Grand Ole Opry Member Spotlight: Diamond Rio

Grand Ole Opry Country Music Show - Nashville

Dierks Bentley - The Opry's Youngest Member

With more than 20 "Top 10" singles under their belts, it is no surprise that Diamond Rio is one of the few groups to be invited into the Grand Ole Opry. The band, which formed in 1989, has maintained a steady string of hits well into the new millennium, and continues to appear on the Grand Ole Opry stage.

Background and Early Career

• In the 1980s, Nashville's former Opryland theme park employed musicians and groups to entertain park visitors. One of those groups was the Tennessee River Boys, who eventually disbanded when several members — Marty Roe, Jimmy Olander, and Dan Truman — decided to leave the group. Those three men joined up with Brian Prout and Gene John in 1987, with bassist Dana Williams joining in 1989 to complete Diamond Rio.
• Two years later, the band released its first single — "Meet in the Middle" — which went on to become its first Number 1 hit. That same year, Diamond Rio played the Grand Ole Opry for the first time while continuing to release a string of hits that included "Mirror, Mirror" and "Mama, Don't Forget to Pray for Me." In 2006, the group released its second Greatest Hits collection.

Grand Ole Opry Induction

• On April 18, 1998, Diamond Rio received and accepted its official invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry. It had been 14 years since the last group (The Whites) had joined the Opry, whose membership is comprised primarily of solo artists.

Diamond Rio at the Opry

• Diamond Rio continues to make appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. To find out when Diamond Rio will be featured on the coveted Grand Ole Opry stage, please visit the VME Grand Ole Opry Blog.

Notable Hits

• Meet in the Middle
• Mirror Mirror
• Mama Don't Forget to Pray For Me
• Norma Jean Riley
• Nowhere Bound
• In A Week or Two
• Love a Little Stronger
• Walkin' Away
• How Your Love Makes Me Feel
• Imagine That
• You're Gone
• Unbelievable
• One More Day
• Beautiful Mess
• I Believe
• Wrinkles
• In God We Still Trust
• God Only Cries

More Information

• See the complete list of current Grand Ole Opry members!