The Grand Ole Opry's 100th Anniversary Show Set For Friday

The Grand Ole Opry was founded by George D. Hay along with the 77-year-old fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson on November 28th, 1925. And to celebrate its 100th Anniversary, the Grand Ole Opry is having two 100th Anniversary shows to commemorate its centennial on Friday, November 28th, 2025. The first show is set for Friday at 7:00PM and will feature country music stars such as Ricky Skaggs, Steven Curtis Chapman, Trace Adkins, and Riders In The Sky, among others. Their second 100th Anniversary show is set for Friday at 10:00 PM and will feature The Gatlin Brothers, Mandy Barnett, Dailey and Vincent, Ricky Skaggs, and Riders In The Sky, as well.

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, The Grand Ole Opry began as the country-music radio program, the "WSM Barn Dance". It took on its present name in 1927 and has become synonymous with country music around the world. As exemplified by the British movie, "Wild Rose". A BAFTA award nominated film about a single mother of two in Glasgow, Scotland who is released from prison, and dreams of going across the pond to Nashville, Tennessee in the United States, to become a country music singer.

Other country music stations such as the "Louisiana Hayride" were formed in the first half of the 20th century and have launched the careers of several famous country musicians. In fact, Alabama's own, Hank Williams, performed on the Louisiana Hayride in 1948 after first being rejected by Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. And the Louisiana Hayride is the show that first originated the phrase, "Elvis has left the building", after Elvis Presley made his final appearance on the Louisiana Hayride in 1956. However, the Louisiana Hayride and the other country music stations of the first half of the 20th century eventually folded. With Nashville's Grand Ole Opry outlasting them all to celebrate its upcoming 100th anniversary on Friday.

Famous Alabamians who have performed at the Grand Ole Opry over the past 100 years include none other than the famous Fort Payne group, "Alabama". Which made its Grand Ole Opry debut in 1982. As well as Alabama's own, Hank Williams. With Hank Williams having made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1949, a debut which led to him receiving six encores. Lew Childre from Opp, Alabama shunned his parents' wishes for him to become a physician in favor of his country music and buck dancing career and was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1945. More recently, Alabama – born, Kashus Culpepper, made his Grand Ole Opry debut on December 21st, 2024. And Alabama native, Hannah McFarland, Made her Grand Ole Opry debut October 31st, 2025.

Furthermore, Elvis Presley, forever known as the King of Rock and Roll, made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 1954. While it was surprisingly not as successful as the rest of his career, Elvis' first record with Sun records was produced by Florence, Alabama native, Samuel Cornelius Phillips. It proved to be a stroke of luck for Phillips as Elvis walked into the Sun records with the intent of recording one song as a birthday present for his mama. He was invited back to make a full record.

For those who can't make it to Nashville the day-after-Thanksgiving for the 100th anniversary shows at the Grand Ole Opry, the Hallmark Channel is joining in the celebration. As the Hallmark channel will be airing its new "Countdown to Christmas" original movie, "A Grand Ole Opry Christmas" beginning on Saturday, November 29th, at 7:00 PM Central Time. And anybody interested in learning more about the Grand Ole Opry's 100th Anniversary celebration can do so at https://opry100.opry.com

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa Attorney, piano instructor, and vocalist.