The Starlighters At The Opry 7/20/2025

Did You Know? - A typical chuck wagon menu in the Old West revolved around simple, preserved, and easily cooked foods. Breakfast would often include coffee, sourdough biscuits, and cured meats like bacon. Dinners and lunches would feature items like beans, roasted or boiled potatoes, beef (fresh or salted), and more bread or biscuits. Desserts might include dried fruit pies or stewed dried fruit.

Did You Know? - The term "chuck wagon" originates from the slang term "chuck," which referred to food, particularly hearty or simple fare, and specifically beef. Charles Goodnight, a Texas rancher, is credited with creating the first chuck wagon in 1866 by modifying a surplus Army wagon into a mobile kitchen for cowboys on cattle drives. The "chuck box" was a key feature, providing storage and a workspace for the cook.

Did You Know? - Country legend Johnny Cash, who made his Opry debut on July 5, 1956 and met his future wife June Carter Cash on that day, was banned from the program in 1965 after drunkenly smashing the stage lights with the microphone stand.

Cash commented on the incident years later: "I don't know how much they wanted me in the first place," he says, "but the night I broke all the stage lights with the microphone stand, they said they couldn't use me anymore.

So I went out and used it as an excuse to really get wild and ended up in the hospital, the third time I broke my nose."

In 1968, Cash was allowed to return, after the success of his At Folsom Prison album and his recovery from addiction.

Did You Know? - The Opry closed its doors to spectators and trimmed its staff in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee but continued to air weekly episodes on radio and television, relying on advertising revenue to remain solvent. The Opry resumed allowing spectators on a limited basis in October, and resumed full operations in May 2021.

Did You Know? - NBCUniversal and Atairos (Atairos is an independent strategic investment company focused on supporting growth-oriented businesses.) acquired a combined 30% stake in the Grand Ole Opry and its parent company Opry Entertainment Group in 2022. The crossover allows for NBCUniversal's television outlets, including NBC, to carry several Opry television specials.

Did You Know? - A memorial concert was held for longtime member Loretta Lynn a few weeks after Lynn's death in October 2023; the concert featured performances by George Strait (who himself has only appeared once, in 1982, on the Opry radio show), Tanya Tucker, Wynonna, and several other artists. Thousands of Lynn's friends, family, and fans were in attendance at the Opry House

Did You Know? - The Opry celebrated its 100th birthday with a concert special hosted by Blake Shelton which featured over 50 of the Opry's living members in attendance.

Did You Know? - The Opry also has a history of inviting comedians to join the cast, though none were invited to join between Jerry Clower's induction in 1973 and when Henry Cho and Gary Mule Deer became members in 2023.

Did You Know? - The company has enforced its trademark on the name "Grand Ole Opry", with trademark registrations in the United States and in numerous countries around the world. It has taken court action to limit use of the word "Opry"—not directly trademarked—to members of the Opry and products associated with or licensed by it and to discourage use of the word in ways that would imply a connection to the Grand Ole Opry

Did You Know? - In April 1963, Opry management mandated that members had to perform no less than 26 shows a year in order to maintain their membership. WSM decreased the number of those required performances to 20 in January 1964, and the minimum number was 12 in 2000.

Although the minimum number of performances has been reduced over the years, artists offered membership are expected to display their dedication to the Opry with frequent attendance

Did You Know? - The Opry provides a fourteen-piece house band for performers should they not have a band of their own.