This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, and every show is a part of the celebration.
Opry 100, the year-long event, is a celebration of the iconic institution’s 100th anniversary, saturated with country stars, tribute performances and surprise guests. Each show for the event is a birthday show, with the official 100th birthday performance taking place on Nov. 28.
“The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating our 100th Birthday in 2025,” the Opry’s website states. “All year long, we’re featuring bigger shows, bolder moments, huge stars, and surprise guests as we kick off in the next era of country music.”
Here is a little history of the Opry before the party is over.
Who opened the Grand Ole Opry?
The Grand Ole Opry wasn’t always the showcase it is today. When the show began in 1925, a founder of National Life and Accident Insurance Company convinced the organization to launch a radio station. The station WSM went live for the first time on Oct. 5, 1925, according to the Opry.
A month after the first show aired, George D. Hay, an announcer and program director known for his National Barn Dance program at WLS in Chicago, was brought in and launched the WSM Barn Dance on Nov. 28, 1925. This is what many consider to be the beginning of the Grand Ole Opry.
Who owns the Grand Ole Opry?
Today, the Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties, which collaborates with NBCUniversal and Atairos.
In 2022, NBCUniversal and Atairos acquired a 30% stake in the Grand Ole Opry and its parent company, Opry Entertainment Group. This partnership enables NBCUniversal’s television channels to broadcast a variety of specials featuring the Grand Ole Opry, enhancing the reach and visibility of this iconic music venue.
When the shares were first acquired, the two companies pledged to invest $293 million into the Opry Entertainment Group. The transaction valued the OEG at $1.4 billion in 2022.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who owns the Grand Ole Opry now? What to know amid 100th anniversary
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