List of Grand Ole Opry members

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The Grand Ole Opry is a country music concert and radio show, held between twice and five times per week, in Nashville, Tennessee. The show began as a radio barn dance on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay and has since become one of the genre's most enduring and revered stages. Each performance consists of multiple guest artists as well as Opry members, sometimes called "Opry stars". Members are selected by Opry management (with input from existing members) based on several factors including critical and commercial success, respect for the history of country music and commitment to appearing on the program. Opry members have permission to perform at any Opry show they wish. A typical Opry performance will feature seven to nine artists, including (but not limited to) at least three members.

Contents

Membership Process

Publicly, once a new member is chosen, an existing member will ask the new member to join the Opry live on-air during the broadcast, usually when the new member is performing as a guest. In recent years, invitations have been delivered in other public settings. Prior to 1999, membership was effective immediately upon invitation. Currently, artists who accept the invitation will return on a later date for a scheduled performance and induction ceremony. Being invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry is considered one of country music's crowning achievements. [1]

Over its history, the Opry has featured a large, rotating ensemble of members ranging from all-time greats and neotraditionalists to contemporary stars. As the Opry is a running series, membership requires that the performer appear regularly on the program to remain a member of the show. As late as the 1960s, an artist was required to perform on at least 26 shows per year, though this requirement has been significantly relaxed in the years since. If a performer ceases appearing at the Opry altogether or runs afoul of management, they can be stripped of their membership; if the exiled performer reconciles and renews their commitment to the show, they can be reinstated. Membership expires when the performer dies; if a single member of a duo or group retires or dies, the surviving members may continue to maintain Opry membership on the group's behalf. The Opry, in general, allows performers who retire, or are no longer physically able to perform on a regular basis to stay as members. The Grand Ole Opry House maintains a member gallery backstage that contains an engraved brass nameplate for every act who has ever been a member of the Grand Ole Opry (including those whose membership has lapsed or have been asked to leave).

Current membership

Excluding the Opry Square Dancers, who have sui generis membership status, there are currently 75 Grand Ole Opry members. Solo music artists make up 60 of the members, seven of whom have mostly retired from performing (Stu Phillips, Barbara Mandrell, Jeanne Pruett, Randy Travis, Ricky Van Shelton, Patty Loveless and Ronnie Milsap), but may make occasional appearances. Two of the members are stand-up comedians (Henry Cho and Gary Mule Deer). Twelve duos and groups hold membership. Among them, two (Montgomery Gentry and The Oak Ridge Boys) have had a member die since their respective inductions. Two other groups (Old Crow Medicine Show and Diamond Rio) have each replaced living group members since being inducted, but maintain their Opry membership. The Oak Ridge Boys have been inducted twice, under two completely different lineups.

In addition to several family acts who've held membership over the years, two sets of siblings have been invited to join the Opry separately: Loretta Lynn and her younger sister, Crystal Gayle; as well as Darrin Vincent (half of Dailey & Vincent) and his older sister, Rhonda. Likewise, there have been three instances of parents and their children being inducted separately:Ernest Tubb and his son Justin, George Morgan and his daughter Lorrie, as well as Pam Tillis and her father Mel. Among the current members are four married couples: Marty Stuart and Connie Smith, Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White (of The Whites), Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, as well as Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild (both of Little Big Town).

Over the course of the program's history, 227 acts have held Opry membership. The oldest living member is Buck White of The Whites, born in 1930; the youngest is Lauren Alaina, born in 1994. Bill Anderson is the longest-serving active member, as well as the longest-serving member in the show's history, as his membership has not lapsed since his induction in 1961. Jeannie Seely is the Opry's most frequent performer, having appeared on over 5,300 Opry shows since her 1967 induction.


  Indicates active members
  Indicates active members who have retired from performing, but may make occasional appearances
  Indicates acts invited to join, but not yet officially inducted
  Indicates acts in which at least one of the members is deceased, retired, or has left the group, with the other(s) maintaining active membership

Acts with a are deceased; indicates a member of the group is deceased.

1920s

Founding member DeFord Bailey was the Opry's only black member until his 1941 departure; no others were inducted until 1993. DeFord Bailey.JPG
Founding member DeFord Bailey was the Opry's only black member until his 1941 departure; no others were inducted until 1993.
No.NameInduction dateNotes
1 Uncle Jimmy Thompson November 28, 1925
2 Humphrey Bate January 2, 1926
3Henry BandyMarch 13, 1926
4The McGee Brothers1926
5Mazy ToddApril 3, 1926
6 Uncle Dave Macon April 17, 1926
7The Pikard FamilyMay 8, 1926
8 Deford Bailey June 19, 1926
9The Crook BrothersJuly 24, 1926Herman Crook, one of the Crook Brothers, was the last survivor of the 1920s era Opry members, maintaining his membership uninterrupted until his 1988 death—a record that would stand until Bill Anderson surpassed him in 2023.
10 Sid Harkreader July 24, 1926
11 Binkley Brothers' Dixie Clodhoppers October 30, 1926
12 Theron Hale and his DaughtersNovember 13, 1926
13 Arthur Smith July 16, 1927
14The Fruit Jar DrinkersDecember 17, 1927
15 The Gully Jumpers December 24, 1927
16Kitty Cora ClineMarch 24, 1928
17Ed Poplin and his Barn Dance OrchestraApril 21, 1928
18Uncle Joe Mangrum and Fred SchriverJuly 30, 1928

1930s

1938 inductee Roy Acuff, singer and publisher, was the public face of the Opry from the 1970s until his death. Roy Acuff 1950.JPG
1938 inductee Roy Acuff, singer and publisher, was the public face of the Opry from the 1970s until his death.
No.NameInduction dateNotes
19Ford Rush
20Hilltop Harmonizers
21Nap and Dee
22The VagabondsSeptember 5, 1931
23Asher and Little Jimmy SizemoreSeptember 24, 1932
24 Curly Fox September 24, 1932
25 Zeke Clements September 24, 1932
26 The Delmore Brothers April 29, 1933
27Robert LunnMarch 31, 1934
28 Lee White April 21, 1934
29Sarie and SallyJanuary 26, 1935
30Jack Shook and his Missouri MountaineersFebruary 2, 1935
31The Lakeland SistersJanuary 23, 1937
32 Bob Wills May 22, 1937
33 Pee Wee King June 27, 1937
34 Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain BoysFebruary 9, 1938Left the Opry in 1946 and returned in the early 1960s. Bashful Brother Oswald represented the Smoky Mountain Boys after Acuff's 1992 death until his own death in 2002. [2]
35Cousin Jody
36Jamup and HoneyJanuary 7, 1939
37 Bill Monroe October 28, 1939

1940s

Little Jimmy Dickens was an Opry member for 67 years. Little Jimmy Dickens.jpg
Little Jimmy Dickens was an Opry member for 67 years.
Hank Williams Sr. and The Drifting Cowboys were Opry members from 1949 to 1952. Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys Cropped.jpg
Hank Williams Sr. and The Drifting Cowboys were Opry members from 1949 to 1952.
No.NameInduction dateNotes
38 Danny Dill
39 Johnnie and Jack
40 Milton Estes and his Musical Millers
41Old Hickory Singers
42 Minnie Pearl November 30, 1940
43 The Duke of Paducah 1942
44John Daniel Quartet1942Included among its members Wally Fowler, who was inducted with his own group in 1945 (see below).
45 Eddy Arnold 1943
46 Cowboy Copas 1943
47 Ernest Tubb February 13, 1943
48 Curley Williams September 4, 1943
49The Bailes Brothers1944
50 The DeZurik Sisters 1944
51The Poe SistersJune 17, 1944
52 Rod Brasfield July 15, 1944
53 David "Stringbean" Akeman 1945
54Lew Childre Sr.1945
55 Bradley Kincaid 1945
56 Wally Fowler and The Oak Ridge Quintet January 27, 1945Fowler was already a de facto member by way of his membership in the John Daniel Quartet. The Oak Ridge Quintet was a direct predecessor to the group now known as The Oak Ridge Boys. The quintet became a quartet as it evolved and all of its personnel were replaced by the time Fowler sold the rights to the name to Smitty Gatlin in 1957. In 1966, Gatlin turned the group over to Duane Allen, who along with William Lee Golden transitioned to a new lineup that solidified in October 1973; other than a period between 1988 and 1995 in which Golden temporarily left the group, this lineup has served as "The Oak Ridge Boys" ever since. The Allen-era lineup of the quartet was invited and then inducted into the Opry as its own group by Little Jimmy Dickens on August 6, 2011. [3]
57 Jimmy Wakely September 29, 1945
58 The Willis Brothers 1946
59 Grandpa Jones March 16, 1946
60 Red Foley April 13, 1946
61 Lonzo and Oscar 1947
62Paul Howard and the Arkansas Cotton Pickers1947
63 George Morgan September 25, 1948
64 Little Jimmy Dickens November 6, 1948Membership lapsed from 1957 to 1975
65 Jordanaires 1949Membership lapsed prior to 1998. The group formally disbanded with the death of its last founding member in 2013, [4] but reunited in 2023. [5] One member from its period of flourishing, bass vocalist Ray Walker, survives.
66 Hank Williams and The Drifting Cowboys June 11, 1949Dismissed and membership revoked August 11, 1952, for habitual drunkenness and missing shows.

1950s

June Carter Cash, the last member of The Carter Sisters to pass, performing at the Opry in 1999. JuneCarterAtGrandOleOpry1999.jpg
June Carter Cash, the last member of The Carter Sisters to pass, performing at the Opry in 1999.
The Everly Brothers were briefly members in 1957. They left the same year to tour with Buddy Holly, remarking in 1960 that their style no longer fit the program. The Everly Brothers - Cash Box 1957.jpg
The Everly Brothers were briefly members in 1957. They left the same year to tour with Buddy Holly, remarking in 1960 that their style no longer fit the program.
No.NameInduction dateNotes
67 Chet Atkins 1950
68 Kitty Wells 1952
69 Hawkshaw Hawkins June 1955
70 Goldie Hill August 22, 1953
71The Ladells1955
72 Red Sovine 1955
73 Ray Price 1951
74 Hank Snow January 7, 1950Inducted by Ernest Tubb
75 Carl Smith April 29, 1950Relinquished membership in 1956 following his divorce from June Carter.
76 The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle May 13, 1950Billed as the Carter Family after 1960. June Carter Cash represented the family following the death of the other members; her children John and Carlene have made occasional appearances but did not maintain membership for the group.
77 Moon Mullican 1951
78 Lefty Frizzell July 21, 1951
79 Martha Carson April 26, 1952
80Opry Square Dancers
( sui generis )
July 5, 1952Originally inducted as Ralph Sloan and his Tennessee Travelers. The Opry's square-dance troupe has gone through several incarnations through its history and is a regular fixture on shows. Ralph's younger brother Melvin Sloan ran the troupe from Ralph's death in 1980 until his 2002 retirement. It merged with the other square-dance troupe, Ben Smathers and his Stoney Mountain Cloggers, when Smathers died in 1990. [6] Originally included as full standing members, [2] the Opry took over the troupe after Melvin's retirement and granted it a sui generis status separate from the other members. The last dancer from the Ralph Sloan era, Eddie Oliver, retired in 2016. [7]
81 Webb Pierce September 13, 1952
82 Marty Robbins January 19, 1953
83 Carl Butler October 17, 1953
84 Del Wood November 13, 1953
85 The Carlisles November 14, 1953
86 Ferlin Husky June 12, 1954
87 Faron Young November 19, 1954
88 Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs January 1, 1955
89 The Louvin Brothers February 26, 1955Ira Louvin left in 1963 (and died in 1965); Charlie Louvin represented the duo until his own death.
90 Justin Tubb September 10, 1955
91 Jim Reeves October 22, 1955
92 Slim Whitman October 29, 1955
93 Jean Shepard November 21, 1955
94 Johnny Cash July 7, 1956Expelled in 1965 for breaking the stage lights with his microphone stand during an Opry performance. [8] Reconciled in 1968 and remained a member the rest of his life. [9]
95 Jimmy C. Newman August 4, 1956
96 George Jones August 25, 1956
97 Rose Maddox September 29, 1956
98 Stonewall Jackson November 3, 1956Filed age discrimination case in 2006 and membership was temporarily revoked. His case was settled and he returned from 2008 until his 2012 retirement due to vascular dementia; he remained a standing member until his death. [10]
99 The Wilburn Brothers November 10, 1956Briefly members in 1940, the child stars could not legally work in Tennessee and had to wait until adulthood to officially rejoin.
100 Wilma Lee Cooper January 12, 1957
101 Porter Wagoner February 23, 1957
102 Rusty† & Doug May 18, 1957Departed prior to the duo's breakup in 1963.
103 The Everly Brothers 1957Disowned the Opry and dissolved their membership in 1960.
104 Margie Bowes 1958
105 Archie Campbell 1958
106 Don Gibson May 20, 1958
107Ben Smathers and the Stoney Mountain CloggersSeptember 13, 1958Merged with the Melvin Sloan Dancers in 1990 (now the Opry Square Dancers - see No. 80, above).
108 Billy Grammer February 27, 1959
109 Roy Drusky June 13, 1959
110 Skeeter Davis August 4, 1959

1960s

Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press playing the Opry. Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press.jpg
Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press playing the Opry.
Opry star Connie Smith performing in 2007. Connie Smith Opry 2.jpg
Opry star Connie Smith performing in 2007.
Jeannie Seely was the first woman to host a segment of the Opry and has appeared more times than any other performer--over 5,000 times in 55 years. Jeannie Seely (3469996552).jpg
Jeannie Seely was the first woman to host a segment of the Opry and has appeared more times than any other performer—over 5,000 times in 55 years.
No.NameInduction dateNotes
111 Jimmy Driftwood
112 Tompall and the Glaser Brothers Last performance was in 1990.
113 Bobby Lord 1960
114 Billy Walker January 1, 1960
115 Patsy Cline January 9, 1960
116 George Hamilton IV February 6, 1960
117 Hank Locklin November 12, 1960
118 Bill Anderson July 15, 1961With 63 years of continuous service as of July 2024, Anderson is the longest-serving member in the Opry's history. [11]
119 Loretta Lynn September 25, 1962
120 Leroy Van Dyke October 20, 1962Membership lapsed prior to 1998; still makes occasional appearances.
121 Sonny James October 27, 1962
122 Marion Worth 1963
123 The Browns August 17, 1963 Jim Ed Brown continued to hold Opry membership from the group's breakup in 1967 until his 2015 death.
124 Jim & Jesse March 2, 1964Represented by Jesse McReynolds from Jim's death in 2002 until his own death in 2023.
125 Ernie Ashworth March 7, 1964
126 The Osborne Brothers August 8, 1964Represented by Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top X-Press from Sonny Osborne's retirement in 2005 until Bobby Osborne's death in 2023.
127 Dottie West August 8, 1964
128 Willie Nelson November 28, 1964Resigned his membership in 1972 after relocating to Texas.
129 Norma Jean January 9, 1965Mostly retired from the music industry after 1973.
130 Tex Ritter June 12, 1965
131 Connie Smith August 21, 1965
132 Bob Luman September 18, 1965
133 Ray Pillow April 30, 1966Did not perform in the later years of his life, but remained a standing member until his 2023 death.
134 Del Reeves October 14, 1966
135The Four GuysApril 22, 1967Disbanded in 1999. An attempt to continue the group's membership with a new lineup was rejected by Opry management, and the group was formally expelled in 2000. [12]
136 Stu Phillips June 1, 1967Hasn't performed in recent years; still a standing member.
137 Charlie Walker August 19, 1967
138 Jeannie Seely September 16, 1967As of 2022, Seely has performed more than 5,000 times on the Opry–more than anyone else in the show's history. [13]
139 Jack Greene December 27, 1967Greene had already been a de facto member as part of Ernest Tubb's band since 1962.
140 Dolly Parton January 4, 1969
141 Tammy Wynette January 4, 1969

1970s

Jan Howard performing at the Opry in 2007. After the death of Little Jimmy Dickens in 2015, Howard was the oldest member of the Opry cast until her death in 2020. Jan Howard.jpg
Jan Howard performing at the Opry in 2007. After the death of Little Jimmy Dickens in 2015, Howard was the oldest member of the Opry cast until her death in 2020.
No.NameInduction dateNotes
142 Tom T. Hall January 1, 1971Retired since 1996 but remained a standing member until his death.
143 Jan Howard March 27, 1971
144 Freddie Hart October 16, 1971
145 Barbara Mandrell July 29, 1972Retired since 1997, but still listed as a standing member. [14] Mandrell made a one-off, non-singing appearance in 2022. [15]
146 David Houston August 12, 1972
147 Jeanne Pruett July 21, 1973Retired since 2006, but still listed as a standing member.
148 Jerry Clower October 27, 1973
149 Ronnie Milsap February 6, 1976Retired in October 2023; [16] still a standing member.
150 Don Williams April 23, 1976
151 Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin BrothersDecember 25, 1976

1980s

Riders in the Sky have been Opry members and frequent performers since 1982. Riders in the Sky in Ponca City.jpg
Riders in the Sky have been Opry members and frequent performers since 1982.
Patty Loveless performing on the Opry in 2007. Patty Loveless (3470011524).jpg
Patty Loveless performing on the Opry in 2007.
No.NameInduction dateNotes
152 John Conlee [17] February 7, 1981
153 Boxcar Willie February 21, 1981
154 B. J. Thomas [18] August 7, 1981Full-time membership lapsed prior to 1998; continued to make occasional appearances until his death.
155 Ricky Skaggs [19] May 15, 1982
156 Riders in the Sky [20] June 19, 1982
157 The Whites [21] March 2, 1984
158 Lorrie Morgan [22] June 9, 1984
159 Johnny Russell [23] July 6, 1985
160 Mel McDaniel [2] January 11, 1986
161 Reba McEntire [24] January 17, 1986
162 Randy Travis [25] December 20, 1986Retired from singing due to a 2013 stroke; still a standing member, he makes occasional appearances.
163 Roy Clark [26] August 22, 1987
164 Ricky Van Shelton [27] June 10, 1988Retired in 2006; still officially a standing member.
165 Patty Loveless [28] June 11, 1988Retired from full-time performing in 2009; performs on the Opry stage occasionally
Keith Whitley May 1989 (scheduled)Whitley is the only person to be posthumously recognized as a former member, without ever having been an active member. Whitley died on May 9, 1989, three weeks before a scheduled Opry appearance where he was due to be invited to join the cast. As the Opry has a policy only inducting living artists as members, the plan was scrapped.
During a Keith Whitley tribute show at the Opry on October 14, 2023, Garth Brooks presented Whitley's widow, Opry member Lorrie Morgan, with a replica Opry member plaque engraved with Whitley's name, identical to those hanging in the Opry's member gallery backstage. [29]
166 Holly Dunn [2] October 14, 1989Retired in 2003 and died in 2016.

1990s

Mike Snider performing on the Opry in 2007 Mike Snider crop.jpg
Mike Snider performing on the Opry in 2007
No.NameInduction dateInvited byInducted byNotes
167 Mike Snider [30] June 2, 1990 Minnie Pearl
168 Garth Brooks [31] October 6, 1990 Johnny Russell
169 Clint Black [32] January 10, 1991 Garth Brooks
170 Alan Jackson [33] June 7, 1991 Roy Acuff and Randy Travis
171 Vince Gill [34] August 10, 1991 Roy Acuff
172 Emmylou Harris [35] January 25, 1992
173 Travis Tritt [36] February 29, 1992
174 Marty Stuart [37] November 28, 1992
175 Charley Pride [38] May 1, 1993 Jimmy C. Newman
176 Alison Krauss [39] July 3, 1993 Garth Brooks
177 Joe Diffie November 27, 1993
178 Hal Ketchum January 22, 1994 Little Jimmy Dickens
179 Martina McBride [40] November 30, 1995 Loretta Lynn
180 Steve Wariner May 11, 1996Bob Whittaker
181 Johnny Paycheck [2] 1997Bob Whittaker Porter Wagoner and Johnny Russell
182 Diamond Rio April 18, 1998Bob Whittaker Little Jimmy Dickens Gene Johnson & Brian Prout retired in 2022, and were replaced by Micah Schweinsberg and Carson McKee
183 Trisha Yearwood [41] March 13, 1999 Ricky Skaggs Porter Wagoner

2000s

Carrie Underwood singing at the Opry in 2018 Carrie Underwood, Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, TN, June 2018.jpg
Carrie Underwood singing at the Opry in 2018
1961 inductee Bill Anderson, the Opry's longest-tenured active member as of 2021, inducts his friend Mel Tillis into the Opry in 2007. Mel Tillis Asked to Join Opry (3460914437).jpg
1961 inductee Bill Anderson, the Opry's longest-tenured active member as of 2021, inducts his friend Mel Tillis into the Opry in 2007.
No.NameInduction dateInvited byInducted byNotes
184 Pam Tillis [42] August 26, 2000 Little Jimmy Dickens Marty Stuart
185 Brad Paisley [43] February 17, 2001 Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely and Little Jimmy Dickens Steve Wariner
186 Trace Adkins [44] August 23, 2003 Little Jimmy Dickens Ronnie Milsap and Lorrie Morgan
187 Del McCoury [45] October 25, 2003 Patty Loveless
188 Terri Clark [46] June 12, 2004 Steve Wariner Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, and Patty Loveless
189 Dierks Bentley [47] October 1, 2005 Marty Stuart Bentley had previously been banned from the Opry for trespassing during his days as an employee for TNN. The ban was lifted in 2003. [48]
190 Mel Tillis [49] June 9, 2007 Bill Anderson Pam Tillis
191 Josh Turner [50] October 27, 2007 Roy Clark Vince Gill
192 Charlie Daniels [51] January 19, 2008 Martina McBride Marty Stuart and Connie Smith
193 Carrie Underwood [52] May 10, 2008 Randy Travis Garth Brooks
194 Craig Morgan [53] October 25, 2008 John Conlee
195 Montgomery Gentry [54] June 23, 2009 Charlie Daniels Marty Stuart and Little Jimmy Dickens Eddie Montgomery has represented the duo as a solo performer since Troy Gentry's 2017 death.

2010s

Old Crow Medicine Show performing at their induction in 2013 Old Crow Medicine Show at the Grand Ole Opry 23 February 2013.JPG
Old Crow Medicine Show performing at their induction in 2013
Bobby Bare was a member from 1964 to 1974, then rejoined in 2018. Bobby Bare at the Grand Ole Opry (2).jpg
Bobby Bare was a member from 1964 to 1974, then rejoined in 2018.
No.NameInduction dateInvited byInducted byNotes
196 Blake Shelton [55] October 23, 2010 Trace Adkins Shelton was invited to join the cast during the Opry's first show at the Grand Ole Opry House following nearly five months of flood remediation.
197 The Oak Ridge Boys [3] August 6, 2011 Little Jimmy Dickens Three of the four inducted members remain, after Joe Bonsall retired from touring with the group due to mobility issues at the end of 2023 and later died in 2024. [56]
198 Rascal Flatts [57] October 8, 2011 Vince Gill Little Jimmy Dickens The group disbanded in 2021 and reformed in 2024, and were still listed as active members during their hiatus. Lead singer Gary LeVox regularly appeared on behalf of the group during that time; Jay DeMarcus appeared with his new band, Generation Radio. [58]
199 Keith Urban [59] April 21, 2012 Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts, and The Oak Ridge Boys Trace Adkins and Josh Turner
200 Darius Rucker [60] October 16, 2012 Brad Paisley Vince Gill and Keith Urban
201 Old Crow Medicine Show [61] September 17, 2013 Marty Stuart Marty Stuart and Dierks Bentley Only Ketch Secor, Morgan Jahnig, and Cory Younts remain from the band's roster on its induction date
202 Little Big Town [62] October 17, 2014 Reba McEntire Vince Gill and Little Jimmy Dickens
203 Crystal Gayle [63] January 21, 2017 Carrie Underwood Loretta Lynn
204 Dailey & Vincent [64] March 11, 2017 Marty Stuart Old Crow Medicine Show and Jeannie Seely
205 Chris Young [65] October 17, 2017 Vince Gill Brad Paisley
206 Chris Janson [66] March 20, 2018 Keith Urban Garth Brooks
207 Bobby Bare [67] April 7, 2018 Garth Brooks Original induction date was August 14, 1964. Membership lapsed 1974. Inducted again by Brooks in 2018.
208 Dustin Lynch [68] September 18, 2018 Trace Adkins Reba McEntire
209 Mark Wills [69] January 11, 2019 Vince Gill Craig Morgan
210 Kelsea Ballerini [70] April 16, 2019 Little Big Town Carrie Underwood
211 Luke Combs [71] July 16, 2019 Craig Morgan, Chris Janson, and John Conlee Joe Diffie and Vince Gill

2020s

Gene Watson, the sole new member in 2020, performing on the Opry in 2007 Gene Watson 2007.jpg
Gene Watson, the sole new member in 2020, performing on the Opry in 2007
No.NameInduction dateInvited byInducted byNotes
212 Gene Watson [72] February 7, 2020 Vince Gill Steve Wariner
213 Lady A January 21, 2021 Darius Rucker Inducted immediately upon invitation, as part of a filming of NBC’s 2021 special, Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music [73]
214 Rhonda Vincent [74] February 6, 2021 [75] Jeannie Seely Dierks Bentley Delayed from her originally scheduled March 24, 2020 induction date due to the Coronavirus pandemic
215 Carly Pearce August 3, 2021 Dolly Parton Trisha Yearwood Pearce was recording a fake advertisement for Dollywood when Parton appeared and surprised her with the invitation. [76]
216 The Isaacs September 14, 2021 Ricky Skaggs The Whites and Ricky Skaggs
217 Mandy Barnett November 2, 2021 Connie Smith Marty Stuart and Connie Smith
218 Lauren Alaina February 12, 2022 Trisha Yearwood Dolly Parton delivered a recorded video message as part of the induction ceremony
219 Jamey Johnson May 14, 2022 [77] Bill Anderson
220 Charlie McCoy [78] July 13, 2022 [79] Vince Gill Larry Gatlin In a first for the Opry, Vince Gill extended two separate invitations during the same show when, on June 11, 2022, he first invited McCoy and then returned to invite Schlitz.
221 Don Schlitz [80] August 30, 2022 [81] Vince Gill and Randy Travis
222 Ashley McBryde [82] December 10, 2022 [83] Garth Brooks Terri Clark McBryde was appearing on CBS Mornings in its New York studio when she received the invitation via a live video feed from Brooks on the Opry stage in Nashville. [84]
223 Henry Cho February 11, 2023 Marty Stuart Vince Gill, Don Schlitz, John Conlee, Ben Isaacs and Steve Wariner Stuart was discussing comedy's role in the Opry's history with Cho and Mule Deer backstage before the January 6, 2023 show on a Facebook Live video when he extended the invitation to them simultaneously. [85]
224 Gary Mule Deer March 10, 2023 Vince Gill, Henry Cho, Jeannie Seely, Rudy Gatlin and John Conlee
225 Sara Evans October 7, 2023 Bill Anderson, Carly Pearce and Lady A Crystal Gayle Anderson invited Evans during her "Still Restless - The 20-Year Celebration" concert and livestream at Ryman Auditorium. Pearce & Lady A joined him on stage for the invitation. [86]
226 Jon Pardi October 24, 2023
[87]
Alan Jackson Garth Brooks Jackson delivered the invitation via video during Pardi's performance at the 2023 Stagecoach Festival with on-stage help from Guy Fieri. [88]
227 Scotty McCreery April 20, 2024
[89]
Garth Brooks Josh Turner and Randy Travis
228 T. Graham Brown May 3, 2024 [90] Vince Gill Vince Gill, Jeannie Seely, Mark Wills, The Isaacs, and John Conlee Gill extended the invitation during a guest appearance on Brown's SiriusXM radio show.


229 Lainey Wilson June 7, 2024 Reba McEntire Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood McEntire invited Wilson during the Season 25 finale of The Voice. [91]
230 Steven Curtis Chapman November 1, 2024 [92] Ricky Skaggs Lady A

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Amanda Carol Barnett is an American country music singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy C. Newman</span> American country music singer-songwriter (1927–2014)

Jimmy Yves Newman, better known as Jimmy C. Newman, was an American country music and cajun singer-songwriter and long-time star of the Grand Ole Opry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Ashworth</span> American country singer-songwriter (1928–2009)

Ernest Bert Ashworth was an American country music singer, broadcaster, and longtime Grand Ole Opry star. Signed to the Hickory label, he recorded two studio albums in his career and charted several singles on Billboard Hot Country Songs, including the number one "Talk Back Trembling Lips" and seven other top ten hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Walker (musician)</span> American country singer-songwriter (1926–2008)

Charles Levi Walker was an American country musician. His biggest success was with the song, "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Schlitz</span> American country singer-songwriter

Donald Allen Schlitz Jr. is an American songwriter who has written more than twenty number one hits on the country music charts. He is best known for his song "The Gambler", and as the co-writer of "Forever and Ever, Amen", and "When You Say Nothing at All". For his songwriting efforts, Schlitz has earned two Grammy Awards, and four ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonya Isaacs</span> American singer-songwriter

Sonya Melissa Isaacs is an American country, bluegrass gospel and Christian music singer. Isaacs grew up near Morrow, Ohio, and graduated from Little Miami High School in 1992. Her maternal grandparents are Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors and were liberated from a concentration camp in Germany in 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Alaina</span> American singer and songwriter

Lauren Alaina Kristine Suddeth is an American singer and songwriter from Rossville, Georgia. She was the runner-up on the tenth season of American Idol. Her debut studio album, Wildflower, was released on October 11, 2011. Her second album, Road Less Traveled, was released January 27, 2017. Alaina later achieved her first number one on the Country Airplay chart with the album's title track. Her second number one came later that year when she simultaneously topped five Billboard charts with her friend and former classmate Kane Brown on their duet "What Ifs". In addition to this song with Brown, Alaina became an in-demand duet vocalist throughout the next few years, appearing on number one collaborations with Hardy, Devin Dawson, and Dustin Lynch. Her third studio album, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World, was released on September 3, 2021.

Mary Sarah Gross, known professionally by her stage name Mary Sarah, is a country music singer and songwriter. She started her career with performances local to her region, before being picked up by Kidz Bop in 2007. After leaving them, she continued with local and regional performances before releasing Crazy Good in 2010. Her second album, Bridges, followed in 2014, and included duets with several high-profile country music stars. A third album, Dress Up This Town, followed a year later, and she has performed at the Grand Ole Opry and was featured on The Voice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley McBryde</span> American singer-songwriter

Ashley Dyan McBryde is an American country music singer–songwriter. She grew up in Arkansas and she was drawn to various types of music from a young age. She also developed a passion for writing songs and later moved to Nashville to pursue a music career.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2021.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2023.

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  78. @opry (June 11, 2022). "BREAKING: @VGcom has just invited Charlie McCoy to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  79. @opry (July 13, 2022). "Charlie McCoy is officially the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry! https://t.co/LtXaRa3Uf5" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  80. @opry (June 11, 2022). "BREAKING: @VGcom has also just invited Don Schlitz to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  81. @opry (August 12, 2022). "You're invited! Join us for @don_schlitz's Grand Ole Opry member induction on Tuesday, August 30th!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  82. @opry (October 6, 2022). "BREAKING: @garthbrooks has just invited @AshleyMcBryde to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on @CBSMornings live from the circle!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  83. @Opry (October 21, 2022). "Be part of @AshleyMcBryde's induction during a special two-show evening on Dec. 10!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  84. @CBSMornings (October 6, 2022). "Only on #CBSMornings, two-time Grammy-winner @garthbrooks just surprised singer-songwriter @AshleyMcBryde with an invitation to join the "longest-living family in music history," at the @opry!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  85. @opry (January 7, 2023). "BREAKING: @martystuarthq invited @henrychocomedy and @GaryMuleDeer to become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry earlier tonight on a special Opry Facebook Live! Welcome to the family, Henry and Gary!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
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  88. @opry (April 29, 2023). "BREAKING: @OfficialJackson has just invited @JonPardi to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry via video at @Stagecoach!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  89. @Opry (February 15, 2024). "You don't have to wait 5 more minutes..." (Tweet) via Twitter.
  90. @Opry (March 29, 2024). "Someone tell "Darlene"! @TGrahamBrown is joining the Opry family on May 3rd!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
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  92. @StevenCurtis (September 14, 2024). "It's official! I'm blown away and so honored to get to announce that I will be joining the Grand Ole @opry family on November 1st!" (Tweet) via Twitter.