Day 1 - Oostburg School District

The Grand Ole Opry is the oldest continuous country radio program in the
US and has been broadcasted on WSM since 1925. Founded and shaped by station
manager George Dewey Hay, it was called the WSM Barn Dance until 1926. The
Depression had begun and people who could not afford to buy record albums were
able to enjoy their music for free on the radio. The popularity of the radio show led to
the creation of the "barn dance show. It was created almost by accident because the
National Life & Accident Insurance Company started the station to sell insurance.
The Opry gained popularity as it started to hire professionals such as Roy Acuff and
other country stars who became regulars. In 1939 it showed nationally on NBC. The
Grand Ole Opry then moved to a permanent home in the early 1940’s, the Ryman
Auditorium, and established a live stage show there. It was the nation's favorite radio
program by the end of the 1950’s. Nashville became America’s country music capital
as the Opry became more important. Over all the years of the Opry their has been a
wide variety of performers at the Opry including the Crater Family, Ernest Tubbs, Bill
Monroe, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, the comedienne Minnie Pearl, and
such later stars as Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Reba McIntire. The Grand Ole
Opry has been broadcasted and televised from Nashville's Opryland USA amusement
park since 1974.
The Grand Ole Opry is still huge today. It has shaped Nashville into the
Nations country music capital. Country singers take pride in being able to be a
member of the Grand Ole Opry. Its stage has been performed on by historical figures
in the Country music industry and it is an honor to perform their. It is still huge today
and broadcasted live on radio in Nashville, Tennessee. It is also shown on television
on GAC. Today many American country music fans travel far just to go to the great
show the Grand Ole Opry has given way back since the 1920’s.