John Crist Grand Ole Opry House Nashville

The Grand Ole Opry is a popular weekly American country music stage concert, which takes place in Nashville, Tennessee. This music stage concert was founded by George D. Hay on November 28, 1925. It was founded as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. It is currently owned by Opry Entertainment (a division of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.) and operated by the same. The Grand Ole Opry was the first broadcast from the Ryman on June 5, 1943. This broadcast is said to be the longest-running broadcast in the history of the USA. The Opry features various famous singers, chart-toppers, bluegrass, gospel music, Americana, folk, comedic performances, and skits. "The Show That Made Country Music Famous" is the primary slogan of the Opry. The permanent home to the Opry is the Ryman Auditorium. The Grand Ole Opry was inaugurated as the WSM Barn Dance in the new fifth-floor radio studio of the National Life & Accident Insurance Company. The announcers here are Eddie Stubbs, Bill Cody, Mike Terry, and Larry Gatlin.

The Crook brothers were the 1st band at the Barn Dance while the Fruit Jar Drinkers were the second. Uncle Dave Macon, in 1926, recorded several songs and toured on the vaudeville hence became the first real star of the Opry. With the increment in live show audience, the Opry shifted to Hillsboro Theatre, later to Dixie Tabernacle, War Memorial Auditorium, and finally to Ryman Auditorium (seating capacity of 2,362-seats).

Since then the Ryman Auditorium is home to the Opry and is owned and operated by Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. It was included in the NRHP in 1971. On June 25, 2001, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Some famous brands that performed at the Opry include Binkley Brothers' Dixie Clodhoppers, Gully Jumpers, Uncle Dave Macon, Deford Bailey, and a few others.

Tickets for the Grand Ole Opry Nashville can be purchased online at TicketsOnSale.com.