These Facts About Grand Ole Opry Might Surprise You!
Grand Ole Opry is regarded as the world’s longest-running radio show and helped many artists to find their way into the showbiz industry. It is often called the ‘country music’s most famous stage‘. The first show of Grand Ole Opry was aired on 28th November 1925 in the office of National Life & Accident Insurance Company.
One of the founders of the insurance company was a big fan of radio shows, so he built a radio studio to fulfill his fascination with radios. The live shows conducted there became insanely popular, leading to the radio show moving to Hillsboro Theatre in 1934, now known as Belcourt.
The weekly radio broadcast shows ran for more than 4,600 Saturdays, solidifying their place in American entertainment history. These Saturday shows were broadcast on SiriusXM satellite radio and WSM-AM, a local radio station in Nashville. Over time, the popularity of the broadcasts led to the inclusion of additional shows on Friday nights and occasionally on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, depending on the season or special opportunities.
Nashville’s reputation as a home base for country music was significantly bolstered by the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts. The Grand Ole Opry, a powerhouse of home entertainment, played a crucial role in this reputation. Its concerts, which often featured live performances from country music legends, became a central part of its allure, drawing fans from all over the country. For many, attending these performances was akin to a pilgrimage, much like visiting a church, where the spirit of country music was celebrated and revered.
The Grand Ole Opry had six homes over its 95-year history. It moved from Hillsboro to Dixie Tabernacle in 1936, where it stayed for three years. After that, it remained at War Memorial Auditorium for four years before moving to the iconic Ryman Auditorium in 1943. Finally, in March of 1974, the Grand Ole Opry settled into its current home at the Grand Ole Opry House. The concerts held at each of these venues have become legendary, contributing to the rich history of country music and Nashville’s standing as a music city.
What was WSM Barn Dance?
It was christened as the WSM Barn Dance by its founder and it was named Grand Ole Opry in 1927 after George D. Hay, a radio announcer called it such in a show. He was inspired by the selection of classical music and grand operas played on the show. He would announce the opening of classical music jokily as ‘now the listeners would be enjoying the Grand Ole Opry’.
Premises of The Grand Ole Opry House used 15.8 million feet of cable with a giant transmission tower for broadcasting live shows to millions of people. The transmission tower is located at Brentwood Tennessee. It has been fulfilling ours since 1932 and was once the tallest tower in the USA.
The first performance on Grand Ole Opry
Uncle Jimmy Thomson was the first artist to perform for the Grand Ole Opry. he was 77 years old at that time. He was a fiddle player and played fiddle for National Life Offices on 28 November 1925. The music broadcast station has over 200 members who are famous and established artists of the music world from Hank Williams to Luke Bombs including Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, and Carrie Underwood. Its membership is regarded as one of the highest honors in the music industry that a music artist can be endowed with. The neighboring Ryman Auditorium which used to host the Grand Ole Opry has even hosted hip hop artists such as the Wu-Tang Klan!