Here & Now Anytime ‘The Grand Ole Opry,’ a fixture in country music, turns 100
Nov 28, 2025
Charlie Mattos, host of the Grand Ole Opry, shares the venue's rich history and emotional significance for artists. Mandy Barnett, a beloved country music singer and Opry member, reflects on her heartfelt journey to the stage and the connection with the audience. David Greeno, a tribal elder from the Menominee Indian Tribe, discusses the recent reburial of 67 ancestors and the cultural importance of their return, highlighting the ongoing struggle for Native American repatriation and healing.
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Humble Saturday Night Origins
- The Grand Ole Opry began on a Saturday night when George D. Hay invited fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson to play live on radio.
- Audiences showed up to the studio and the broadcast grew into a ticketed live venue that endured for 100 years.
COVID Shows: Deeply Intimate Nights
- During COVID the Opry stripped shows down to three artists and no audience, creating a magical and surreal intimacy.
- Charlie Mattos recalls shows where only 14 people were in the entire building, making performances unprecedentedly intimate.
A Cultural Pillar For Country Music
- Charlie Mattos calls the Opry "the show that made country music famous" and compares its cultural role to Ed Sullivan for rock and roll.
- He argues the Opry remains a living, significant institution rather than a cultural relic after 100 years.