Grand Ole Opry Member Spotlight: Emmylou Harris

Grand Ole Opry Country Music Show - Nashville

Dierks Bentley - The Opry's Youngest Member

A beautiful soprano voice carries through the air and a woman who has redefined the image and role of women in country music appears when Emmylou Harris takes the stage at the Grand Ole Opry.

Born April 4, 1947 in Alabama, Emmylou was raised near Washington, D.C., and has brought both folk music elements and electric sounds to country music. She has had success in a variety of genres, such to the point she has earned membership into the Grand Ole Opry, been given Billboard magazine's highest accolade, the Century Award, and won 11 Grammy Awards.

Background and Early Career

• Emmylou moved to Greenwich Village in New York as a folk singer while a college student in the 60s. She didn't find the success for which she was hoping, and moved back to D.C. However, she was soon discovered while singing in a club, and Emmylou soon had an amazingly successful musical relationship touring and recording with Gram Parsons.
• After Gram's death in 1973, Emmylou continued on her own. By 1976, she had a No. 1 hit and a Grammy.

Grand Ole Opry Induction

• Inducted on January 25, 1992, Emmylou said about her music, "Music is like food, sustenance. You certainly don't do it for the spotlight. ... You do it for the amazing exhilaration of singing, the feeling of the music going through you."

Emmylou Harris at the Opry

• Want to know when you can see this legend at the Opry? Visit the VME Grand Ole Opry Blog for a schedule of upcoming performances.

Notable Hits You Might Hear at the Grand Ole Opry

• "If I Could Only Win Your Love"
• "Together Again"
• "Sweet Dreams"
• "Making Believe"
• "To Daddy,"
• "Heartbreak Hill"
• "Two More Bottles of Wine"
• "Beneath Still Waters"
• "Lost His Love (On Our Last Date)."

More Details

• Emmylou released a 1995 album, Wrecking Ball, which won a Grammy for best contemporary folk album. The music she did for the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? also had overwhelming success.
• She is also a vocal opponent of landmines, and works vigilantly with other singers-songwriters to raise awareness of this issue.
• See the complete list of current Grand Ole Opry members!