Out of 75 living Grand Ole Opry members, around 50 gathered for Wednesday night’s historic birthday celebration.

The biggest event in country music history unfolded at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on March 19, marking an unforgettable night of tribute and tradition.
Opry 100 was truly a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. For the first time ever, so many country music legends and rising stars came together in one place to honor this historic milestone. From 64-year member Whisperin’ Bill Anderson to the Opry’s newest inductee, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Opry family united to pay tribute to the pioneers who paved the way—and to those who are shaping the future of country music today.

Unlike typical awards shows, there was no politics, no competition, and no suspense—just a heartfelt celebration of country music and its rich legacy.

With over four dozen Opry members in attendance and only three hours to honor them all, it was impossible to give every artist their time in the spotlight. But sharp-eyed fans noticed some familiar faces joining an Opry choir to back Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, and Sonya Isaacs during an emotional performance of “Go Rest High On That Mountain” in the In Memoriam tribute.

The celebration ended on a powerful note, as the remaining artists came together for a show-stopping finale honoring Dolly Parton with “I Will Always Love You,” followed by a stirring rendition of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”

There were some Opry members who were noticeably absent.

Among those who skipped the event was Dolly Parton. While Dolly made an appearance in a pre-recorded video message, she didn’t attend in person. The reason is likely due to the fact that she is grieving the recent death of her husband of 58 years, Carl Dean.

Dolly did step out at her Dollywood theme park last week to kick off its 40th anniversary celebration. She has also granted a few interviews since Carl’s death, but the Opry event may have just been too much for the star to handle at the moment.

Another star whose absence was addressed on the red carpet was Patty Loveless. Loveless, who joined the Opry in 1988, was unable to attend due to her husband’s health.

In an interview prior to the live celebration, Ricky Skaggs shared that Patty was home “where she should be” taking care of her husband, Emory Gordy Jr. He added that Sonya Isaacs would be taking Patty’s place singing harmony with him during Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High” performance.

Rascal Flatts, who are in the middle of their Life Is A Highway Tour, didn’t attend. Neither did Darius Rucker who recently shared that he had moved to London, albeit temporarily.

Chris Janson, Emmylou Harris, Jon Pardi, Ricky Van Shelton, Chris Young, Steve Wariner, Josh Turner, Lorrie Morgan, Sara Evans, Craig Morgan, Pam Tillis, and Martina McBride were also missing from the event. None of these artists have made statements about their absence.