955
Was one of the first female artists to
receive notoriety without being a
member of a group.
D O L LY PA R T O N , 1969
Once lost a Dolly Parton look-a-like
contest.
R I C K Y S K A G G S , 1982
At age 5, he hopped on stage to
play Bill Monroe’s mandolin.
S T U P H I L L I P S , 1 967
Listened to the Opry in his native
Canada and set his sights on a
music career.
C O N N I E S M I T H , 1 965
In less than a year, went from being
a small-town housewife in Ohio to
a country music star with a No. 1
hit.
R AY P I L L O W, 1 9 6 6
Earned his first appearance on
the Grand Ole Opry by winning a
national talent contest.
C H A R L E Y P R I D E , 1993
Before singing, he pursued a
professional baseball career.
J E A N N E P R U E T T, 197 3
Was the last vocalist to join the
Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman
Auditorium.
R A S C A L F L AT T S , 2 011
Performed with rock group
Journey during festivities before
Super Bowl XLVII.
R I D E R S I N T H E S K Y, 198 2
Won a Grammy for their work on
the Toy Story soundtrack.
D A R I U S R U C K E R , 2 012
Debut country single went to No. 1
on the charts.
M I K E S N I D E R , 1990
2,000 of his Gleason, Tennessee,
neighbors were there in support on
the night of his Opry debut.
R A L P H S TA N L E Y, 2 000
Bob Dylan calls singing with
Stanley “the highlight of my career.”
M A R T Y S T U A R T, 1992
First played his mandolin on the
Opry at the Ryman at age 13 after
joining Lester Flatt’s bluegrass
band.
M E L T I L L I S , 2 0 07
Was officially inducted into the
Opry family by his daughter Pam,
who became an Opry member in
2000.
PA M T I L L I S , 2 000
Born in Plant City, Florida to
famous dad Mel Tillis and mom
Doris, she debuted on the Opry
at the age of eight singing “Tom
Dooley.”
R A N D Y T R AV I S , 1 986
Worked as a dishwasher, shortorder cook, and singer at the
Nashville Palace a mile from the
Opry House just 15 months before
joining the Opry.
T R AV I S T R I T T, 1992
Appeared in the movie Blues
Brothersin 2000 as a member of the
Gator Boys band.
J O S H T U R N E R , 2 007
Received two standing ovations for
his breakthrough song “Long Black
Train” during his Opry debut.
K E I T H U R B A N , 2 012
First Opry member born outside
North America.
C A R R I E U N D E R W O O D, 200 8
Made her Opry debut two weeks
after winning American Idol in
2005.
S T E V E WA R I N E R , 19 9 6
Made his Opry debut at age 17 at
the Ryman Auditorium as the bass
player in Dottie West’s band.
T H E W H I T E S , 1984
Daddy Buck & daughters, Sharon
& Cheryl, had their first recording
session in a motel room using bed
mattresses to insulate the walls.
T R I S H A Y E A R W O O D, 1 9 9 9
Was presented with a necklace
belonging to an idol, Patsy Cline,
upon her induction into the Opry.