100 Years of the Grand Ole Opry

Since 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has left an indelible mark on American culture. What began as a one-hour radio "barn dance” has transformed into the longest running radio broadcast in US history, as well as a live performance for millions of country music fans each year. The Opry has launched and burnished the careers of almost every star in country music—including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, and countless others— for nearly a century, popularizing and preserving some of the most fundamental forms of American music. In many ways, the Opry is the show that made country music famous.

The Grand Ole Opry features today’s country music stars, superstars, and rising stars all on one stage, every week in Nashville, Tennessee—Music City, USA. Their world-famous show is where aspiring stars dream of playing and music lovers connect with their favorite artists up close at the Opry House. From the radio show that made it famous in 1925 to the cultural landmark and global phenomenon it is today, the Opry is the country's biggest stage. ​Craig Shelburne grew up in rural Nebraska watching the Grand Ole Opry on TNN. He moved to Nashville in 1994 and earned a journalism degree from Belmont University. He has written for the Bluegrass Situation, CMT.com, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Folk Alliance International, International Bluegrass Music Association, MusicRow magazine, and many other outlets. In addition, he has produced three AMERICANAFEST music festivals for the Americana Music Association. This is his first book.