Interesting Info About George Strait/Opry

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 21 Mar 2023 3:03 pm

https://youtu.be/L8bUhSBbKpc

One of the anomalies in Country music is "The King" George Strait is not a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and he has barely even stepped foot into the famous Opry house. Rumors have circulated through the years as to why George Strait has never been a member of the Grand Ole Opry, but it may not be as complicated as most fans think. This video details the real reason why George Strait is not a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 22 Mar 2023 7:28 am

George Strait is a Texan; always has been and always will be. That is all the notoriety anyone needs to Country Music. Nashville is second place to Texas; always has been and always will be in the Spirit of Country Music.
Ricky

Abram Denzlinger · Post by **Abram Denzlinger** » 22 Mar 2023 11:39 am

When we did an Opry tour several years ago, our guide brought this up as a trivia question during the tour. "Who is the only artist who has ever turned down an invitation...". He explained that they ask a lot from Opry artists and that George didn't want to make that kind of commitment. It was very matter of fact, and there didn't seem to be any bad blood at all.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 22 Mar 2023 12:00 pm

I'm surprised to hear that George is the only one. I've heard other artists on various talk and other shows mention the Opry commitment was a big one that might interfere with tours and/or better playing jobs.

Obviously I fully understand it's a huge honor to be invited with many benefits to being a GOO member.

Abram Denzlinger · Post by **Abram Denzlinger** » 22 Mar 2023 12:17 pm

"I'm surprised to hear that George is the only one..."

The video above made it sound like there might be others too, but didn't specify any.

Marty Broussard · Post by **Marty Broussard** » 22 Mar 2023 1:18 pm

In my experience there are others. I’ve never heard of bad blood; just business decisions that had to be made.

Roy Carroll · Post by **Roy Carroll** » 15 Apr 2023 8:57 am

Faron Young once told Roy Acuff, "Why should I come here from off the road to play for scale, when I am getting $10,000.00 a night." George make over $1m a night.
It is a total business decision. He can also be accepted when he retires if he wants to.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 17 Apr 2023 5:42 pm

Wikipedia has a list by decade of all 228 members of the Grand Ole Opry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_G ... ry_members.

A second list in alphabetical order is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category: ... ry_members

Notable missing names include Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and George Strait.