Free Republic

Little Jimmy Dickens, a diminutive singer-songwriter known for his sense of humor and as the oldest cast member of the Grand Ole Opry, has died. He was 94. Dickens died Friday at a Nashville-area hospital of cardiac arrest after suffering a stroke on Christmas Day, Opry spokeswoman Jessie Schmidt said. Dickens, who stood 4-foot-11, had performed on the Opry almost continuously since 1948. His last performance was Dec. 20 as part of his birthday celebration. He sang "Out Behind The Barn" and delivered his trademark comedy. He had turned 94 a day earlier. "The Grand Ole Opry did not have...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2007 – Country music fans soon will be invited to join top country artists and the Grand Ole Opry in creating the “World’s Largest Care Package” for troops serving overseas. “We feel like this is a great way to thank (servicemembers) and recognize the sacrifices that they made to serve our country and defend our freedom,” said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager. “This just seemed like a great idea that we thought would catch people’s attention and put some smiles on some faces overseas.” The Grand Ole Opry, with the United States Postal...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2006 -- The Grand Ole Opry is looking for the public’s help in honoring the nation’s veterans during its live Saturday night show this week, which happens to coincide with Veterans Day. The Opry is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation’s military “The Opry has great attendance and a great allegiance from veterans, so it’s the Opry giving back to those folks who certainly have given to the Opry, given to America,” Rogers said. “The Opry is the embodiment of America’s music,...

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 28, 2006 – Some of the country music stars that write songs honoring the nation's troops and travel the world to bring them a taste of home performed at the Grand Ole Opry this Memorial Day weekend. Country music singer, songwriter and lead guitarist Rockie Lynne responds to the audience at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., May 27 during an All-American Salute Signature Show featuring tributes to America's men and women in uniform. The audience, which included many military veterans, waved flags and gave Lynne a standing ovation after he sang "Red, White &...

NASHVILLE — The Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, turns 80 this month. And the Opry has been pulling out all the stops, with Nashville festivities under way since spring. The official birthday weekend is Oct. 14-15, and a star-studded November show at New York City’s Carnegie Hall will cap the celebration. Visit the Grand Old Opry at www.opry.com or www.wsmonline.com. The Opry remains the pinnacle of country success for artists like Opry member Trace Adkins, who calls the Grand Ole Opry stage “the most special stage I get to perform on.” “There is a respect and a...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Skeeter Davis, who hit the top of the pop charts with "The End of the World" in 1963 and sang on the Grand Ole Opry radio show for more than 40 years, died Sunday of cancer. She was 72. Davis died at a Nashville hospice, said Grand Ole Opry publicist Jessie Schmidt. Davis had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988 and had a recurrence in 1996.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The live telecast of the Grand Ole Opry is moving from Country Music Television to its smaller competitor, Great American Country. The hour-long country music show, "Grand Ole Opry Live," has appeared on CMT every Saturday night since 2001. It draws 1.5 million to 2 million viewers and was CMT's highest-rated weekly series. The move means the TV broadcast will reach fewer viewers. Great American Country, started in 1996, reaches only 25.2 million U.S. households, compared to the more than 70 million households reached by CMT. "There isn't a bigger, longer-running music show on TV...