Featured Question:

Q. I heard that the Grand Ole Opry played at Carnegie Hall in 1961. I would have loved to have seen the Grand Ole Opry in such a hoity-toity place.

What did the New Yorkers think, and who was on the show?

Thank you in advance, Jim, Montgomery, Alabama

A. Dear Jim - Now, you shouldn't be so quick to judge - I have met plenty of folks from the Big Apple who are country music fans, and who would trade the Metropolitan Opera for the Grand Ole Opry any day.

You did hear right, a group of Grand Ole Opry performers has played Carnegie Hall twice; once in 1947 and then again for the November 29, 1961 show you asked about.

The performance was a benefit for the Musician's Aid Society, and the cast was: Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys, Faron Young, Grandpa Jones, Ben Smathers and the Stony Mountain Cloggers, fiddler Tommy Jackson, the Jordanaires, Jim Reeves and Minnie Pearl.

The irrepressible announcer, T. Tommy Cutrer served as Master of Ceremonies, and from all accounts, the Carnegie Hall was filled to the brim with hand-clapping, foot-stomping, converts to country.

Word has it that Jack Benny was in the audience that night. Bet he picked up a few fiddling pointers that night!

Thanks for asking, The Q&A Lady

Q&A Lady at Opry.com