The
Grand Ole Opry is a weekly
country-music stage concert in
Nashville, Tennessee, which was founded on November 28, 1925, by
George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on
WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a division of
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.), it is the longest-running radio broadcast in US history, albeit not the longest-running one on a radio network. Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases a mix of legends and contemporary
chart-toppers performing country,
bluegrass,
folk,
gospel, and
comedic performances and
skits. Considered an American icon, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and millions of radio and Internet listeners.