T R A C E A D K I N S , 2003The 6’6” star was invited to join the Opry by 4’11” Little Jimmy Dickens, who scaled a kitchen ladder to look him in the eye while doing the honors.

B I L L A N D E R S O N, 1961Has had more than 80 singles reach the country charts.

D I E R K S B E N T L E Y, 2005His dog Jake shared in his Opry induction moment on stage.

C L I N T B L A C K , 1991He and his song “Good Run of Bad Luck” appeared in the movie Maverick.

G A R T H B R O O K S , 1990He is the top selling country artist in history.

J I M E D B R O W N, 1963First achieved success withsisters, Maxine & Bonnie.

R OY C L A R K , 1987Singer, comedian & musician, he made his Opry debut at age 18.

T E R R I C L A R K , 2004Sang for tips at Tootsie’s on Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway before hitting the top of the charts.

J O H N C O N L E E , 1981One of the original organizers of FarmAid.

C H A R L I E D A N I E L S , 2008Made his Opry debut at theRyman Auditorium as part of the Earl Scruggs Revue. “…Quite a thrillfor a country boy who has been listening to the Opry for as longas he can remember,” Daniels says.

D I A M O N D R I O, 1998Grammy-nominated for their vocals as well as their musicianship.

L I T T L E J I M MY D I C K E N S , 1948First radio job was to crow like a rooster to open the morning program.

J O E D I F F I E , 1993Once worked on an oil rig, in an iron foundry, and in Gibson Guitar’s Nashville warehouse.

T H E G AT L I N S , 1976Larry, Steve & Rudy Gatlin won acclaim for “Broken Lady,” which Larry wrote in 15 minutes.

V I N C E G I L L , 1991Declined first call to perform on the Opry to attend his daughter’s recital.

T O M T. H A L L , 1971Had six songs he wrote recorded by other artists on the charts at one time.

G E O R G E H A M I LT O N I V, 1960First million-selling record was the 1956 pop classic “A Rose and A Baby Ruth.”

E M MY L O U H A R R I S , 1992One of her many Grammy Awards is for her work on the album O Brother, Where Art Thou?

J A N H O WA R D, 1971Has an expressway named after her in her hometown, West Plains, Missouri.

A L A N J A C K S O N, 1991Before stardom, delivered mail to the Opry House.

S T O N E WA L L J A C K S O N, 1956Acuff-Rose’s Wesley Rose helped him get an audition & an Opry contract.

H A L K E T C H U M , 1994Is a master carpenter and an accomplished painter.

A L I S O N K R AU S S , 1993Recorded her first album, Too Late to Cry, at age 14.

PAT T Y L O V E L E S S , 1988Is a distant cousin of fellow Opry member Loretta Lynn.

L O R E T TA LY N N, 1962Sissy Spacek won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Lynn in the film Coal Miner’s Daughter.

B A R B A R A M A N D R E L L , 1972The first person to win the CMA’sEntertainer of the Year award two years in a row.

M A R T I N A M C B R I D E , 1995Sold T-shirts for Garth Brooks one year and the next year was the opening act on his tour.

D E L M C C O U R Y, 2003Was invited to join the Opry while accepting the International Bluegrass Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year.

R E B A M C E N T I R E , 1985Has earned more gold and platinum awards than any female artist in any field of music.

J E S S E M C R E Y N O L D S , 1964Grew up singing on the family farm in Virginia.

R O N N I E M I L S A P, 1976Blind since birth, he played the violin by age 7, piano by age 8, and guitar by age 12.

M O N T G O M E R Y G E N T R Y, 2009Were part of the group Early Tymz in their native Kentucky before becoming a duo.

C R A I G M O R G A N, 2008One of few country artists raised in Nashville.

L O R R I E M O R G A N, 1984Daughter of Opry star George Morgan made her Opry debut at age 13.

O P R Y M E M B E R T R I V I AC O U N T R Y ’S B R I G H T E S T S TA R S M A K E U P C O U N T R Y M U S I C ’S M O S T I M P O R TA N T FA M I LY

O A K R I D G E B OY S , 2011Received video congratulations from President George H. W. Bush the evening of their Opry induction.

O L D C R O W M E D I C I N E S H O W, 2013Among the group’s first Nashville gigs were playing in the Opry Plaza before and after Opry shows.

T H E O S B O R N E B R O T H E R S , 1964Pursued separate musical careers until they teamed up in 1953.

B R A D PA I S L E Y, 2001At age 13, opened shows for Opry members Ricky Skaggs and George Jones.

D O L LY PA R T O N, 1969Once lost a Dolly Parton look-a-like contest.

S T U P H I L L I P S , 1967Listened to the Opry in his native Canada and set his sights on a music career.

R AY P I L L O W, 1966Earned his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry by winning a national talent contest.

C H A R L E Y P R I D E , 1993Before singing, he pursued a professional baseball career.

J E A N N E P R U E T T, 1973Was the last vocalist to join the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium.

R A S C A L F L AT T S , 2011Performed with rock group Journey during festivities before Super Bowl XLVII.

R I D E R S I N T H E S K Y, 1982Won a Grammy for their work on the Toy Story soundtrack.

D A R I U S R U C K E R, 2012Debut country single went to No. 1 on the charts.

J E A N N I E S E E LY, 1967Opry membership came a year after recording her first No. 1 hit, “Don’t Touch Me.”

B L A K E S H E LT O N, 2010Was invited to join the Opry via Twitter the night the show returned to the Opry House following Nashville’s May 2010 flood.

R I C K Y VA N S H E LT O N, 1988Was a pipefitter, construction worker, car salesman, grocery store clerk, and house painter before becoming an Opry member.

J E A N S H E PA R D, 1955Was one of the first female artists to receive notoriety without being a member of a group.

R I C K Y S K A G G S , 1982At age 5, he hopped on stage to play Bill Monroe’s mandolin.

C O N N I E S M I T H, 1965In less than a year, went from being a small-town housewife in Ohio to a country music star with a No. 1 hit.

M I K E S N I D E R, 19902,000 of his Gleason, Tennessee, neighbors were there in support on the night of his Opry debut.

R A L P H S TA N L E Y, 2000Bob Dylan calls singing with Stanley “the highlight of my career.”

M A R T Y S T UA R T, 1992First played his mandolin on the Opry at the Ryman at age 13 after joining Lester Flatt’s bluegrass band.

M E L T I L L I S , 2007Was officially inducted into the Opry family by his daughter Pam, who became an Opry member in 2000.

PA M T I L L I S , 2000Born in Plant City, Florida to famous dad Mel Tillis and mom Doris, she debuted on the Opry at the age of eight singing “Tom Dooley.”

R A N DY T R AV I S , 1986Worked as a dishwasher, short-order cook, and singer at the Nashville Palace a mile from the Opry House just 15 months before joining the Opry.

T R AV I S T R I T T, 1992Appeared in the movie Blues Brothersin 2000 as a member of the Gator Boys band.

J O S H T U R N E R, 2007Received two standing ovations for his breakthrough song “Long Black Train” during his Opry debut.

K E I T H U R B A N, 2012First Opry member born outside North America.

C A R R I E U N D E R W O O D, 2008Made her Opry debut two weeks after winning American Idol in 2005.

S T E V E WA R I N E R, 1996Made his Opry debut at age 17 at the Ryman Auditorium as the bass player in Dottie West’s band.

T H E W H I T E S , 1984Daddy Buck & daughters, Sharon & Cheryl, had their first recording session in a motel room using bed mattresses to insulate the walls.

T R I S H A Y E A R W O O D, 1999Was presented with a necklace belonging to an idol, Patsy Cline, upon her induction into the Opry.