Grand Ole Opry Continues Live Radio Broadcast Without Studio Audience

NASHVILLE, TN – March 20, 2020 – The Grand Ole Opry stands by the motto: “the Circle can’t be broken.”

Throughout the Opry’s history, various events have led Opry management to make difficult decisions about how to alter the show’s format.

In an effort to maintain health and safety amid current COVID-19 concerns, the Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, will pause performances that include a live audience through April 4. 

The Opry’s first priority has always been the safety of employees, guests and artists who have all been key in keeping the show that made country music famous on the air every week for over 94 years. 

During this time, the Saturday Night Grand Ole Opry Show will return to its original format as a live radio broadcast without a live audience. Fans around the world can still tune in to the Saturday night broadcasts at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. 

It is widely believed the Opry has cancelled its live Saturday night performance only once before, as on April 6, 1968 a curfew imposed by the city of Nashville following the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr’s assassination in Memphis two days earlier forced such a cancellation. For the only time in its history, that night’s Opry broadcast consisted of a previously taped performance. Opry patriarch Roy Acuff and other performers staged a makeshift show at a nearby square-dance hall for Opry fans that afternoon. 

Among current Grand Ole Opry members are Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Carrie Underwood, and dozens of other country and bluegrass greats. 

Guests with tickets for cancelled performances can contact Grand Ole Opry Customer Service for help at 800-SEE-OPRY or go to opry.com.

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