Membership into the Grand Ole Opry is hardly a given for country music’s most popular and successful singers. In fact, this list of stars who aren’t members is nearly as impressive as a list of stars who are.
True or false: Blake Shelton is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. What about Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts and George Strait? Are they members, and if not, why?
Two of these four artists are among the 76 members (as of March 2025) of the Grand Ole Opry, and two are not.
The Opry explains how it chooses new members and what someone needs to do to earn membership, but explanations for why an icon like Hank Williams Jr. isn’t a member can only be offered by the man himself.
Keep scrolling. We asked Hank this question, and his answer is perfect!
- Three to six new Grand Ole Opry members are inducted each year.
- Nearly 250 singers and celebrities have been inducted since the first member (Uncle Jimmy Thompson) in 1925.
- Bill Anderson is the oldest member. The 87-year-old was inducted in July 1961.
Rules and guidelines for earning Grand Ole Opry membership are subjective.
The website shares that they want a generational balance among members. That’s visible in a list of new members from 2020 to 2025: Lainey Wilson, T. Graham Brown, Scotty McCreery, Jon Pardi, Sara Evans, Gảy Mule Deer, Henry Cho, Jamey Johnson and Don Schlitz are just a few.
The Opry also looks at past success and potential for future success, although “success” is not defined. One thing is certain: an artist needs to want it. Actually, they need to really want it.
Dozens of great country music singers and Grand Ole Opry performers have never been invited, but we picked the 31 most iconic stars.
It’s a list that features 15 Entertainers of the Year and eight Country Music Hall of Famers.
Remember, only living artists can become members. That sounds obvious, but it means there will be no posthumous inductions.
There are 76 members of the Grand Ole Opry as of March 2025, but that doesn’t include 15 living CMA or ACM Entertainers of the Year and several Country Music Hall of Famers. George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Willie Nelson are three legends who rarely play the Grand Ole Opry. Why?
That answer is often difficult to determine, but this list of stars you won’t believe aren’t members suggests reasons where appropriate.
Membership into the Grand Ole Opry comes with an obligation to play the show frequently, but that’s often set aside (Barbara Mandrell is an inactive member, for example). Only living artists are considered, and once a member dies, they are no longer a member.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Which county singer is most deserving of a Country Music Hall of Fame induction? Here are 60 artists that don’t have a medallion yet, with some thoughts on when each is eligible and if their fans can expect that nod soon.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
