Why Charley Pride Took So Long to Become a Grand Ole Opry Member

30 years ago today—May 1st 1993—Charley Pride took the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as he had done many times before, but this time it was special.
30 years ago today—May 1st 1993—Charley Pride took the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as he had done many times before, but this time it was special.
Blake Shelton, Charley Pride, DeFord Bailey, Ernest Tubb, Grand Ole Opry, Jon Pardi, Willie Nelson
A life-sized likeness of Charley Pride now adorns the grounds of the Country Music Mother Church in Nashville, a.k.a. The Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry was held for many years. A Grand Ole Opry member, Pride’s bronze statue now joins other iconic Opry stars Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn…
Charley Pride, DeFord Bailey, Dennis Quaid, Dion Pride, Rozene Pride, Ryman Auditorium
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In 2022, something happened at the Grand Ole Opry that is only fair to label as historic. More so than any other year in its nearly 100-year existence, the coveted Grand Ole Opry debut was doled out to deserving artists from across the panorama, checking off bucket list items, populating glowing resume points…
49 Winchester, Aaron Raitiere, Adam Hood, Brian Kelly, Carlos DeFord Bailey, Channing Wilson, Chapel Hart, Corb Lund, Dan Auerbach, Dan Rogers, DeFord Bailey, Drake Milligan, Grand Ole Opry, Hogslop String Band, Jason Eady, Jon Wolfe, Josh Ward, Joshua Ray Walker, Kaitlin Butts, Kimberly Kelly, Kolby Cooper, Leigh Nash, MIke and the Moonpies, Miko Marks, Morgan Wade, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Randall King, Texas Hill, The Beach Boys, The Goldens, The Shootouts, Tyler Hubbard
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Though the film means well, and is generally well-made with superb cinematography and high production value, the approach and information conveyed in the film is problematic to say the least, actively participating in erasing the legacy of Black country artists in a film that purports to be championing them.
Aaron Vance, AHI, Allison Russell, Amanda Martinez, Amythyst Kiah, Anita Pointer, Ben Hunter, Big Al Dowling, Blanco Brown, Breland, Brittney Spencer, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Chapel Hart, Charley Crockett, Charley Pride, Chet Atkins, Darius Rucker, DeFord Bailey, Dom Flemons, Earl Thomas Conley, Elamin Abdelmahmoud, For Love and Country, George Jones, Jason Isbell, Jimmie Allen, Joshua Kissi, Joy Oldokun, Kacey Musgraves, Kaia Kater, Kane Brown, Ken Nelson, Leyla McCalla, Lil Nas X, Linda Martell, Mickey Guyton, Miko Marks, Milton Patton, O.B. McClinton, Ray Charles, Rissi Palmer, Shy Carter, Stoney Edwards, Sunny War, Tammi Savoy, Tex Ritter, The War and Treaty, Thomas Benton, Tony Jackson, Tre Burt, Tyler Childers, Valerie June, Wendy Moten, Willie Nelson, Zach Bryan
Since the Hall of Fame continues to not allow for public broadcast of the ceremony, fans of The Judds and other inductees have been mostly resigned to piecing together the events. But luckily, a full video of The Judds induction has emerged.
Ashley Judd, Charley Pride, Country Music Hall of Fame, DeFord Bailey, Eddie Byers, Naomi Judd, Pete Drake, Ray Charles, Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie Milsap, The Judds, The War and Treaty, Wynonna Judd
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Congratulations, woke Twitter. You have officially blocked the effort to erect a statue of Dolly Parton in the Tennessee State House in Nashville, certifying that the current statue of Ku Klux Klan leader and Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest remains ensconced.
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Ensconcing a statue of Dolly Parton in the Tennessee state Capitol to replace the bust of Confederate General and Klu Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest is being proposed in the state’s legislature after receiving large grassroots support.
Aretha Franklin, DeFord Bailey, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson
The first episode of the Ken Burns Country Music documentary tasked itself to define what country music is by delving deep into its origins and original purveyors. The second episode called “Hard Times” began the work of explaining why the music means so much to so many people.
Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Monroe, Bob Wills, Chet Atkins, DeFord Bailey, Delmore Brothers, Don Maddox, Eddie Stubbs, Gene Autry, Jean Shepard, Johnny Cash, Ken Burns, Mac Wiseman, Marty Stuart, Minnnie Pearl, Ray Benson, Roy Acuff, Roy Rogers, Sons of the Pioneers, The Carter Family, The Monroe Brothers, Tommy Duncan, Vince Gill, Wyalon Jennings
Over seven years of full-time labor on the part of numerous people, over 101 interviews conducted, countless hours of archival work digging up old photographs, audio, video, and other vintage material, and an elongated year-long promotional effort finally culminated in the broadcast of the debut episode for the Ken Burns Country Music epic.
DeFord Bailey, Dolly Parton, Fiddlin' John Carson, Grand Ole Opry, Holly Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Kathy Mattea, Ken Burns, Ketch Secor, Marty Stuart, Mel Tillis, Merle Haggard, Old Crow Medicine Show, Rhiannon Giddens, Rosanne Cash, The Carter Family, Uncle Dave Macon, WSM
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On Sunday night (6-9), legendary hip-hop outfit The Wu-Tang Clan made a stop at the Ryman Auditorium as part of their 25th Anniversary tour for a sold-out performance. Known affectionately as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” the booking of Wu-Tang at the Ryman might have seemed a little weird to some.
DeFord Bailey, Grand Ole Opry, Jamup and Honey, Lil Nas X, Old Town Road, The Ryman Auditorium, Wu-Tang Clan
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Oh the irony of so many people demanding all music sound the same in the name of “diversity.” The only reason we’re even having a discussion of where Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” should be placed on the charts is because you can’t tell the difference between most any given piece of popular music anymore.
Aaron Vance, Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Ben Hunter, Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Charley Crockett, Charley Pride, Cleve Francis, Darius Rucker, DeFord Bailey, Dom Flemons, Jerry Pentacost, Kaia Kater, Leyla McCalla, Linda Martell, Mavis Staples, Michael “Scooter” McDonald, Mickey Guyton, Milton Patton, OB McClinton, Our Native Daughters, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Priscilla Renea, Ray Charles, Rhiannon Giddens, Stoney Edwards, Sunny War, Tammi Savoy, The McCrary Sisters, The Pointer Sisters, The War & Treaty, Tina Turner, Tony Jackson, Valerie June, Yola
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For many years, the influence and contributions of African American musicians in country music went mostly overlooked, or overshadowed by their Caucasian counterparts. However there has been a recent trend by media and even some artists to overstate the influence of African Americans.
Aaron Vance, Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Charley Crockett, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, DeFord Bailey, Dom Flemons, Hank Williams, Jimmie Allen, Jimmie Rodgers, Kane Brown, Leyla McCalla, Mickey Guyton, Ray Charles, Rhiannon Giddens, Rufus Payne, Valerie June
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Let’s face it. For a host of reasons, it’s pretty rare to see African Americans making country and roots music. But when they do, more often that not, they’re doing it the right way, pushing the music forward creatively while fiercely helping to preserving the past, becoming part of the solution instead of prolonging the problem.
Aaron Vance, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Charley Crockett, Charley Pride, Cleve Davis, Darius Rucker, DeFord Bailey, Dom Flemons, Jerry Pentacost, Kaia Kater, Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton, Milton Patton, Rhiannon Giddens, Rufus Payne, Tony Jackson, Valerie June
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If you think that Hank Williams Sr. is the only person to get crossways with the Opry, check out this sordid history: DeFord Bailey: DeFord Bailey was the most influential harmonica player of the early 20th Century, and is known as the ‘Lost Legend of the Grand Ole Opry.’ The Opry owes this dude a […]
Charlie Louvin, DeFord Bailey, Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, Reinstate Hank, Skeeter Davis, Stonewall Jackson