<\/a><\/p>\n The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry in a brand new exhibit, \u201cThe Grandest Stage: The Opry at 100,\u201d which opens Sept. 18.<\/p>\n The exhibit will examine notable performers and key moments in the history of the show, the longest-running radio show in the world that has entertained and enthralled millions throughout its history.\u00a0The Opry has endured despite many challenges, including damage from a catastrophic flood in 2010 and the COVID-19 pandemic. It became the most-watched live music program during the pandemic, continuing its broadcasts from an empty auditorium for seven months.<\/p>\n Historic instruments,\u00a0clothing, photos, and other artifacts will be featured in the new exhibit, including a\u00a0wooden steamboat whistle used by the Opry\u2019s founder and longtime announcer, George D. Hay<\/strong>; a 16-inch, metal-based acetate disc containing the first performance of \u201cThe Prince Albert Show,\u201d the segment of the Opry broadcast over the NBC radio network in October 1939; Country Music Hall of Fame member Minnie Pearl<\/strong>\u2019s straw hat worn at her Opry debut in 1940; Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba McEntire<\/strong>\u2019s custom-made boots modeled after a pair worn by Patsy Cline<\/strong>\u00a0which McEntire wore when making her Opry debut in September 1977; and much more.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Opry\u2019s status as America\u2019s leading country music radio show, from the 1940s into the 1960s, made possible Nashville\u2019s emergence as the undisputed center of the country music industry,\u201d says Kyle Young<\/strong>, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. \u201cThis exhibit will survey the enduring history of the program, which has survived a century of evolutions in country music and popular culture, major challenges from new media and sources of entertainment, a catastrophic flood and a crippling pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs country music continues to expand globally, the Opry has stood as its heart for a century,\u201d says Patrick Moore<\/strong>, CEO of Opry Entertainment Group. \u201cIt\u2019s the birthplace of traditions and stories that define Nashville\u2019s unique imprint on the genre. We\u2019re honored to be the subject of this exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, showcasing why the Opry is not only a Nashville landmark but also a cherished touchstone for fans worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n To mark the exhibit opening, the museum will host a panel discussion on Sept. 18 with\u00a0Vince Gill, Carly Pearce<\/strong> and senior vice president and executive producer of the Grand Ole Opry\u00a0Dan Rogers. Paul Kingsbury,<\/strong> the museum\u2019s senior director of editorial and interpretation, will moderate the discussion. The program will take place at 2 p.m. in the museum\u2019s Ford Theater, and tickets will be available on the museum\u2019s website<\/a> on Aug. 22.<\/p>\n The Opry began on Nov. 28, 1925, when Nashville radio station WSM aired a performance by 78-year-old fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson. Inspired by the public\u2019s enthusiastic response, the station\u2019s program director George D. Hay created a weekly barn dance featuring local folk performers, which tapped into America\u2019s deep vein of folk music and set the stage for what would become country music\u2019s most beloved and enduring institution.\u00a0\u201cThe Prince Albert Show,\u201d a segment of the Opry that debuted over the NBC radio network in 1939, expanded the Opry\u2019s reach and created a national audience of millions.<\/p>\n By the 1940s, the Opry became famous for its singing stars and comedians, helping launch the careers of Country Music Hall of Fame members Roy Acuff, Eddy Arnold, Minnie Pearl, Bill Monroe, Ernest Tubb<\/strong> and others. Many artists relocated to Nashville for regular Opry appearances, which led to the city becoming a permanent home for the business of country music. over its long history, the Opry has featured country\u2019s biggest stars among its cast, including Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Scotty McCreery, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Country Music Hall of Fame members DeFord Bailey, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Vince Gill, Bill Monroe, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Hank Williams and many others.<\/p>\n
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