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 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 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.
Over its history, the Opry has featured a large, rotating ensemble of members ranging from all-time greats and neotraditionalists to contemporary stars. At its beginning, it featured only instrumental string bands; the show's repertoire slowly broadened to allow singers and vocal groups in the late 1930s, electric amplification by the early 1940s, and eventually drums, with the first performance featuring a full drum kit taking place in 1967. As the Opry is a running series, membership requires that the performer appear regularly on the program to remain a member of the show. It originally signed its artists to short-term contracts and required its artists to perform 26 shows per year; the program shifted to a permanent membership model in the 1960s and progressively relaxed its requirements over the next several decades. 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.

Familial connections

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
Darrin 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
Pam Tillis and her father Mel

Several Opry members over the years have been married to each other:

Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright; Married 1937–2011
June Carter and Carl Smith; Married 1952–1956
Jean Shepard and Hawkshaw Hawkins; married 1960-1963
June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash; Married 1968–2003
George Jones and Tammy Wynette; Married 1969–1975
Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White ; Married since 1981
Connie Smith and Marty Stuart; Married since 1997
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood; Married since 2005
Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook ; Married since 2006

Current membership

Excluding the Opry Square Dancers, who have sui generis membership status, there are currently 76 Grand Ole Opry members.

Sixty-two of the Opry's current members perform as solo musical artists.
*Of those, six have retired, but may make occasional appearances on the show in performing or non-performing roles.
Two of the members are stand-up comedians.
Twelve duos and groups hold membership.
*Among them, three have had a member die since their respective inductions.
**The Oak Ridge Boys have been inducted twice, under two completely different lineups.
*Two other groups have each replaced living group members since being inducted, but maintain their Opry membership.
Five living people are former Opry members who no longer hold membership: Leroy Van Dyke, Norma Jean, Doug Kershaw, Sam Wellington of the Four Guys, and Willie Nelson.
One artist has accepted the invitation to join, and is awaiting his official induction.

Age and service of current members

The oldest living member is Jeanne Pruett, born in 1935
*The oldest living person to have ever been a member is Leroy Van Dyke, born in 1929
*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.
*Connie Smith, who joined in 1965, is the Opry's longest-serving female member.
The youngest member is Lauren Alaina, born in 1994.
*The youngest members ever inducted were Doyle and Teddy Wilburn, child prodigies who were inducted in 1940 at ages ten and nine, respectively; after an initial run, their membership was suspended until 1956 due to child labor laws.

All-time membership

Acts with a ^† are deceased; ^‡ indicates a member of the group is deceased.

1920s

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	Forced to retire due to WSM's cancellation of its ASCAP license in 1941. He returned in 1974, appearing sporadically until his death. His son DeFord Bailey Jr. and grandson Carlos DeFord Bailey have also appeared on the show.
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

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 19, 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.
35	Cousin Jody^†
36	Jamup and Honey^†	January 7, 1939
37	Bill Monroe^†	October 28, 1939

1940s

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.
45	Eddy Arnold^†	1943	Relinquished membership in 1948 when he launched his own radio show on CBS.
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. All of its personnel were replaced by the time Fowler sold the rights to the name to Smitty Gatlin in 1957. Gatlin left in 1966, replaced by current Oak Ridge Boys lead Duane Allen. The modern-era version of the group was inducted in 2011.
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, but reunited in 2023. 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. The Cowboys eventually rejoined by becoming Ray Price's backing band, with Price eventually evolving the group into the Cherokee Cowboys.

1950s

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	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. Originally included as full standing members, 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. The Opry Square Dancers regularly appear on the Saturday show only, rarely performing on other nights.
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 ; 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. Reconciled in 1968 and remained a member the rest of his life.
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.
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.
108	Billy Grammer^†	February 27, 1959
109	Roy Drusky^†	June 13, 1959
110	Skeeter Davis^†	August 4, 1959

1960s

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 64 years of continuous service as of July 2025, Anderson is the longest-serving member in the Opry's history.
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 and the group was formally expelled in 2000. Sam Wellington, the lone surviving member of the quartet, last appeared on the Opry stage in 2023.
136	Stu Phillips^†	June 1, 1967	Last appeared on stage to sing with the chorus of members in the finale of the "Opry 100: A Live Celebration" NBC television special in 2025.
137	Charlie Walker^†	August 19, 1967
138	Jeannie Seely^†	September 16, 1967	Seely performed on more Opry episodes than any other performer, appearing 5,397 times from her May 28, 1966 debut until her final performance on February 22, 2025.
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	Parton's appearances have generally been limited to pre-recorded messages due to a heavy touring schedule and health issues since the 2020s.
141	Tammy Wynette^†	January 4, 1969

1970s

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. Mandrell made two one-off, non-singing appearances in 2022 and 2025.
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; still a standing member.
150	Don Williams^†	April 23, 1976
151	Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers	December 25, 1976

1980s

No.	Name	Induction date	Notes
152	John Conlee	February 7, 1981
153	Boxcar Willie^†	February 21, 1981
154	B. J. Thomas^†	August 7, 1981	Full-time membership lapsed prior to 1998; continued to make occasional appearances until his death.
155	Ricky Skaggs	May 15, 1982
156	Riders in the Sky	June 19, 1982
157	The Whites^‡	March 2, 1984	Sharon and Cheryl White continue to represent the family group as a duo following the death of their father, Buck, in 2025.
158	Lorrie Morgan	June 9, 1984
159	Johnny Russell^†	July 6, 1985
160	Mel McDaniel^†	January 11, 1986
161	Reba McEntire	January 17, 1986	McEntire was invited during the Opry's 60th anniversary television special.
162	Randy Travis	December 20, 1986	In 2013, Travis suffered a stroke that left him with severely impaired motor skills and vocal abilities. Although he is no longer able to perform, he remains an active member and occasionally makes Opry appearances to support other artists.
163	Roy Clark^†	August 22, 1987
164	Ricky Van Shelton	June 10, 1988	Retired in 2006; still officially a standing member.
165	Patty Loveless	June 11, 1988	Retired from full-time performing in 2009; performs on the Opry stage occasionally
	Keith Whitley^†	May 1989	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 management was planning to surprise him with an invitation to join the cast. As the Opry has a policy only recognizing living artists as members, Whitley's induction was never made official. 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.
166	Holly Dunn^†	October 14, 1989	Retired in 2003 and died in 2016.

1990s

No.	Name	Induction date	Invited by	Inducted by	Notes
167	Mike Snider	June 2, 1990		Minnie Pearl
168	Garth Brooks	October 6, 1990		Johnny Russell
169	Clint Black	January 10, 1991		Garth Brooks	Black was invited during the Opry's 65th anniversary television special.
170	Alan Jackson	June 7, 1991		Roy Acuff and Randy Travis
171	Vince Gill	August 10, 1991		Roy Acuff
172	Emmylou Harris	January 25, 1992
173	Travis Tritt	February 29, 1992
174	Marty Stuart	November 28, 1992
175	Charley Pride^†	May 1, 1993		Jimmy C. Newman
176	Alison Krauss and Union Station	July 3, 1993		Garth Brooks
177	Joe Diffie^†	November 27, 1993
178	Hal Ketchum^†	January 22, 1994		Little Jimmy Dickens
179	Bashful Brother Oswald^†	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	November 30, 1995		Loretta Lynn
181	Steve Wariner	May 11, 1996	Bob Whittaker
182	Johnny Paycheck^†	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	March 13, 1999	Ricky Skaggs	Porter Wagoner