The Grand Ole Opry first broadcasted on this day in 1925, happy birthday Grand Ole Opry! A musical institution for generations, the Opry is a foundry for country and western musicians till this day located in the heart of country music, Nashville, Tennessee. The first broadcast was an hour-long show called Barn Dance and featured all types of music from bluegrass to folk to what was then ‘country’ music.
The Grand Ole Opry remains the longest running radio broadcast in American history. Happy 92nd birthday!
So many legends and stars got their first start at the Opry including such legends as Gene Autry, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Garth Brooks, and, well, just about anyone else who is a name in the business! The very first performer to be heard on the Grand Ole Opry airwaves was Uncle Jimmy Thompson, a 77 year old fiddle player from Smith County, Tennessee which is just east of Nashville.
You can still listen to the Grand Ole Opry on WSM-AM (an AM radio station located in Nashville) on Saturday nights, or on Sirius-XM through the Willie’s Roadhouse Channel.
