If there's an institution that should have an opinion on the greatest country songs of all time, it is the Grand Ole Opry.
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The program began 100 years ago in Nashville, broadcasting performances nationwide over the radio waves. Over the years, it has launched the careers of Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and Dolly Parton while celebrating new talent.
Parton has said of her experiences performing at the Opry: "I was thinking, 'This is history.' And I felt like I was part of something big and special and important."
To celebrate reaching the century mark, the Grand Ole Opry has revealed its list of the greatest country songs of all time.
The Grand Ole Opry Didn't Select the Songs
The lengthy list of songs wasn't chosen by experts. Rather, fans were asked by the Opry to select the songs. The results have been revealed on its website throughout the summer. Artists ranging from Marty Robbins to Miranda Lambert have been included.
The Opry is also marking the occasion by releasing an "exclusive one-of-a-kind album" called 'OPRY 100: Country's Greatest Songs.' It features 20 "never-before-released" performances that took place on the venue's stage over the decades. The announcement came via a press release issued on July 28.
These Opry Performances Go Way Back
The oldest performance dates back to 1962, when Patsy Cline performed her iconic hit, "Crazy." It also includes Ashley McBryde's rendition of Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" from last year. That cover will be available on July 30. The compilation will be released on November 7.
Here's the track list:
1. "Your Cheatin' Heart" - Ashley McBryde (2024)
2. "El Paso" - Marty Robbins and Marty Stuart (1981 / 2024) (Full circle mix)
3. "Crazy" - Patsy Cline (1962)
4. "Ring of Fire" - Johnny Cash (1967)
5. "Coal Miner's Daughter" - Loretta Lynn (1985)
6. "Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'" - Darius Rucker (2021)
7. "I Will Always Love You" - Dolly Parton (feat. Patty Loveless and Marty Stuart) (2007)
8. "The Gambler" - Don Schlitz (feat. Vince Gill) (2025)
9. "Devil Went Down to Georgia" - The Charlie Daniels Band (2015)
10. "Elvira" - The Oak Ridge Boys (1980)
11. "Tennessee Whiskey" - Luke Combs (2016)
12. "He Stopped Loving Her Today (Full Circle Mix)" - George Jones and Alan Jackson (1993 / 2013)
13. "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" - Kelsea Ballerini (2025)
14. "Forever and Ever, Amen" - Randy Travis (1989)
15. "Don't Close Your Eyes" - Keith Whitley (1988)
16. "Fancy" - Reba McEntire (2017)
17. "Chattahoochee" - Alan Jackson (2020)
18. "Go Rest High on That Mountain" - Vince Gill (feat. Patty Loveless) (2015)
19. "Jesus, Take The Wheel" - Carrie Underwood (2018)
20. "Mama Don't Allow / Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" - Old Crow Medicine Show, Dom Flemons, Billy Strings, and Molly Tuttle (2020)
Photo by Grindstone Media Group / Shutterstock
