On November 28, 2025, one hundred years to the date of the premiere, a star-studded tribute was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. Included in the event were Opry members from all age groups, including Scotty McCreery (32), one of the youngest members, and Bill Anderson (88), the oldest and longest member of the Opry (64 years a member). Retired member Stu Phillips (96) was also in attendance.
While it would have been impossible to have all members attend on the actual anniversary, some of the legendary members who performed were Vince Gill, Lorrie Morgan, Mark Willis, Riders in the Sky, The Gatlin Brothers, T. Graham Brown, Jamey Johnson, The Isaacs, Del McCoury, Mandy Barnett, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, John Conlee, and Charlie McCoy to name a few.
The first Grand Ole Opry show, then called the "WSM Barn Dance," debuted on November 28, 1925. George D. Hay created the show for WSM radio, modeled after a popular Chicago show, to cater to the southern audience that could not hear the original broadcast. The new radio broadcast originated from Nashville, Tennessee, and featured a 77-year-old fiddler named Uncle Jimmy Thompson. Ricky Skaggs played Uncle Jimmy's iconic century-old fiddle during a cover of the Bluegrass staple, "Tennessee Wagoner."
While the original name of the show was the WSM Barn Dance, the show was renamed following a classical music broadcast, when announcer George D. Hay created a humorous contrast with his own program of country music, saying, "For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from grand opera. From now on, we will present the Grand Ole Opry."
Interesting to note: the original WSM Barn Dance/Grand Ole Opry was an instrumental-only show, and vocals were not featured until the 1930s. Once they added vocals, the Opry became the contemporary country singer show it is today. Original performers included Roy Acuff and Bill Monroe.
Before the show began, long-time Opry streaming host, Natalie Stovall, remarked, "It really is such an honor to be a part of the Opry in any possible way, but to be here on the night exactly 100 years ago when it started. It's so cool." And while she hosted the Opry on many occasions, this time she and her husband enjoyed the show from the audience.
If there was ever a time to wonder "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?" it was this night. Scotty McCreery succinctly stated, "Greats like Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Ernest Tub, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Daniels, and so, so many more made it possible for us to be here tonight. And of course, the great George Jones. My answer to that question is that no one can ever fill their shoes."
McCreery continued, "But George Jones also asked, 'Who's going to play the Opry?' Our answer on this 100th anniversary night is simple. The people on this stage, y'all. And we'll welcome you to generations of unbelievably talented artists to this stage so that 100 years from tonight, artists, staff members, and fans will gather to mark 200 years of the Opry."
Other notable moments from the Opry included Mandy Barnett covering Patsy Cline's "Crazy" as only she can, Riders in the Sky playing "Ghost Riders In The Sky," Jamey Johnson sang "In Color" (which I believe is one of the finest written songs on the planet), Pam Tillis singing "Maybe It Was Memphis," and Lorrie Morgan performed "Something in Red." Ricky Skaggs and Marty Stuart played the fool out of their mandolin/guitar with their designated bands. But one of my favorite parts of the Opry every time, and especially this night, was the gospel segment. The Isaacs performed "It Is Well" acapella and were later joined by John Conlee for "Amazing Grace." Mark Wills for "I'll Fly Away" followed by a rousing rendition of Hank Williams "I Saw The Light."
Host Mike Terry proclaimed, "Long before we had the lights or the sound system that we had, artists stood on an old wooden floor at the Ryman Auditorium, and they lifted up songs of faith and hope. For generations, gospel music has carried us through the hardest days and made the good days even better." And that's precisely what happened.
But the true highlight of the evening came when Vince Gill covered George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," a song voted by fans as the greatest country song of all time. Gill stated, "I'm not sure if I've ever sung this song out loud before because I revere sweet George Jones so much." Gill also said he could not get through the spoken part of the moving song, so the heartfelt moment was left to Whispering Bill Anderson.
The evening concluded with Stephen Curtis Chapman's original song, "The Grand Ole Opry Stage," which he wrote for his own recent induction. He teamed up with Vince Gill to add a 3rd verse for the Opry's 100th Birthday. It was followed by" Will the Circle Be Unbroken". Everyone joined in for the finale.
After the show, Scotty McCreery told me, "Being a member of the Opry was the top of my bucket list. Getting to be here tonight for the 100th birthday party has me smiling all night. It's just a joy to be here, very thankful, very blessed. So many times, when I come, Vince (Gill) is here, and he is doing it for us young guns, the way Roy Acuff did it for him. I've seen my heroes love the Grand Ole Opry, which makes me love the Grand Ole Opry."
Opry member Kathy Mattea stated, “The reason why the Opry has lasted 100 years is that it’s never lost its center. It's like the doors are flung wide open and there are young artists and older artists, and everyone is welcome.”
One thing that Natalie Stovall and I agree on is this: The most magical place on earth is not an amusement park in Florida, it's the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. If you've never been, put going there on your bucket list.
Click here for the full photo gallery of the event.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.