CMA Award winner, Grammy nominee, and SiriusXM radio host of LIVE WIRE T. Graham Brown was surprised during his LIVE WIRE interview with Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill with the ultimate invitation – to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. This invitation, as always, was a total surprise to T. Graham Brown, and no one could have pulled it off any better than Vince Gill. Watch the video here. “I am still speechless,” beams Brown. “I have been playing the Grand Ole Opry since I got my record deal. Every time I step into that “circle,” I have to p ..read more

Lights, camera, music! The multi-talented Dennis Quaid is no stranger to the limelight, having graced the silver screen with iconic performances in The Rookie, The Day After Tomorrow and many other blockbuster hits. But there’s more to this Hollywood star than meets the eye. Recently, he’s been making waves in a completely different arena – gospel music. Emmy Award winner and two-time Golden Globe nominee Quaid is now captivating audiences with his soul-stirring renditions of beloved hymns and classics, along with original songs, in his forthcoming debut gospel album titled “Fallen: A Gospel ..read more

The Grand Ole Opry’s Dan Rogers and Grand Ole Opry member Rhonda Vincent joined The Bellamy Brothers to celebrate Opry member Gene Watson’s 80th birthday backstage on October 12, 2023. On the heels of his 80th birthday, Watson announced his 2024 All the Hits & More Tour. The All the Hits & More Tour follows Watson’s Celebration Tour, which found him celebrating with fans across the country this year on 80 dates for his 80th birthday. Watson also recently recorded a special with 650 AM WSM’s Jeff Hoag for his program “WSM at Night ..read more

Country comedians made us laugh with their tall tales and introduced audiences to a completely new form of entertainment. These are a few of the original comedians that kept us slapping our knees and part of what made the Grand Ole Opry unforgettable. Ask anyone still around who remembers listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio, and they’ll tell you the comedians were as popular as the singers and musicians. In the early years the comedians were actually vaudevillians, like the duo of Jamup and Honey, who were inducted as members of the Opry. In the 1930s two sisters, Edna Wilson and Marg ..read more

Howard Gerald Clower, or Jerry (Jay-Ree) Clower, evoked a phenomenal reaction in response to his humor. Folks either loved or loathed Jay-rees’s tales, but in common with others who have been called “Mouth of the South” everyone knew exactly who Jerry Clower from Liberty (Yazoo), Mississippi, was. Much of what made the former fertilizer salesman for Mississippi Chemical Company a comic legend were the lovable characters and memorable punch lines of his stories. A Mississippi native, Clower studied at Mississippi State University and belonged to the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He made light of h ..read more

In the mid-1980s, a vocal quartet burst onto the country music scene with a harmonious force that would captivate audiences for years to come. Comprising four talented and spirited women – Cindy, Diane, Doris, and Tammy – Girls Next Door’s journey began in the live shows at Opryland Music Park. The group’s inception was sparked by the visionary producer, Tommy West, known for his work with Manhattan Transfer. Sharing his dream of creating a female vocal group, West brought his passion and expertise to the helm of the new Nashville label, MTM Records, and brought Girls Next Door along for the ..read more

The music industry has witnessed a plethora of evolutions and cross-pollination in genres throughout history, and the relationship between gospel and country music is no exception. The two genres have a long and intertwined past, with many stars blurring the lines between the spiritual and secular worlds of music. The seamless blending of these genres has created a unique cultural impact, uniting people through song. Rooted in the early 20th century, gospel music emerged from the African American church, while country music evolved from the Appalachian folk traditions of the white working cla ..read more

Story By Danny Nichols One couple that kept American audiences laughing for decades might not be thought of as comedians but “Lulu Belle and Scotty” were able to transform comedy into song and became one of the most popular country music acts of their era. With titles like “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?” “Mountain Dew,” “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I’ve Been a Liar All My Life?” “I Think I Hear a Woodpecker Knocking at My Family Tree” and “Store Bought Teeth (and Taffy Candy)” included in their musical acts, this talented d ..read more

By Sasha Kay Dunavant Back in the 1980s, Dolly Parton wanted to create a place where someone could be entertained while they also enjoyed a relaxing and fulfilling meal. Through The Dollywood Company she partnered with Fred Hardwick and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation in 1988 to open the doors of the first Dixie Stampede near Parton’s home in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The entertainment proved to be impeccable, and in 1992 the second location was opened in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with a Civil War theme. The original Tennessee location and a second one in Branson ..read more

Story by Claudia Johnson “Louisiana Hayride” began as a radio program and evolved into an early television show credited with propelling the careers of some of the 1950s and ‘60s biggest stars. Based in Shreveport, Louisiana, the show was named for a book by the same title by author Harnett Thomas Kane that examined a series of 1939-40 Louisiana scandals. The first radio show was aired April 3, 1948, live from the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium with emcee Horace Logan, who remained as the show’s producer until 1957. Among the first show’s guest performers were Kitty Wells, The Tennessee Mo ..read more