The Grand Ole Opry Sets The Stage To Celebrate 5,000 Broadcasts

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The Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, will mark its historic 5,000th Saturday night broadcast on Oct. 30, 2021. To commemorate the impressive milestone, the Grand Ole Opry will host a month of celebrations, a limited-time exhibit, and a star-studded night of performances on the iconic Opry stage.

WSM began to air the show that would become the Grand Ole Opry in 1925 as a radio show before expanding to television and eventually digital streaming platforms. It has continued to produce original shows for 5,000 Saturday nights through the Great Depression, World War II, two Nashville floods and, most recently, the global COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, when music venues shuttered around the world, the Opry continued airing under strict health and safety protocols through its weekly 650 AM WSM and SiriusXM radio broadcasts. Simultaneously, Opry Live was launched on Circle, bringing comfort to millions of fans around the world and quickly becoming the television network’s landmark series.

“For 5,000 Saturday nights, the Opry has stood as a beacon not just for generations of listeners seeking top-notch entertainment, but for artists with big dreams and even bigger talent,” shares Scott Bailey, President of Opry Entertainment Group. “This stage has witnessed some of the most iconic moments in country music – debuts, duets, and everything in between – and it deserves celebrating. We’re excited for country music fans around the world to be able to join us for this historic occasion.”

The Grand Ole Opry will host a special evening of music on Oct. 30 with performances from Bill Anderson, Terri Clark, Vince Gill, Chris Janson, Jeannie Seely, Connie Smith, The Gatlin Brothers and Chris Young, with more artists to be announced. The ticketed show will be available to stream live on Circle.

Opry Memories: Celebrating 5,000 Saturday Night Broadcasts Exhibit

Today (Aug. 17), the Opry also opened a limited-time exhibit at the Acuff House, Opry Memories: Celebrating 5,000 Saturday Night Broadcasts. The exhibit takes guests on a journey through the inception of WSM-AM radio and the first Grand Ole Opry broadcasts while also covering special moments from milestone broadcast eras of 1,000 broadcasts to present day. The exhibit will feature artifacts and photos from current Grand Ole Opry members including Luke Combs, Dolly Parton, Carly Pearce, Trisha Yearwood, and many others, as well as items from some of the Opry’s earliest stars including Roy Acuff, DeFord Bailey, Minnie Pearl, and more.

To purchase tickets for the 5,000th celebration show on Oct. 30 or to the Grand Ole Opry tour featuring Opry Memories, click here.

Lydia Farthing
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