Grand Ole Opry

State: Tennessee. Type: live country-music show and venue in Nashville. Founded November 28, 1925, as the WSM Barn Dance; renamed the Grand Ole Opry in 1927. Billed as the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history. Current home: the Grand Ole Opry House, 600 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, TN 37214 (since 1974, with seasonal winter shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium since 1999). Approximately 75 active Opry members.

The Grand Ole Opry began on November 28, 1925, as a WSM radio barn-dance broadcast created by George D. Hay, and it took its now-famous name in 1927. Over a century later it remains a live country music institution, broadcasting weekly performances that combine country, bluegrass, gospel and comedy acts on a single stage. Each Opry show typically features eight or more performers, ranging from country superstars to award-winning musicians and songwriters, reflecting the format's long history of mixing established stars with newer talent. The show moved through several Nashville venues before settling into the Ryman Auditorium from 1943 to 1974, an era that earned the Ryman its nickname as the "Mother Church of Country Music," and then into the purpose-built Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, where it remains based today; since 1999 the Opry has also returned to the Ryman for a seasonal run each winter. Membership in the Opry, held by around 75 active artists, is considered one of country music's highest honors. Broadcasts continue via WSM Radio, Sirius XM, Circle Country and RFD-TV, carrying the show's reach well beyond Nashville.

The Grand Ole Opry's current home, the Grand Ole Opry House, is located at 600 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, TN 37214, near Opry Mills mall in the Donelson-Music Valley area of Nashville. Its historic former home, the Ryman Auditorium, sits at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Nashville, TN 37219, in downtown Nashville, and hosts a seasonal winter run of Opry shows.

As an indoor venue, the Opry House is climate-controlled and largely unaffected by outdoor weather; Nashville's general climate is humid subtropical, with hot, humid summers and cool winters, so weather mainly affects travel to and from the venue rather than the show itself.

Opry shows run weekly year-round, so timing a visit largely comes down to which artists are performing on a given night and whether a winter show at the historic Ryman Auditorium (part of the seasonal return since 1999) or a Grand Ole Opry House show better suits a visitor's preference.

The Opry began as the WSM Barn Dance on November 28, 1925, created by radio announcer George D. Hay, and was renamed the Grand Ole Opry in 1927. Its venues evolved over time: National Life & Accident Insurance Company's studio (1925-1934), the Hillsboro Theatre (1934-1936), the Dixie Tabernacle (1936-1939), the War Memorial Auditorium (1939-1943), and then the Ryman Auditorium from 1943 to 1974, the period that cemented the Ryman's reputation as the "Mother Church of Country Music." In 1974 the show moved to the purpose-built Grand Ole Opry House, and since 1999 it has periodically returned to the Ryman for winter shows. Broadcast at 50,000 watts on WSM radio, the Opry is described as the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history.

Attending a live Opry show is the central activity, with each performance featuring eight or more acts spanning country, bluegrass, gospel and comedy. Backstage and venue tours are offered at the Grand Ole Opry House for visitors wanting more history and behind-the-scenes access. Fans can also watch "Opry Live" streams, broadcast every Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT via Facebook, YouTube, Circle Country and RFD-TV, for those unable to attend in person.

The Grand Ole Opry House at 600 Opry Mills Drive is the current main venue and includes backstage tour access. The Ryman Auditorium downtown, the Opry's historic 1943-1974 home, hosts the seasonal winter run of shows and is itself a National Historic Landmark-caliber attraction independent of the Opry's current schedule.

The Grand Ole Opry House sits in the Music Valley/Opry Mills area of Nashville, reachable by rental car or rideshare from downtown Nashville or Nashville International Airport. The Ryman Auditorium, used for winter Opry shows, is located in downtown Nashville and is walkable from many downtown hotels.

Show nights and times vary by week and season; the Opry historically runs a roughly two-hour show (about 120 minutes with a 20-minute intermission), often in the 7:00-9:20 p.m. Central Time window. The AXS box office operates 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., extended to 7:30 p.m. on show days. Check opry.com for the current week's specific show schedule before planning a visit.

Specific current ticket prices were not listed on the pages fetched for this research; ticket costs vary by show, seating section and season. Check opry.com or the AXS box office directly for current pricing before booking.

A standard Opry show runs about two hours including its intermission; visitors adding a backstage tour or dinner nearby should plan for three to four hours total.

The Opry House sits near Opry Mills mall in the Music Valley area, where several large hotel properties cater specifically to Opry and mall visitors. Downtown Nashville, a short drive away, offers a much wider range of hotels for visitors who prefer to combine an Opry show with a stay closer to Lower Broadway and other downtown attractions.

The Opry Mills retail and entertainment complex, adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry House, includes a range of casual and chain dining options convenient for a pre- or post-show meal. Downtown Nashville, home to the Ryman Auditorium, has a much denser and more varied restaurant scene for visitors attending winter shows there.

Opry Mills, a large retail and entertainment complex, sits directly next to the Grand Ole Opry House. The Ryman Auditorium and downtown Nashville's Lower Broadway honky-tonk district are the natural pairing for visitors attending a winter show at the historic venue.

Nashville International Airport is the primary air gateway; the Opry House and Ryman Auditorium are both reachable from the airport or downtown hotels by rental car or rideshare, since Nashville's public transit network does not directly serve either venue comprehensively.

As with any large indoor venue, follow posted venue policies on bag size and prohibited items, and keep track of your seating section and exits. For any emergency, dial 911.

A valid photo ID and printed or mobile tickets are recommended, along with a light jacket since indoor venues are often air-conditioned. Check the venue's current bag policy before arriving, as many live-event venues restrict bag size.

Book Opry tickets in advance, since popular shows and the seasonal winter Ryman Auditorium run can sell out. Check opry.com for the specific week's lineup and showtime before planning your trip, since schedules vary. Arriving early allows time to explore Opry Mills or take a backstage tour before the show.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For box office questions, the AXS box office at the Grand Ole Opry House operates 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (7:30 p.m. on show days).

Grand Ole Opry - https://www.opry.com

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This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.