[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 207--CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRAND 
                                OLE OPRY

  Mrs. BLACKBURN (for herself and Mr. Hagerty) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 207

       Whereas, on November 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry was born 
     when the WSM Barn Dance was launched with Uncle Jimmy 
     Thompson, a 77-year-old fiddle player;
       Whereas, in December 1927, the program was officially named 
     the Grand Ole Opry when George D. Hay, a legendary announcer 
     and program director, proclaimed on-air, ``For the past hour, 
     we have been listening to the music taken largely from the 
     Grand Opera, but from now on we will present the Grand Ole 
     Opry'';
       Whereas the Grand Ole Opry was housed in the Ryman 
     Auditorium, the ``Mother Church of Country Music'' in 
     Nashville, Tennessee;
       Whereas some of the most historic moments of the Grand Ole 
     Opry occurred inside Ryman Auditorium, including the 
     inductions of country music legends like Hank Williams, Patsy 
     Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, George 
     Jones, Jeannie Seely, Dolly Parton, and Johnny and June 
     Carter Cash;
       Whereas the popularity of the Grand Ole Opry surged during 
     the 1930s and 1940s, with its live radio broadcast becoming a 
     staple in households across the United States;
       Whereas, on March 15, 1974, the Grand Ole Opry broadcast 
     its final show from Ryman Auditorium;
       Whereas, on March 16, 1974, the Grand Ole Opry debuted its 
     first show in the new 4,400 seat Grand Ole Opry House in 
     Nashville, Tennessee, with President Richard Nixon in 
     attendance;
       Whereas a piece of the Ryman Auditorium stage, known as the 
     circle, was laid into the center of the new Grand Ole Opry 
     House stage and remains a hallowed piece of country music 
     history;
       Whereas the Grand Ole Opry is the longest-running radio 
     show in the history of the United States, reaching millions 
     of listeners each week;
       Whereas the contributions of the artists and members of the 
     Grand Ole Opry family have had an innumerable impact on the 
     culture and history of the United States;
       Whereas the Grand Ole Opry is more than just a concert hall 
     or a radio show, it is a United States institution that has 
     played a pivotal role in shaping the music landscape in the 
     United States;
       Whereas the Grand Ole Opry has continued to be the most 
     famous stage in country music and has solidified Nashville, 
     Tennessee, as the country music capital of the world; and
       Whereas, in 2025, the Grand Ole Opry is celebrating its 
     100th anniversary: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 
     Grand Ole Opry;
       (2) commemorates the legacy of the Grand Ole Opry and the 
     lasting contributions of the Grand Ole Opry to the 
     advancement of country music; and
       (3) congratulates the artists and members of the Grand Ole 
     Opry family on 100 inspiring years.

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