The Grand Ole Opry has now been the epicenter of country music for a century. The longest running broadcast in the world kicked off its 100th year on the airwaves Jan. 3 at the historic Ryman Auditorium with a performance from Bill Anderson, the Opry’s longest-tenured member.
Anderson inaugurated the Opry’s 100th year with newly written lyrics to the standard “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” honoring the country music institution, with a nod to Uncle Jimmy Thompson, the first performer to take the Opry stage: “Just an old time fiddle player/ Back in 1925/ Now 100 long year later/ What he started is still alive/ Happy birthday, Grand Ole Opry/ Stars who’re here and stars who’ve gone/ May your music last forever/ As the whole world sings your song.”
Anderson, 87, has been a member of the Opry since 1961. In 2023, when he reached the 62-year mark, he was honored as the Opry’s longest-serving member. Nicknamed “Whisperin’ Bill,” the Decatur, Georgia native is known for his pioneering approach to country talk-singing and for writing hits like Ray Price’s “City Lights,” Lefty Frizzell’s “Saginaw, Michigan,” Connie Smith’s “Once A Day,” Jean Shepard’s “Slippin’ Away,” and Charlie Louvin’s “I Don’t Love You Anymore.”
The Ryman, the Opry’s most famous former home, recently unveiled a new Opry 100 exhibition tracing the organization from its beginnings as a radio broadcast on WSN in 1925 to its current stature as a cornerstone of country music. The Opry is beginning its 100th year with a series of “Opry at the Ryman” shows broadcasting from the storied venue.
The Jan. 4 broadcast was dedicated to President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. Opry member Charlie McCoy performed “Georgia On My Mind,” the official state song of Carter’s home state, in honor of Carter, who attended the Opry before, during, and after his presidency.
Additional “Opry at the Ryman” shows are scheduled for Jan. 10, 11, and 17 with performances from Opry members Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Old Crow Medicine Show, Steve Wariner, Lainey Wilson, and more. The Opry will return to its home base, the Grand Ole Opry House, on Jan. 18.
Listen to Bill Anderson’s best songs on Spotify or Apple Music.
