Grand Ole Opry Celebrates 100th Anniversary of First Broadcast

The Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 100th anniversary of its November 28, 1925 inaugural broadcast with two shows on Friday (Nov. 28) and more than 25 Opry members commemorating 100 years since the evening a single fiddle tune performed by Uncle Jimmy Thompson launched a legacy which now includes over 15,000 broadcasts, countless stars, millions of fans, and one enduring unbroken circle.

The milestone 100th anniversary show looked back on the past 100 years celebrating what makes the Opry country music’s greatest family and what has helped the Opry stand the test of time while keeping it evolving into the next century. Highlights of the milestone Opry 100 celebration included Ricky Skaggs, who opened the show with a performance of “Tennessee Wagoner,” while playing the very fiddle with which Uncle Jimmy Thompson played 100 years ago during the Opry’s debut.

Vince Gill (Opry member since 1991) introduced and played the new exclusive Opry 100 guitar that Martin Guitars designed for the centennial anniversary and in celebration of all the music to be made in the future on the Opry. This marked the first time this limited-edition guitar has ever been played publicly. 

Vince Gill introduced and played the new exclusive Opry 100 guitar that Martin Guitars designed for the centennial anniversary and in celebration of all the music to be made in the future on the Opry.

Jamey Johnson (Opry member since 2022) was next to satep into the circle to perform his hit “In Color,” and Dustin Lynch (Opry member since 2018) performed his song “Cowboys And Angels” after the Opry band and singers who are part of each and every Opry show were introduced.

All year long, as part of the Opry 100 celebration, fans around the world have been voting for the Opry’s all-time greatest songs to honor the songs that built country music. Vince Gill returned to the stage to reveal the winning song, performing “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”

The milestone 100 Anniversary show concluded with Steven Curtis Chapman(Opry member since 2024) performing “Grand Ole Opry Stage,” a song he wrote for his Opry induction.

Ricky Skaggs opened the show with a performance of “Tennessee Wagoner,” while playing the very fiddle with which Uncle Jimmy Thompson started it all 100 years ago tonight.