List of Grand Ole Opry members
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.
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 ), and one is a non-country musician (Steven Curtis Chapman , who sings contemporary Christian music ). Twelve duos and groups hold membership. Among them, three (Montgomery Gentry , The Oak Ridge Boys , and The Whites ) 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, 232 acts have held Opry membership. The oldest living member (although retired) is Stu Phillips , born in 1933; the youngest is Lauren Alaina , born in 1994. Bill Anderson is the oldest living active member, the longest-serving current 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 oldest living woman as well as 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.
No.
Name
Induction date
Notes
1
Uncle Jimmy Thompson †
November 28, 1925
2
Humphrey Bate †
January 2, 1926
3
Henry Bandy†
March 13, 1926
4
The McGee Brothers†
1926
5
Mazy Todd†
April 3, 1926
6
Uncle Dave Macon †
April 17, 1926
7
The Pikard Family†
May 8, 1926
8
Deford Bailey †
June 19, 1926
9
The Crook Brothers†
July 24, 1926
Herman 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 Daughters†
November 13, 1926
13
Arthur Smith †
July 16, 1927
14
The Fruit Jar Drinkers†
December 17, 1927
15
The Gully Jumpers †
December 24, 1927
16
Kitty Cora Cline†
March 24, 1928
17
Ed Poplin and his Barn Dance Orchestra†
April 21, 1928
18
Uncle Joe Mangrum and Fred Schriver†
July 30, 1928
1930s
1938 inductee Roy Acuff , singer and publisher, was the public face of the Opry from the 1970s until his death.
No.
Name
Induction date
Notes
19
Ford Rush†
20
Hilltop Harmonizers†
21
Nap and Dee†
22
The Vagabonds†
September 5, 1931
23
Asher and Little Jimmy Sizemore†
September 24, 1932
24
Curly Fox †
September 24, 1932
25
Zeke Clements †
September 24, 1932
26
The Delmore Brothers †
April 29, 1933
27
Robert Lunn†
March 31, 1934
28
Lee White †
April 21, 1934
29
Sarie and Sally†
January 26, 1935
30
Jack Shook and his Missouri Mountaineers†
February 2, 1935
31
The Lakeland Sisters†
January 23, 1937
32
Bob Wills †
May 22, 1937
33
Pee Wee King †
June 27, 1937
34
Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys†
February 9, 1938
Left the Opry in 1946 and returned in the early 1960s. Bashful Brother Oswald represented the Smoky Mountain Boys after Acuff's 1992 death, and was given his own formal induction in 1995.[ 2]
35
Cousin Jody†
36
Jamup and Honey†
January 7, 1939
37
Bill Monroe †
October 28, 1939
1940s
Little Jimmy Dickens was an Opry member for 67 years.
Hank Williams Sr. and The Drifting Cowboys were Opry members from 1949 to 1952.
No.
Name
Induction date
Notes
38
Danny Dill †
39
Johnnie and Jack †
40
Milton Estes and his Musical Millers †
41
Old Hickory Singers †
42
Minnie Pearl †
November 30, 1940
43
The Duke of Paducah †
1942
44
John Daniel Quartet†
1942
Included 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
49
The Bailes Brothers†
1944
50
The DeZurik Sisters †
1944
51
The Poe Sisters†
June 17, 1944
52
Rod Brasfield †
July 15, 1944
53
David "Stringbean" Akeman †
1945
54
Lew Childre Sr.†
1945
55
Bradley Kincaid †
1945
56
Wally Fowler and The Oak Ridge Quintet †
January 27, 1945
Fowler 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 served as "The Oak Ridge Boys" for the next 50 years. 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
62
Paul Howard and the Arkansas Cotton Pickers†
1947
63
George Morgan †
September 25, 1948
64
Little Jimmy Dickens †
November 6, 1948
Membership lapsed from 1957 to 1975
65
Jordanaires †
1949
Membership 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, 1949
Dismissed 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.
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.
Name
Induction date
Notes
67
Chet Atkins †
1950
68
Kitty Wells †
1952
69
Hawkshaw Hawkins †
June 1955
70
Goldie Hill †
August 22, 1953
71
The Ladells†
1955
72
Red Sovine †
1955
73
Ray Price †
1951
74
Hank Snow †
January 7, 1950
Inducted by Ernest Tubb
75
Carl Smith †
April 29, 1950
Relinquished membership in 1956 following his divorce from June Carter .
76
The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle †
May 13, 1950
Billed 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
80
Opry Square Dancers (sui generis )
July 5, 1952
Originally 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, 1955
Ira 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, 1956
Expelled 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, 1956
Filed 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, 1956
Briefly 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, 1957
Departed prior to the duo's breakup in 1963.
103
The Everly Brothers †
1957
Disowned the Opry and dissolved their membership in 1960.
104
Margie Bowes †
1958
105
Archie Campbell †
1958
106
Don Gibson †
May 20, 1958
107
Ben Smathers and the Stoney Mountain Cloggers†
September 13, 1958
Merged 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.
Bill Anderson , the longest serving member in Opry history, performing in 2022.
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.
No.
Name
Induction date
Notes
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, 1961
With 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, 1962
Membership 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, 1964
Represented 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, 1964
Represented 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, 1964
Resigned his membership in 1972 after relocating to Texas.
129
Norma Jean
January 9, 1965
Mostly 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, 1966
Did not perform in the later years of his life, but remained a standing member until his 2023 death.
134
Del Reeves †
October 14, 1966
135
The Four Guys
April 22, 1967
Disbanded in 1999. An attempt to continue the group's membership with a new lineup was rejected by Opry management, who had been at a loss to explain how a band with no hit records had managed to get inducted into the Opry in the first place,[ 2] and the group was formally expelled in 2000.[ 12]
136
Stu Phillips
June 1, 1967
Hasn't performed in recent years; still a standing member.
137
Charlie Walker †
August 19, 1967
138
Jeannie Seely
September 16, 1967
As 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, 1967
Greene 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.
No.
Name
Induction date
Notes
142
Tom T. Hall †
January 1, 1971
Retired 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, 1972
Retired 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, 1973
Retired since 2006, but still listed as a standing member.
148
Jerry Clower †
October 27, 1973
149
Ronnie Milsap
February 6, 1976
Retired in October 2023;[ 16] still a standing member.
150
Don Williams †
April 23, 1976
151
Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
December 25, 1976
1980s
Riders in the Sky have been Opry members and frequent performers since 1982.
Patty Loveless performing on the Opry in 2007.
No.
Name
Induction date
Notes
152
John Conlee [ 17]
February 7, 1981
153
Boxcar Willie †
February 21, 1981
154
B. J. Thomas † [ 18]
August 7, 1981
Full-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
Patriarch Buck White died on January 13, 2025
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
McEntire was invited during the Opry's 60th anniversary television special.
162
Randy Travis [ 25]
December 20, 1986
Retired 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, 1988
Retired in 2006; still officially a standing member.
165
Patty Loveless [ 28]
June 11, 1988
Retired 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, 1989
Retired in 2003 and died in 2016.
1990s
Mike Snider performing on the Opry in 2007
No.
Name
Induction date
Invited by
Inducted by
Notes
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
Black was invited during the Opry's 65th anniversary television special.[ 2]
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
Bashful Brother Oswald † [ 40]
January 21, 1995
Marty Stuart
Oswald was a de facto Opry member as the last original member of Roy Acuff's backing band, The Smoky Mountain Boys. Following Acuff's death in November 1992, Oswald assumed leadership of the band as it continued performing on Opry shows, leading to his formal induction just over two years later.
180
Martina McBride [ 41]
November 30, 1995
Loretta Lynn
181
Steve Wariner
May 11, 1996
Bob Whittaker
182
Johnny Paycheck † [ 2]
1997
Bob Whittaker
Porter Wagoner and Johnny Russell
183
Diamond Rio
April 18, 1998
Bob Whittaker
Little Jimmy Dickens
Gene Johnson & Brian Prout retired in 2022, and were replaced by Micah Schweinsberg and Carson McKee
184
Trisha Yearwood [ 42]
March 13, 1999
Ricky Skaggs
Porter Wagoner
2000s
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.
No.
Name
Induction date
Invited by
Inducted by
Notes
185
Ralph Stanley † [ 43]
January 15, 2000
Patty Loveless and Porter Wagoner
186
Pam Tillis [ 44]
August 26, 2000
Little Jimmy Dickens
Marty Stuart
187
Brad Paisley [ 45]
February 17, 2001
Bill Anderson , Jeannie Seely and Little Jimmy Dickens
Steve Wariner
188
Trace Adkins [ 46]
August 23, 2003
Little Jimmy Dickens
Ronnie Milsap and Lorrie Morgan
189
Del McCoury [ 47]
October 25, 2003
Patty Loveless
190
Terri Clark [ 48]
June 12, 2004
Steve Wariner
Marty Stuart , Pam Tillis , and Patty Loveless
191
Dierks Bentley [ 49]
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.[ 50]
192
Mel Tillis † [ 51]
June 9, 2007
Bill Anderson
Pam Tillis
193
Josh Turner [ 52]
October 27, 2007
Roy Clark
Vince Gill
194
Charlie Daniels † [ 53]
January 19, 2008
Martina McBride
Marty Stuart and Connie Smith
195
Carrie Underwood [ 54]
May 10, 2008
Randy Travis
Garth Brooks
196
Craig Morgan [ 55]
October 25, 2008
John Conlee
197
Montgomery Gentry ‡ [ 56]
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
Bobby Bare was a member from 1964 to 1974, then rejoined in 2018.
No.
Name
Induction date
Invited by
Inducted by
Notes
198
Blake Shelton [ 57]
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 .
199
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.[ 58]
200
Rascal Flatts [ 59]
October 8, 2011
Vince Gill
Little Jimmy Dickens
Disbanded from 2020 to 2024; Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus continued to appear separately and maintain the group's membership in that span.[ 60]
201
Keith Urban [ 61]
April 21, 2012
Vince Gill , Rascal Flatts , and The Oak Ridge Boys
Trace Adkins and Josh Turner
202
Darius Rucker [ 62]
October 16, 2012
Brad Paisley
Vince Gill and Keith Urban
203
Old Crow Medicine Show [ 63]
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
204
Little Big Town [ 64]
October 17, 2014
Reba McEntire
Vince Gill and Little Jimmy Dickens
205
Crystal Gayle [ 65]
January 21, 2017
Carrie Underwood
Loretta Lynn
206
Dailey & Vincent [ 66]
March 11, 2017
Marty Stuart
Old Crow Medicine Show and Jeannie Seely
207
Chris Young [ 67]
October 17, 2017
Vince Gill
Brad Paisley
208
Chris Janson [ 68]
March 20, 2018
Keith Urban
Garth Brooks
209
Bobby Bare [ 69]
April 7, 2018
Garth Brooks
Original induction date was August 14, 1964. Membership lapsed 1974. Inducted again by Brooks in 2018.
210
Dustin Lynch [ 70]
September 18, 2018
Trace Adkins
Reba McEntire
211
Mark Wills [ 71]
January 11, 2019
Vince Gill
Craig Morgan
212
Kelsea Ballerini [ 72]
April 16, 2019
Little Big Town
Carrie Underwood
213
Luke Combs [ 73]
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
No.
Name
Induction date
Invited by
Inducted by
Notes
214
Gene Watson [ 74]
February 7, 2020
Vince Gill
Steve Wariner
215
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 [ 75]
216
Rhonda Vincent [ 76]
February 6, 2021[ 77]
Jeannie Seely
Dierks Bentley
Delayed from her originally scheduled March 24, 2020 induction date due to the Coronavirus pandemic
217
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.[ 78]
218
The Isaacs
September 14, 2021
Ricky Skaggs
The Whites and Ricky Skaggs
219
Mandy Barnett
November 2, 2021
Connie Smith
Marty Stuart and Connie Smith
220
Lauren Alaina
February 12, 2022
Trisha Yearwood
Dolly Parton delivered a recorded video message as part of the induction ceremony
221
Jamey Johnson
May 14, 2022[ 79]
Bill Anderson
222
Charlie McCoy [ 80]
July 13, 2022[ 81]
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.
223
Don Schlitz [ 82]
August 30, 2022[ 83]
Vince Gill and Randy Travis
224
Ashley McBryde [ 84]
December 10, 2022[ 85]
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.[ 86]
225
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.[ 87]
226
Gary Mule Deer
March 10, 2023
Vince Gill , Henry Cho , Jeannie Seely , Rudy Gatlin and John Conlee
227
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.[ 88]
228
Jon Pardi
October 24, 2023[ 89]
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 .[ 90]
229
Scotty McCreery
April 20, 2024[ 91]
Garth Brooks
Josh Turner and Randy Travis
230
T. Graham Brown
May 3, 2024[ 92]
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.
231
Lainey Wilson
June 7, 2024
Reba McEntire
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
McEntire invited Wilson during the Season 25 finale of The Voice .[ 93]
232
Steven Curtis Chapman
November 1, 2024[ 94]
Ricky Skaggs
Lady A
Chapman is the only contemporary Christian musician to earn Opry membership.[ 95]
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^ @opry (April 11, 2022). "Join us on Saturday, May 14th..." (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ @opry (June 11, 2022). "BREAKING: @VGcom has just invited Charlie McCoy to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry!" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ @opry (July 13, 2022). "Charlie McCoy is officially the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry! https://t.co/LtXaRa3Uf5" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ @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 .
^ @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 .
^ @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 .
^ @Opry (October 21, 2022). "Be part of @AshleyMcBryde's induction during a special two-show evening on Dec. 10!" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ @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 .
^ @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 .
^ Dowling, Marcus K. (August 18, 2023). "Sara Evans invited to become the latest Grand Ole Opry member at sold-out Ryman concert" . Nashville Tennessean. Retrieved August 18, 2023 .
^ @Opry (August 1, 2023). "Get ready for an Opry Pardi..." (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ @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 .
^ @Opry (February 15, 2024). "You don't have to wait 5 more minutes..." (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ @Opry (March 29, 2024). "Someone tell "Darlene"! @TGrahamBrown is joining the Opry family on May 3rd!" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ Kile, Meredith B. "Reba McEntire Tearfully Welcomes Lainey Wilson Into the Grand Ole Opry on "The Voice' Finale" . etonline.com . CBS Studios Inc. Retrieved 22 May 2024 .
^ @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 .
^ McGinnis, Interview by Kelsey Kramer (2024-10-31). "Steven Curtis Chapman Joins Country Music Royalty" . Christianity Today . Retrieved 2025-01-15 .
Member Groups Member Female Artists Member Male Artists Member Artist Legends Venues Related articles
Current members Former members
†Honorary former member; was scheduled to be invited, but died before the invitation was extended