Wow. Steve Earle Invited to Be The Next Grand Ole Opry Member
In a completely unexpected move, though not entirely undeserved, alt-country legend and Americana Godfather Steve Earle has been invited to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry. The invitation came during Steve Earle’s set Saturday night (4-26) on the legendary stage/radio show. Long-time Opry member Vince Gill did the honors.
Right after Steve Earle performed his signature song “Copperhead Road,” Vince Gill came out to give Steve Earle a commemorative Opry 100th Birthday guitar strap. Gill then acted like that was all, before doubling back and saying, “You have to be an Opry member to have one of these. We want to invite you to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Steve Earle barreled over with emotion. “This is kind of the biggest thing that has ever happened to me in my life,” he said eventually, before performing “Hillbilly Highway” as now an Opry invitee. You can see the moment below:
Though Steve Earle is no stranger to the Grand Ole Opry stage, it’s not as if he’s been a long-time regular of the performing rotation either. Many have been expecting an invite for a more contemporary performer next, potentially Jelly Roll or The War and Treaty. Instead, Steve Earle adds a decidedly alt-country character to the Grand Ole Opry membership, which is something that has been somewhat missing from the ranks over the years.
Though Earle might have put the “alt” in country, his 1986 debut album Guitar Town was a #1 on the country charts, and produced multiple Top 10 hits under producer Tony Brown. Earle has always been somewhat of an outsider to the Nashville establishment as a rather brash individual, politically outspoken, and with a felony drug history. But his rehabilitation over the years has been strong. In 2023, “Copperhead Road” became an official State Song of Tennessee, despite the song’s theme.
Steve Earle will be formally inducted as a member on a future show.
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April 26, 2025 @ 9:39 pm
Well that’s cool.
April 26, 2025 @ 10:41 pm
I guess you can actually get far on thirty-seven dollars and a Jap guitar.
April 27, 2025 @ 2:35 am
With his history and his music, “wow” and “completely unexpected” are probably understatements! His is definitely alternative brand of country. I have always his enjoyed his music from the first time I heard Guitar Town. He has written and performed some great original music. I recall seeing him on tour with the del McCoury band and with his own band. Great shows. Great move by the Opry, I am delighted but am surprised to say the least!
April 27, 2025 @ 3:13 am
In my personal opry he was already a member. Super influential artist and a true legend.
April 27, 2025 @ 3:20 am
Good to see artists outside the mainstream get their dues. Next, let’s get Dale Watson and Junior Brown in there.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:31 am
Well, they never gave the honor to Floyd Tillman and Merle Travis, but Luke Combs and Blake Shelton on the other hand…
It’s always been a joke. Money matters the most. Not talent or authencity.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:06 pm
@Sofus–You figured it out. Steve Earle was made a member because he’s a billionaire and the Opry figures to haul in a ton of cash for making him a member.
Floyd Tillman and Merle Travis were poor, so they were kept out. It hand nothing to do with the fact that they were West Coast and Texas-based artists who had no desire to be members of the Opry.
Oh, Travis moved to Nashville in the early 60s and immediately became a member of the Opry. Maybe we need to rethink our conspiracy theory.
April 27, 2025 @ 3:57 am
Flat wore out “Guitar Town” when that album came out in’86. Congratulations, Steve Earle!
April 27, 2025 @ 10:27 am
On that album, he did what Springsteen still tries to do.
Sadly, it was all downhill from there. A lot of good songs scattered around, sure, but never as good and consistent as Guitar Town.
And after the cold turkeys, his politics overshadowed everything. Even his son complained about that. It’s never a good thing to alienate half of your crowd, no matter which political stance you take. It gets tiresome.
April 27, 2025 @ 1:14 pm
Sofus
I think Guitar Town, Exit 0, Copperhead Road, The Hard Way, Train A Comin’, I Feel Alright, El Corazon, and Transcendental Blues are all really good records. I did lose interest after TB though.
April 29, 2025 @ 8:05 am
I’d add The Mountain to that list of really good albums. There was a rough patch in the early 2000s, with a mix of the inspired and the insipid on those records, but I think Steve picked it up again around 2010. I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive was uniformly strong. The Low Highway, Terraplane, So You Wannabe an Outlaw, Ghosts of West Virginia all qualify as really good albums, with So You Wannabe an Outlaw especially being just outstanding. He also hasn’t done anything too overtly political since that Bush-era run of albums. Worth going through his post-2009 output IMO.
April 27, 2025 @ 4:09 pm
I saw him in concert once and I didn’t catch any obnoxious political overtones. He’s been pretty open about being more empathetic to people whose political beliefs don’t line up with his own recently. I believe he now lives outside of Nashville in a very red area.
April 28, 2025 @ 10:49 am
That’s good to hear that he has softened over the years. I had no friends who also liked country music and I convinced my best friend to join me at the Bottom Line in the mid-90s.
I was really excited to see The setlist was fantastic – a bunch of stuff from the at-the-time current album, Train a Comin’, along with many of his best songs.
Sadly, the political lecturing got a bit much and crossed into scolding instead of advocating. I gave it another chance a year or two later, hoping the first time was a one-off. No dice. To this day, my friend occasionally will ask, “who was that guy we went to see who scolded us for hours on end?”
I stopped listening to him – life’s too short.
I hope this change means he’s in a better place.
April 28, 2025 @ 2:59 pm
I saw him around 2017 I think at the Ryman. I’m not the biggest fan but I still like some of his stuff – just happened to have a friend ask me to go and he had an extra ticket.
Sometimes I can appreciate an artist now if my current beliefs line up with what they preached years ago. It annoys me when people constantly write off Bruce Springsteen for being a democrat – I now believe a lot of what he did in the past. It’s different for me if they cross certain lines currently. I think the same when anyone tries to write off Ted Nugent for being a draft dodger during Vietnam – he was right in that instance. I would feel the same as you if I got preached at for an entire set but for other instances people need to forget sometimes.
April 29, 2025 @ 2:50 am
I’ve seen Springsteen about a dozen times and he does get political but it’s pretty minor – short and more advocating than scolding the audience. Plus, I like Springsteen’s songwriting better (and that’s saying a lot). Not to mention what the E St band brings.
April 28, 2025 @ 9:11 pm
Go Steve Earle!!! Celebrating you from Canada 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Au contrare, what is irksome is Americans who go hogwild conflating Musicians and Politics…how do you wrap ones head around that 🤔
April 27, 2025 @ 5:11 am
Honestly did not see that coming, genre for Earle has never mattered, he’s as Trig says, all over the Americana map. He’s done blues, bluegrass, folk, rock, alt-rock, irish and yes some actual Country over the years. For me the Guitar Town album remains highly influential in my own guitar playing. To this day I probably play 6-8 Earle songs, many from that record. Copperhead Road is absolutely cemented into the American Music Canon as well. And back in the early years, everybody from Waylon, Willie, Cash, Emmylou, and the many legends admired his song-writing. Not to mention his friendship with Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell and Townes Van Zandt. You tend to forget that he was in that Heartworn Highways movie and an integral part of Outlaw Country as it was developing. Here’s hoping he does well as an Opry member. Pretty cool.
April 27, 2025 @ 5:26 am
The Grand Ole Opry may not be grand anymore, but any recognition of Steve Earle is cause for celebration.
April 27, 2025 @ 6:24 am
Earle was def a rebel when he came out. I remember him after not receiving any nomi ations or even an appearance at one of the award shows, he bascally said im out of here and hit the road to play more shows. That was when i kind of starting figuring out all the bullcrap over who got radio access and notoriety cause steve was legit. I never considered him alt at the time though he is now. His first two albums are real bangers and i still listen to those songs today. So im def happy for him. Also seeing his reaction is why im against the limiting the hall of members the way country music does. Seeing people experiencing these kind of moments is worth far more than having some kind of secret club that only a select few make it into.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:22 am
He’s not a rebel anymore, that’s for sure.
April 27, 2025 @ 5:15 pm
None of his ilk are. They are all establishment.
April 28, 2025 @ 6:56 am
@CountryKnight As are we all.
It’s just that the establishment may be different,
April 28, 2025 @ 3:43 pm
I dont know about that. His music radio friendly stuff. He does his own thing, just not the same as when he was younger.
April 27, 2025 @ 7:12 am
Congrats Mr. Earle! Well deserved and one of my favorite songwriters.
April 27, 2025 @ 8:33 am
Wow is right. And congrats to the Opry for not letting politics over shadow talent. The man is a songwriter for the ages. Just trying to learn to play Billy Austin this weekend. Thrilled for Steve.
April 27, 2025 @ 9:09 am
And did you say “Copperhead Road” is the official state song of Tennessee? It’s a great song, but I’d never picked it as state song material. Do they play it at state functions?
April 27, 2025 @ 10:19 am
Of course. And third graders sing it at public school assemblies throughout the state.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:23 am
Yes, they made “Copperhead Road” as “State Song” in 2023. Though as Steve Earle says himself, there’s about 8-10 officially Tennessee “State Songs,” so take it for what it is.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:35 am
If I remember it right, Mary Ford and Les Paul’s version of “The Tennessee Waltz” ranked the highest among them for several years.
But according to my wife I mostly remember things wrong, if at all.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:41 am
Jesse Winchester’s “Brand New Tennessee Waltz” is one of my own state songs.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:52 am
The most beautiful of them all must be Mel Street’s version of “Smokey Mountain Memories”.
That lovely harmonica really suits his voice and the underlying melancholy of the lyrics.
April 27, 2025 @ 12:07 pm
Correct. One interesting Tennessee state song is “Tennessee”, written by the late John Bean a.k.a. “Leroy Mercer”, who was know to prank call Knoxville-area businesses in the 1970’s-80’s and record these exchanges, which became popular through copies and recopies. They were so popular 2 DJs in Oklahoma plagiarized this act. Con Hunley commemorated Bean’s song being named a state song by recording it.
April 27, 2025 @ 8:44 am
Will he sing John Walker’s Blues at the ceremony?
A shadu la ilaha illa Allah
April 27, 2025 @ 8:48 am
This is well deserved…I was very happy to see this moment. But if Jelly & or War and Treaty get invites, I am done w the Opry.
This was a good write up Trig.
April 27, 2025 @ 9:30 am
Where does someone watch the Grand Ole Opry replay? There are some clips on YouTube, but not Earle’s performances.
I’ll add, my half-brother was into heavy metal and Steve Earle was an artist we could bound over. TNN/ CMT playing Earle’s music videos in the late 80’s/ early 90’s were something we looked forward to watching together.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:21 am
So he’s on talking terms with Vince again.
April 27, 2025 @ 11:10 am
What’s the story with him and Vince?
April 28, 2025 @ 9:38 pm
Not sure, probably related to their worshipping of the grumpy Guy Clark back in the 70’s. Jealousy, rivalry etc.
April 29, 2025 @ 2:14 am
Guy was just amazing, along with his comaptriot Rodney. Funny, I’ve never gotten–and still dont “get”–Townes, but Guy, Rodney, Steve, Billy Joe–and throw in Jimmie Dale and Robert Earl–that’s a helluva group of songwriter/singer double-threats. They’re all in my Hall-of-Fame–along with Dale, but it doesn’t bother me that they’re not in the brick-and-mortar one.
April 29, 2025 @ 4:09 am
Townes wrote some great lyrics and could pick the guitar with the best of them, but that’s it. He never really became known among the average listener, neither on his own or through the covers. His less than friendly persona probably didn’t help him much.
Clark, mostly, stuck to the dirtroads, giving his songs a more down to Earth quality, just like Williams, Haggard and Shaver did in their stories, reaching every step on the social ladder.
Townes was more of a Dylan kind; literate for the sake of being literate and therefore missing the low-/un-educated part of the population.
Kristofferson, with Tom Russell and Leonard Cohen, is probably the only ones yet to combine those two separate approaches with some degree of success.
Yes, I know Tom Russell isn’t up there with Kris and Lenny, but he should be.
Fascinating enough, I find Guy Clark’s first and final albums to be his best; he sounds personal. That’s far from a given with Clark; his offerings is very much a hit-or-miss.
April 27, 2025 @ 10:53 am
This is amazing. Everything about Earle — music, politics, physical appearance, general attitude — proclaims, “I am not Nashville.” He’s always been a whole lot more Woody Guthrie than Hank Williams. Can this mean that the definition of country music expanded overnight? If so, it’s solid and historically warranted, and at its roots more inclusion than change.
Though it goes against all my principles to say something positive about Music City, let me offer sincere congratulations on a moment of unexpected wisdom. I hope this is not just a fluke but an omen of more coolness, and better country, to follow.
April 27, 2025 @ 11:19 am
This actually tracks with the recent leadership of General Manager Dan Rogers, who’s really worked to open the Opry membership up to comedians, musicians, and Christian performers as well. If anything, he might be a little TOO open with some of the debuts he’s handed out. But better for it to be more open than it was in recent years than closed. The Pete Fisher era is officially in the rear view mirror.
April 27, 2025 @ 11:04 am
You have commented six times on this article and clearly have a hard-on with Steve. Get over it. The fact that you dismiss his work except for a few scattered songs after Guitar Town is laughable. Looking forward to comment #7 in 3, 2, 1…
April 27, 2025 @ 11:17 am
This comment was meant for Sofus, and I agree. You disagree with the pick, fine. Say your peace and move on. Using this comments section to incessantly seethe over your culture war pet issues is not what it’s here for.
April 27, 2025 @ 12:21 pm
Wow is right. As a longtime fan, I’m so proud of him.
April 27, 2025 @ 12:31 pm
This was definitely not in my predictions!
Still hoping Elizabeth Cook gets the invite but this was a very welcome surprise!
April 27, 2025 @ 3:59 pm
have enjoyed his music for years
April 27, 2025 @ 4:14 pm
Well , congrats are definitely in order here Steve Earle
You sure paved that hillbilly highway for lots of outlaw musicians. We really do appreciate your songwriting and many appearances over the years . We do miss you in philly but the surrounding suburbs are fine.
The Revolution Starts now !
April 27, 2025 @ 6:27 pm
This is so great, after all when you think about it he’s the next Kristofferson. The Opry is all about all sorts of musicmkers and is to be commended for recognizing Earle belong there.
And sure, I’m biased as I’ve known Steve from 1975 and managed him from 1983-86
April 27, 2025 @ 7:20 pm
I like Steve Earle, but “next Kristofferson” is overdoing it.
Kristofferson became something of an icon ot the post-beat generation that took over the mainstream in the 1970s. His songs were recorded by great Americn pop cultural figures from Cash to Willie to Jerry Lee to Ray Price to Roger Miller to Joplin to Sinatra and co-starred in rebel movies by the greatest directors of the era including Sam Peckinpah’s “Pat Garret and Billy the Kid,” and “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia,” Scorcese’s “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” Carlino’s “The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea,” and became a something of a counterculture sex-symbol appearing opposite Streisand in “A Star is Born.”
Kristofferson is almost deified as a mystical songwriterand performer, but I’ll say that he followed that with great success as a movie figure among a public that did not even know that he was a musician.
April 27, 2025 @ 7:37 pm
I’m late to the party but I simply have no words.
April 27, 2025 @ 7:55 pm
I moved to Nashville in 1994 and the first writer’s night I ever played was at Jack’s Guitar Bar on Nolensville Road…..Sunday afternoon “Sing for your Supper” hosted by Stacey Earle – Steve’s younger sister – one Sunday Steve showed up and ate a bowl of chili and Stacey made him get up and sing 3 songs (If you ate you sang!)…he picked up Stacey’s little Gibson parlor guitar and started stomping on the floor and played Copperhead Road – it was such a learning experience for me as a performer…he was shaking the building with a tiny guitar and his energy….everytime I play that song I remember that day. Congrats to Steve – you can tell it meant a lot to him.
April 28, 2025 @ 5:55 am
As a child of African immigrants growing up in Toronto, country music was nowhere in my radar. Then I saw the video for “The Other Kind”, and I was mesmerized. That album (The Hard Way) was played non-stop on my Walkman for years, and I can credit Steve Earle for introducing me to music beyond the pop I grew up with.
I loved his mid to late 90s albums, as the emotion on there got me through a lot of tough days and failed relationships. I fell off a bit, but a couple of years back, Earle came to the Calgary Stampede as part of a larger bill headlined by the Mavericks. I wasn’t there to see Earle, but the minute he started singing again all those memories and emotions came flooding back.
Long story short: any honors thrown his way are well-deserved.
April 28, 2025 @ 10:31 am
Well, Steve’s don a bit of acting also. Maybe not the “next KK” but certainly the closest we have to him. If you can nominate anyone else please feel free
April 28, 2025 @ 2:52 pm
That comment about SE not being the next KK almost seems willfully disingenuous. Clearly, you meant the comparison in terms of songwriting and music. The only reason to bring up KK’s acting gigs is to have ammo to argue against your commentary, for whatever reason, with that argument based merits that are not a part the songwriterly musical aspect that was obviously your focus. Making an argument that was not relevant to your assertion, just for the sake of arguing.
April 28, 2025 @ 4:21 pm
Country needs help, sorry if I offended you by saying Steve and Kris in the same sentence. I’m too old to get into a debate, just glad to see a former client get this honor. Adios, no hard feelings
April 28, 2025 @ 5:24 pm
John,
If you are replying to me here, I think you may have misunderstood me, and read the opposite of what I meant to say in my previous message. I agree with you. I was disagreeing with the person who brought up KK’s acting work.
April 28, 2025 @ 6:30 pm
OK, sorry, juggling too many projects for an octogenarian who is the oldest American artist to release a debut album, the CD AMERICAN FOLK SONGS
so, there’s aelf-serving plug
April 29, 2025 @ 4:53 am
It’s an honor to hear from you Mr. Lomax.
You and your family have made so many contributions to the American Song Catalog. Without your grandfather’s work the landscape of American music may have been significantly different. So cool to hear from you here in this little corner of the worldwide web! I’m guessing you’ve got quite the music collection!
April 29, 2025 @ 5:33 am
Yup, another commie is what the Opry needs.
April 30, 2025 @ 5:40 am
Being a hopeful sort, I assume the “commie” remark is meant sarcastically, not stupidly.