The Grand Ole Opry is a time-honored institution. Becoming a member of the Opry puts you in a league with the greatest country artists of all time. It firmly cements your status as a fellow country great. In 2025, there are 75 active members of the Grand Ole Opry, though over 200 artists have gotten the call throughout the Opry’s tenure. Find a list of them–including information about a few key players–below.
Opry History Makers
Books could be filled with information about every single Opry member. To save some room, we’ve decided to discuss a few history-makers. It is by no means exhaustive and will leave out some country greats, but find a taster of what the Opry has to offer–past and present–below.
Joined on November 28, 1925 (Inactive)
Uncle Jimmy Thompson, a legendary fiddle player, was the first performer to play on the Grand Ole Opry–and by extension the first Opry member. In fact, he was there before they even earned their official name. He took part in the first broadcast of what would grow into this iconic institution when it was called the WSM Barn Dance. This early performance paved the way for future Opry moments.
Joined in 1940 (Inactive)
It’s not just musicians who have shaped the Opry. Minnie Pearl (a.k.a Sarah Cannon) was one of the most famous Opry members, though a comedian and not a country singer. Pearl was one of the first female stand-ups. Armed with her caricature of a smalltown lady, Pearl warmed the hearts of Opry listeners until 1991.
“Most women comics don’t want to get down on the level of the country girl who makes a fool of herself. I understand that,” she once said. “But for one time I’d like them to get inside Minnie Pearl’s skin and see what fun she has because she really has a great time. She’s as nutty as a fruitcake and wild as a can of crab. And she’s very happy.”
Joined on September 16, 1967 (Active)
If you’re a female Grand Ole Opry member, you have Jeannie Seely to thank. Her outspokenness paved the way for fairer representation on this historic stage. She is famed for becoming the first woman to regularly host 30-minute segments on the Opry. Moreover, she coined this famous Opry quote: “I won’t wear a miniskirt in the back door if you don’t let anybody wear one in the front door.” This was a response to the backlash from higher-ups in the Opry who frowned upon her modern way of dressing.
Joined on December 20, 1986 (Active)
In terms of modern country legends, it seldom gets more iconic than Randy Travis. His list of accolades is too long to include here, but let’s just say he’s one of the best to ever do it. Travis became an Opry member as a 27-year-old in 1986 and has since delivered some of the most memorable performances on the Opry stage. He continues to be a face that gets the crowd on their feet anytime he finds himself at the Opry.
Joined on August 10, 1991 (Active)
Vince Gill is an artist who regularly pays his dues on the Opry stage. Though most Opry members make their way back home for a few performances a year, Gill makes sure he doesn’t go too long without gracing the iconic “Circle.” He is generally considered one of the youngest “elder statesmen” of country, earning legend status fairly early in life. He’s got an old-school charm that works well with the Opry’s history.
While there are many more Opry tastemakers where these five come from, it’s impossible to expound on all of them here. For a more comprehensive list, find every active Opry member as of 2025, below. Find more information about attending an Opry show, HERE.
Trace AdkinsLauren AlainaBill AndersonKelsea BalleriniBobby BareMandy BarnettDierks BentleyClint BlackGarth BrooksSteven Curtis ChapmanHenry ChoTerri ClarkLuke CombsJohn ConleeDailey & VincentDiamond RioSara EvansGary Mule DeerCrystal GayleVince GillEmmylou HarrisAlan JacksonChris JansonJamey JohnsonAlison Krauss
Lady A
Little Big TownPatty LovelessDustin LynchBarbara MandrellMartina McBrideAshley McBrydeDel McCouryCharlie McCoyScotty McCreeryReba McEntireRonnie MilsapEddie MontgomeryCraig MorganLorrie MorganOld Crow Medicine ShowBrad PaisleyJon PardiDolly PartonCarly PearceStu PhillipsJeanne PruettRascal FlattsRiders In The SkyDarius RuckerDon Schlitz
Jeannie Seely
Blake SheltonRicky SkaggsConnie SmithMike SniderMarty StuartT. Graham BrownThe Gatlin BrothersThe IsaacsThe Oak Ridge BoysThe WhitesPam TillisRandy TravisTravis TrittJosh TurnerCarrie UnderwoodKeith UrbanRicky Van SheltonRhonda VincentSteve WarinerGene WatsonMark WillsLainey WilsonTrisha Yearwood
Chris Young
(Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT)
