[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 18, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING THE GRAND OLE OPRY ON 100 YEARS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN W. ROSE

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2025

  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American 
treasure that I have the privilege to represent in Congress. This year 
marks 100 years since the Grand Ole Opry first introduced audiences 
around the world to country music and to Nashville.
  My home state of Tennessee is known for many things. If you had to 
list some of the most prominent, you might think of the Great Smoky 
Mountains of Elvis Presley, but you would most certainly include the 
Grand Ole Opry.
  Nashville is known around the world as Music City USA. That would not 
he the case had it not been for the Opry. But the longtime show isn't 
exclusive to Tennessee's story. No, it's part of American culture.
  The Opry was around before the Great Depression and World War II. It 
has seen a lot, endured a lot, and served as a beacon of hope decade 
after decade.
  The program's venue has moved within Nashville a few times, but it is 
primarily known for two locations the Ryman Auditorium off Broadway and 
its current location on Opry Mills Drive. Both locations enjoy hundreds 
of thousands of visitors every year.
  Without the Grand Ole Opry, we would likely not know the names Hank 
Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, or Willie Nelson. Heaven-forbid, 
we might not even know Dolly Parton had it not been for the show.
  WSM, those are its call letters, was one of the fist radio stations 
to connect urban and rural culture. The Opry was also a first to 
transform a hobby into a marketable and lucrative industry.
  Crossover artists are not uncommon today. But they were virtually 
nonexistent before 1925. The Opry hosted honky-tonk, bluegrass, gospel, 
and rockabilly performers. This paved the way for what we know today as 
country music.
  From music legends to up-and-comers, musicians around the world 
rightfully revere the Grand Ole Opry as a place of prestige, history, 
and continued relevance.
  There are fewer than 100 members of the Grand Ole Opry. It is indeed 
an elite crowd of men and women who made the world better, who embody 
country music, and who are part of our shared heritage as Americans. In 
fact, that membership sits at the top of dozens of obituaries among 
some of our nation's finest performers.
  This year, TripAdvisor ranked Nashville 6th among the best American 
travel destinations. More than 17 million people visited last year. 
That is in large part because of the influence of the Grand Ole Opry 
over the last 100 years.
  Mr. Speaker, any seat in the house will do at the Grand Ole Opry. To 
beat witness to the iconic barn background behind the stage, the lights 
that look like stars above you, and the acoustics around you makes for 
an unforgettable evening. No matter how many chances I get to see a 
show in person, I always sense the history, the importance, and the joy 
that the Grand Ole Opry represents.
  As the United States Representative of Tennessee's 6th Congressional 
District, I rise today to enthusiastically congratulate the Grand Ole 
Opry on a century of entertainment and a century of significance. I am 
confident the man or woman in my shoes 100 years from now will feel 
compelled to do the same.

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