As country music stars and legends gather to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Grand Ole Opry, it’s a good time to remember this week fifty-one years ago, when President Nixon became the first and only president to perform at this mainstay of America’s entertainment history.
President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon attended the Grand Ole Opry on March 16, 1974, to celebrate the opening of a new venue for the country music radio show, the Grand Ole Opry House. President Nixon dedicated the new building and delivered remarks but he made headlines as a musician performing in the legendary radio show.
On the front page of The New York Times the following day, the President’s Grand Ole Opry appearance was covered including the description, “Noting that country tunes talk about family, religion and patriotism, Mr. Nixon said that ‘country music is America’ and swung into God Bless America at the piano, raising his voice loudly to lead the signing.”
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