Thirty years later…
By Preshias Harris
Grammy Award-winning southern rock, blues and country group The Kentucky Headhunters have officially made their debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.
Wait, what?!
That has to be a misprint, surely. Three decades at the top of their game and it wasn’t until December 2021 that the Headhunters made it to the Opry? Well, it might be hard to believe but yes, it’s true.
However, they almost played the Opry way back at the beginning of the band’s climb to stardom. Apparently, bluegrass icon Bill Monroe was impressed with their debut album, Pickin’ on Nashville, and suggested that the Opry invite them to appear. In an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, Headhunters co-founder Richard Young said, “I wasn’t there, [but] it was said that Roy Acuff said, ‘They’re probably pretty good boys. They’ll do a fine job, but let’s get ’em a haircut first.”
Much as they would have loved to appear at the Opry, those long-haired country boys weren’t about to get a haircut, even for Mr. Acuff. They weren’t asked again – at least, not for thirty years. They finally stepped onto the Opry stage as 2021 drew to a close, long hair still uncut but a little greyer than it used to be.
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Bill Anderson, Bobby Bare, Charley Pride, David Ball, John Berry, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Stevens, Ricky Skaggs, TG Sheppard, Tracy Lawrence… In my previous post, I spotlighted ‘Ten to Watch,’ new and emerging artists appearing at CMA Fest. In this post, let’s look at ten enduring talents who continue to entertain fans after many decades at the top of their game. Here’s where and when you can catch up with them at CMA Fest 2018. For tickets and everything you need to know about this year’s Fest, go 
