Buzz
December 10 marks a pivotal moment in country music history: the day the Grand Ole Opry earned its charmingly rustic moniker.
In 1925, George Hay, a radio host, began working at WSM in Nashville. He was tasked with leading a Saturday night program known as the "WSM Barn Dance," featuring fiddlers, banjo players, and acts with colorful names like the Fruit Jar Drinkers, the Binkley Brothers’ Dixie Clodhoppers, and the Gully Jumpers.
Preceding the "Barn Dance" was "The Music Appreciation Hour," a 60-minute performance led by Dr. Walter Damrosch, former director of the New York Symphony Orchestra. The stark contrast between the two shows was undeniable. Hay once remarked, “The shift in tone and style was dramatic. Fans of Dr. Damrosch and his orchestra were less than pleased with our lively show and didn’t hold back their criticism.”
On December 10, 1927, Hay crafted a memorable phrase highlighting the stark contrast between the two musical styles. “Friends, the previous program was dedicated to classical music,” he announced to his audience. “For the past hour, we’ve enjoyed pieces from grand opera. Now, we bring you the Grand Ole Opry.”
The name quickly caught on, and in just a few weeks, the radio show replaced “Barn Dance” with “Grand Ole Opry” as its official title. Whether Hay planned the remark or delivered it spontaneously, he couldn’t have predicted that his clever phrase would become one of the most iconic names in music history.
