Grand Ole Opry to Debut ‘Country’s Greatest Songs’ Album for 100th Anniversary

The album, available Nov. 7, features 20 tracks sung live, including debuts of songs that became classics and current artists’ covers of standards.

Carrie Underwood performs during the Opry 100 celebration at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on March 19, 2025. Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Grand Ole Opry

As part of the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary celebration, the Nashville music hall has teamed up with Virgin Music Group to release a compilation album of never-before-released recordings sung live on its historic stage throughout the decades.

“Excited to partner with the @opry to celebrate 100 years of the songs and performances that shaped a genre with a limited-edition, Opry 100-exclusive album!” Virgin Music Group shared in an Instagram post on July 28.

Currently available for preorder, “Opry 100: Country’s Greatest Songs” is scheduled to go on sale Nov. 7, ahead of the Opry’s milestone centennial anniversary on Nov. 28.

The album will feature 20 tracks from the Opry’s fan-voted list of 100 greatest songs—a country playlist that the music institution announced earlier this year it would be putting together. Fans will be able to vote for the No. 1 “all-time greatest country song” beginning on Aug. 4, according to a press release shared with The Epoch Times via email.

“Each of the songs included here was voted onto that prestigious list,” the album’s jacket reads. “The curation of the project also attempted to follow the programming of an exemplary night at the Opry, showcasing the past, present, and future of country music and celebrating several styles of music under the country umbrella.”

Listeners will be able to “hear country legends in rare archival recordings,” the Opry notes on its website. Among them are Patsy Cline’s 1962 performance of “Crazy,” Johnny Cash’s 1968 performance of “Ring of Fire,” and Loretta Lynn’s 1985 performance of “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Several covers of country greats are also featured on the album, including Ashley McBryde’s performance of Hank Williams’ 1950s hit “Your Cheatin' Heart,” which she sang at the Opry in September of last year. Luke Combs’s 2016 rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey”—once sung by David Allan Coe and George Jones before being covered by Chris Stapleton—is also featured on the album.

Darius Rucker, Kelsea Ballerini, Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, and Carrie Underwood are among the other artists included.

“For me, this collection of great songs truly captures the spirit of the Opry and our centennial celebration,” Dan Rogers, the Opry’s executive vice president, said in the press release.

“These songs, voted on by Opry fans, come to life through remarkable live performances pulled from our rich archives,” Rogers added.

“From debuts of songs that went on to become classics, to covers of past Opry members’ standards by current members of the cast, to vocal collaborations so perfect it’s hard to believe they were recorded live just one time, I believe the project is truly historic.”