Here’s Why George Strait and Willie Nelson Aren’t Opry Members

Being an Opry member is an honor many country music stars feel lucky to have, but very few achieve it. As The Tennessean shared, there are currently only 75 members of this elite club of country musicians, a small cross section of the genre’s wider landscape. However, two highly accomplished singers are surprisingly absent from that list: Willie Nelson and George Strait.

Were these two country legends purposely excluded, or is there more to the story? Here, we’ll reveal the real reason neither of these performers are fixtures at one of the most famous venues in Nashville.

George Strait Was Offered Membership in The Past But Turned it Down

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With dozens of accolades to his name, Strait seems like a shoe-in for Opry membership, and his absence from the organization isn’t an intentional snub. Instead, Strait turned down membership after it was offered to him. However, Saving Country Music reported that he did play at the Grand Ole Opry stage once, back in 1982. To date, that’s the only time he has appeared at the esteemed venue.

As Taste of Country explains in a video clip, part of the reason Strait never accepted membership may be a matter of geography. The Texas native went to Nashville to pursue his country music dreams, but he never took up residence in Music City. Since Opry membership comes with certain responsibilities, such as committing to live performances, Strait would have had to routinely commute to Nashville.

Willie Nelson Ultimately Chose Texas Over Opry Membership

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While Strait never joined the ranks of Opry members, Nelson’s relationship with the organization has unfolded a bit differently. Early in his career, Nelson was indeed a member and performed on the Opry stage many times. As Whiskey Riff shared, his membership lasted approximately five years, from 1965-1970. He first appeared on the Opry stage in late November 1964.

Similar to Strait, Nelson’s lack of desire to be an Opry member stemmed from wanting to reside in Texas. He told Texas Standard as much in 2018, saying: “I left Nashville because you can’t play in Texas on Friday and get back to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night.” Nevertheless, the Country Music Hall of Famer left his mark on the beloved venue.