Grand Ole Opry Members

Born Brenda Gail Webb in Paintsville, Kentucky, the future Grammy award winner displayed musical aptitude from a young age. Growing up in a musical family, she was encouraged to continue singing into her teenage years. Her professional music career began in the late 60's, touring with her older sister Loretta Lynn. Loretta Lynn. Gayle soon signed a contract with Decca, the same label Lynn was signed with. After signing, the label insisted on a name change from Brenda, due to Brenda Lee already being signed to Decca. Around the same time, Lynn noticed a sign for the Krystal restaurant chain, suggesting the name Crystal. Gayle was then added, taken from her middle name of "Gail" and from that point forward she was Crystal Gayle.

She recorded her first hit song, "I've Cried the Blue (Right Out of My Eyes)", in 1970, which peaked at #23. While with Decca, Gayle struggled to find her own style, singing songs that were similar to Lynns. Feeling as though she was seen as just "Lorettas's sister", she decided to leave Decca in 1974, signing with United Artists Records. There, she was paired with producer Allen Reynolds, who encouraged her to move to a softer, country-pop crossover style. This pairing and stylistic change would soon lead to Gayle's success as a country-pop star. Over the next two years she released three albums and had several hit songs, including "This Is My Year for Mexico", "I'll Do It All Over Again", "Wrong Road Again" and "I'll Get Over You", her first #1. The next year, 1977, would prove to be a landmark year for her, with the release of her album "We Must Believe in Magic" and the worldwide smash hit, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", which--along with her almost floor-length hair--made her a household name. The song also won her the 1978 Grammy away for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. She had many more hits throughout the rest of the 1970s, including "Talking in Your Sleep", "Ready for the Times to Get Better" and "Half the Way".

She continued into the 1980s with such hits as "If You Ever Change Your Mind", "Too Many Lovers", "The Woman in Me", "Til I Gain Control Again" and "The Sound of Goodbye". In 1982 she recorded a duet with Eddie Rabbitt, the acclaimed "You and I", which has become one of the most popular wedding songs ever. In 1985 she teamed up with Gary Morris to record the love theme for the prime-time soap opera Dallas (1978), called "Makin' Up For Lost Time", which turned into yet another #1 hit. Her other 1980s hits included "A Long and Lasting Love", "Nobody Wants to Be Alone", "Straight to the Heart", "Cry" and "Nobody's Angel". In 1987 she guest-starred on the daytime soap opera Another World (1964) for a week. She teamed up again with Gary Morris and turned out the hit "Another World", which was also used as the new theme song for the soap opera. Her career took somewhat of a downturn in the late 1980s and she released her last major single, "Never Ending Song of Love", which peaked at #72, in 1990. She has since released several albums, with the most recent being her 2019 Country Classics compilation album, which includes Gayle's final recording with her sister Lynn. She has continued to have an active music career as of 2024, still frequently touring and making regular public appearances.

Lainey Wilson was born on 19 May 1992 in Baskin, Louisiana, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for Hardy Feat. Lainey Wilson: Wait in the Truck (2022), Yellowstone (2018) and Lainey Wilson: Things A Man Oughta Know (2021).

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee and raised in Sevierville, Tennessee to Avie Lee Parton, a housewife & Robert Lee Parton, a tobacco farmer. At 12, she was appearing on Knoxville TV and at 13, she was already recording on a small label and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry. After graduating from high school in 1964, she moved to Nashville to launch her country-singing career. She fell in love with Carl Dean, who ran an asphalt-paving business; they married on May 30, 1966 and are still together. In 1967 her singing caught the attention of Porter Wagoner, who hired her to appear on his program, The Porter Wagoner Show (1961). She stayed with the show for 7 years, their duets became famous, and she appeared with his group at the Grand Ole Opry; she also toured and sold records. By the time her hit "Joshua" reached #1 in 1970, her fame had overshadowed his, and she struck out on her own, though still recording duets with him. She left him for good to become a solo artist in 1974. Dolly gained immense popularity as a singer/songwriter. Dolly won numerous Country Music Association awards (1968, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976). This petite (5'0") beauty was a natural for television, and by the mid-1970s she was appearing frequently on TV specials and talk shows before getting her own, Dolly (1976). In 1977, Dolly got her first Grammy award: Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her song "Here You Come Again." Dolly's movie debut was in 9 to 5 (1980), where she got an Oscar nomination for writing the title tune, and also Grammy awards 2 and 3: Best Country Song, and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for the song "Nine to Five." She got more fame for appearing in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), and in Rhinestone (1984) with the song "Tennessee Homesick Blues". She is the head of Dolly Parton Enterprises, a $100 million media empire, and in 1986 she founded Dollywood, a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, celebrating her Smoky-Mountain upbringing. She appeared as herself in the Dolly (1987) TV series. In 1988, she won another Grammy: Best Country Performance Duo or Group with Vocals, for "Trio". Dolly was in the acclaimed picture Steel Magnolias (1989) with Julia Roberts, and went on to appear in 15 movies and TV-movies for the 1990s, and garnered more more Country Music Association awards. In 2000, Dolly received her 5th Grammy award: Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. She also released a Bluegrass Album. Dolly is known for beautiful songs such as "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene," and "I Will Always Love You". Dolly said in an interview, "My music is what took me everywhere I've been and everywhere I will go. It's my greatest love. I can't abandon it. I'll always keep making records."

Reba Nell McEntire was born in 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma. The reigning queen of country music has pursued a musical career since she was 5. In Junior High school, she performed with her musical siblings, aka the Singing McEntires. A fine athlete, Reba McEntire followed in the footsteps of her rodeo champion father in competitive barrel racing. Her performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City caught the attention of songwriter Red Steagall, who suggested she consider a career in country music. She has since earned 7 gold and 5 platinum albums and 2 Grammy Awards. She has also explored other avenues of entertainment, serving as a guest-host on Good Morning America (1975) & earning generally favorable reviews for her acting in the movie titled "Tremors" & TV mini-series, Buffalo Girls (1995). In 1988, she formed Starstruck Entertainment to oversee the very numerous aspects of her musical & acting careers.

She is extremely fortunate that she was not along with her seven band members and her touring manager when tragedy occurred and the airplane they were in crashed on Saturday, March 16th, 1991. There were eight lives lost that tragic Saturday.

Barbara Mandrell was born on 25 December 1948 in Houston, Texas, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Touched by an Angel (1994), Baywatch (1989) and The Rockford Files (1974). She has been married to Ken Dudney since 28 May 1967. They have three children.

Troyal Garth Brooks is an American country music singer and songwriter. His integration of pop and rock elements into the country genre has earned him popularity, particularly in the United States with success on the country music single and album charts, multi-platinum recordings and record-breaking live performances, while also crossing over into the mainstream pop arena.

Terri Clark was born on 5 August 1968 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She is an actress and composer, known for Terri Clark: Better Things to Do (1995), Terri Clark: When Boy Meets Girl (1995) and Diagnosis Murder (1993). She was previously married to Greg Kaczor and Ted Stevenson.

Dierks Bentley was born on 20 November 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Only the Brave (2017), Dierks Bentley: Drunk on a Plane (2014) and The Wire (2002). He has been married to Cassidy Black since 17 December 2005. They have three children.

Patty Loveless was born on 4 January 1957 in Pikeville, Kentucky, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for A Few Good Men (1992), Tin Cup (1996) and Patty Loveless: How Can I Help You Say Goodbye (1994). She has been married to Emory Gordy Jr. since 6 February 1989. She was previously married to Terry Lovelace.

Widely regarded as one of country music's finest female vocalists, Connie Smith had a blockbuster smash right off the bat with her first record release in 1964, "Once A Day", a song that remained at number one on the charts for several months. Virtually every other record Smith released for the next decade was a top ten smash for her and she also racked up numerous Grammy award nominations. Smith remained one of country's top female stars into the late 1970's when she decided to step back a bit from the limelight. Her personal life has been less smooth than her career at times with three failed marriages although she has been happily married to country star Marty Stuart, seventeen years her junior, since 1997. Her powerhouse vocals thrill audiences as much as ever as she enters her seventies and moves toward 50th anniversary of career in music.

Randy Travis was born on 4 May 1959 in Marshville, North Carolina, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007), Deep Impact (1998) and The Rainmaker (1997). He has been married to Mary Davis Travis since 21 March 2015. He was previously married to Elizabeth Hatcher-Travis.

Ricky Van Shelton was born on 12 January 1952 in Danville, Virginia, USA. He is an actor, known for Maverick (1994), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) and Next of Kin (1989). He has been married to Bettye Witt since 4 August 1986.

Craig Morgan was born on 17 July 1965 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Rizzoli & Isles (2010), CMT Hot 20 Countdown (2001) and West Rosencrantz (2019). He has been married to Karen Greer since 29 July 1989. They have four children.

Alan Jackson was born on 17 October 1958 in Newnan, Georgia, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for I Am Number Four (2011), Unstoppable (2010) and National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007). He has been married to Denise Jackson since 15 December 1979. They have three children.

Marty Stuart was born on 30 September 1958 in Philadelphia, Mississippi, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for The Marty Stuart Show (2008), Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) and Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). He has been married to Connie Smith since 8 July 1997. He was previously married to Cindy Cash.

Vince Gill was born on 12 April 1957 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Maverick (1994), For Love of the Game (1999) and Borat (2006). He has been married to Amy Grant since 10 March 2000. They have one child. He was previously married to Janis Oliver.

Emmylou Harris was born on 2 April 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. She is a music artist and actress, known for Brokeback Mountain (2005), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) and Lawless (2012). She was previously married to Paul Kennerley, Brian Ahern and Tom Slocum.

Martina McBride was born on 29 July 1966 in Sharon, Kansas, USA. She is a music artist and actress, known for Runaway Bride (1999), Where the Heart Is (2000) and Four Christmases (2008). She has been married to John McBride since 15 May 1988. They have three children.

Keith was born in Whangarei, NI, New Zealand. His parents moved when Keith was 2, to Queensland in Australia. Where he grew up. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1992. Keith became a naturalized American citizen several years ago and voted in the 2016 Presidential election. Keith was inducted into the Opry in April 2012 and into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2023.

Tim McGraw has sold more than 90 million records worldwide and dominated the charts with 46 worldwide No. 1 singles and 19 worldwide No. 1 albums. He's won 3 Grammy Awards, 21 Academy of Country Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards. His iconic career achievements include being named BDS Radio's Most Played Artist of the Decade for all music genres and having the Most Played Song of the Decade for all music genres. He is the most played country artist at radio since his debut in 1992, with two singles spending 10 weeks or more at No. 1. Known for his high energy concerts, he is one of the top touring artists of all time including the record-setting "Soul2Soul" tours with his wife, Faith Hill. An acclaimed actor, McGraw starred in and narrated the hit movie "The Shack" and co-wrote and performed the closing credit song for the Oscar winning documentary "Free Solo." His other movie credits include blockbuster hits "Friday Night Lights" and "The Blind Side. McGraw starred beside Sam Elliott and his wife Faith Hill in the Yellowstone prequel and three-time Emmy nominated 1883. McGraw has co-authored two New York Times Best Selling books, Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest and the Music that Made a Nation with Jon Meacham and fitness book Grit & Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life. As part of the host committee, McGraw welcomed the largest outdoor crowd in Nashville history to his performance at the 2019 NFL Draft. He also appeared in the NFL Tailgate Party for Super Bowl LII and the College Football Playoffs 2020. His newest single, "Standing Room Only," just launched with the most first-week streams of any track in McGraw's career.

Travis Tritt was born on 9 February 1963 in Marietta, Georgia, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), My Cousin Vinny (1992) and The Mule (2018). He has been married to Theresa Nelson since 12 April 1997. They have three children. He was previously married to Jodi Barrett and Karen Ryon.

Steven Noel Wariner (born December 25, 1954) is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has charted more than fifty singles on the Billboard country singles charts, including ten Number One hits: "All Roads Lead to You", "Some Fools Never Learn", "You Can Dream of Me", "Life's Highway", "Small Town Girl", "The Weekend", "Lynda", "Where Did I Go Wrong", and "I Got Dreams", and "What If I Said", a duet with Anita Cochran from her album Back to You.

In addition to writing his own songs, Wariner holds several writing credits for other artists, including Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Bryan White, and Keith Urban. Wariner has won multiple Grammy Awards and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1996. He was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville in 2008, and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2011.

Rhonda Vincent is known for Dumplin' (2018), Rhonda Vincent: Heartbreaker's Alibi (2006) and Circle Sessions: At Home (2020). She has been married to Herb Sandker since 24 December 1983. They have two children.

Jamey Johnson is known for Hell or High Water (2016), Killer Joe (2011) and Crank: High Voltage (2009).

Steven Curtis Chapman was born in Paducah, Kentucky on November 21, 1962. His parents are Herb and Judy Chapman. He attended Heath High School in Paducah Kentucky and received the title "Mr. Heath" in his Senior year. He wrote and was a songwriter before he made his first CD "First Hand". Since then, he has received 43 Dove awards, 4 Grammys, and countless other honors. He is known and loved for his style of making his audience feel like they are family. All of these things come together to make him the most successful man in Christian Music. Steven has six children, three of which are adopted from China. Their names are Shaohannah, Stevey Joy and Maria.