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8 unusual facts about Grand Ole Opry


Coal Creek War

The song "Buddy Won't You Roll Down the Line", written and performed by Grand Ole Opry pioneer Uncle Dave Macon, was based on the Coal Creek War.

Goldie Sayers

Sayers' father, Pete Sayers, who died in 2005, was a bluegrass musician and the first Englishman to appear at the Grand Ole Opry.

Grand Ole Opry

Country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons, who at that time was a member of The Byrds, was in Nashville to work on the band's country-rock album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo.

Grand Ole Opry's New Star

The first three songs written for the album, "Play It Cool", "Hold Everything", and "Boat of Life" were recorded between January and August 1954 at Jack Starnes Studio in Beaumont, Texas; the remainder of the songs were recorded in Houston at Gold Star Studio between March 1955 and August 1956.

New Feelin'

It is likely the reasons for this positive change are that she appeared on several television shows to promote it (This Is Tom Jones, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Johnny Cash Show) and even performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Shoji Tabuchi

In the mid-1960s, Shoji was a sophomore in college and had heard that Roy Acuff, of the Grand Ole Opry, was coming to Osaka, Japan.

Tennessee State Route 155

Briley Parkway, named in honor of former Nashville mayor Beverly Briley, passes the Grand Ole Opry House, Opry Mills, and the Opryland Hotel east of Nashville.

Tex Morton

He returned to Australia in 1959 with a Grand Ole Opry show, featuring Roy Acuff, the Wilburn Brothers and June Webb, but the show was not popular with Australian audiences and the tour had to be called off.


Ashton Shepherd

Her debut single, "Takin' Off This Pain," was released in September 2007, the same month in which she made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry.

Bill Lister

For several years in the 1950s, he traveled with Hank Williams, Sr., as the opening act for Williams and his "Drifting Cowboys." As a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry, Lister worked with most of the stars of the day, including Little Jimmy Dickens, String Bean, Minnie Pearl, Del Wood, The Carter Family, and others.

Carnival Ride

She also appeared on several shows to promote her album including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live, Live With Regis and Kelly, The Early Show, American Idol, Good Morning America, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, The View, and at the Grand Ole Opry.

Chris Marion

Since moving to Nashville in 1987, Marion has toured with the likes of Steven Curtis Chapman, Tony Elenburg, Shenandoah, Beth Moore and Jeannie Seely of the Grand Ole Opry.

Country Music Greats Radio Show

The Country Music Greats Radio Show is hosted by Grand Ole Opry legend Jim Ed Brown.

Dallas Sportatorium

From 1948 until 1966, the Sportatorium was also the site of the Big D Jamboree, a weekly country music showcase similar in format to the Grand Ole Opry and Louisiana Hayride; portions of the Jamboree were broadcast nationally on the CBS Radio Network.

Fred Paul Hedges

Originally from Ewing, Illinois, Freddie Paul Hedges was a long-time friend of Grand Ole Opry star Billy Grammer who hired Hedges to help establish Grammer's newly formed guitar company.

Garrett, Indiana

Garry Lalone - musician, Garrett High School graduate; drummer for country music and Grand Ole Opry star John Conlee.

Kenny Bishop

He has been a regular performer on the Gaither Homecoming video series and radio program, and has performed on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, Fox News, C-SPAN, CNN, and PBS.

Phillip Hill

Hill graduated from Hillsboro Comprehensive High School in 1992 with awards in recording sciences and musicianship under the instruction of the Grand Ole Opry soundman, Vic Gabany.

Roy Ayres

A Grand Ole Opry musician known for full chords and smooth tone, Ayres played steel guitar on all of Pee Wee King’s major hits, including “The Tennessee Waltz”.

Semie Moseley

In 1959, Andy moved to Nashville, Tennessee for a year to popularize the Mosrite name and sold a few to Grand Ole Opry entertainers, people, and to road musicians.


see also

Curly Ray Cline

While he was growing up playing the fiddle, he was inspired by Fiddlin' Arthur Smith of the Grand Ole Opry.

Deford

DeFord Bailey (1899–1982), early country music star and the first African American performer on the Grand Ole Opry

Keith Bilbrey

In 1982, Bilbrey began announcing on the Grand Ole Opry, joining a long tradition of legendary Opry announcers, including George D. Hay, Grant Turner, Ralph Emery, and Hairl Hensley.

WWON

Aside from past owner Ernie Ashworth of Grand Ole Opry fame, country singer, actor, writer, and Waynesboro native Mark Collie also got his start on AM 930.