The Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 99th birthday this past weekend with special shows, plaza parties, and its annual Opry Community Day.
In 2025, as the iconic institution commemorates its 100th anniversary, it’s going to need a bigger cake.
Over the weekend, the Grand Ole Opry announced its going global next year with its first-ever show outside of the US at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The performance, slated for fall 2025, is not the only thing the longest-running radio show has in store.
Here’s a look at Opry 100:
- 100 Opry debuts | One hundred artists will make their Opry debuts, beginning with Shaboozey, whose crossover hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” climbed the charts this year, on Jan. 18.
- 100 Opry honors | Special shows throughout the year will pay tribute to Roy Acuff, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Little Jimmy Dickens, and many others who made the Opry what it is today.
- Birthday month | Expect a “month-long birthday party” in October 2025 with special appearances, a “larger-than-life” birthday cake, and more.
- 100th anniversary | On Nov. 28, the Opry will celebrate exactly 100 years since Uncle Jimmy Thompson first played his fiddle on what would become the Grand Ole Opry.
“For decades to come, people will look back on this year as the time they first discovered or deepened their connection with the show that made country music famous,” said Patrick Moore, CEO of Opry Entertainment Group.
The Opry ring in the new year at the Ryman Auditorium (its former home of 31 years) with performances throughout January. Bill Anderson, the longest-serving Opry member, will open the first show of the year on Friday, Jan. 3.
Tickets for most 2025 shows go on sale Friday, Oct. 18.
