George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Tanya Tucker, Morgan Wallen and Luke Bryan all share something in common that might surprise you. None of these country superstars are members of the Grand Ole Opry.
Neither are Brooks & Dunn, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Willie Nelson or Eric Church.
Membership to the Grand Ole Opry is by invitation only and according to the Grand Ole Opry website, it’s decided on by the show’s management. Invitations are extended to those who exemplify all the standards of success in country music including radio airplay, recorded music sales, touring success, industry recognition. The Opry considers career accomplishments and fan interaction as well as the potential for continued success.
What to know: What does it mean to be invited to join the Opry? Do members pay dues?
Opry membership comes with some stipulations
Many of the names not included in the Opry’s list of 75 current members seem to possess all the necessary characteristics, yet they are still not members. Some, like George Strait, have been invited but declined membership. Others, such as Miranda Lambert, have yet to receive an invitation.
There are a few requirements that come along with membership including performing at the Opry regularly, at least 10 times a year, to maintain active membership. Members do not have to pay membership dues and are paid a nominal fee for each live performance.
Is the requirement to play the Opry regularly a deal-breaker for some acts? Possibly.
The Opry website further explains that it takes more than superstardom to receive an invitation. Instead, Opry management looks for musical and generational balance, stating: “Opry membership requires a passion for country music’s fans, a connection to the music’s history, and a commitment — even a willingness to make significant sacrifices to uphold that commitment. Often, the Opry seeks out those who seek out the Opry, though decisions aren’t based on which artists appear most on the show, either.”
Who are the members of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry?
The list of Grand Ole Opry members reflects the current landscape of country music, featuring both emerging artists and established, household names. Members include:
Melonee Hurt covers music and music business at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at [email protected] or on Instagram at @MelHurtWrites.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why is George Strait not an Opry member? Country stars not on the list
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
