Grand Ole Opry Member Spotlight: The Osborne Brothers

Grand Ole Opry Country Music Show - Nashville

Dierks Bentley - The Opry's Youngest Member

The Osborne Brothers are often credited with making strides in bringing bluegrass music to a popular audience through a fusion of traditional bluegrass instruments like the banjo and mandolin with more "contemporary" instrumentation such as the steel guitar and drums. The bluegrass trailblazers also changed the way traditional three-part harmonies were arranged, and saw their unique style bring much success.

Background and Early Career

• Both Bobby & Sonny Osborne were born in Hyden, Kentucky (Bobby on December 7, 1931, and Sonny on October 29, 1937), and grew up listening to the traditional bluegrass music of the region. The brothers began their careers separately, with Bobby working with legends like the Stanley Brothers, while Sonny worked closely with Bill Monroe.
• By 1953, the Osborne Brothers were working together, and were recording together by 1956. Until Sonny's retirement in 2005, the brothers continue to create, perform, and record award-winning bluegrass hits for more than 50 years.

Grand Ole Opry Induction

• The Osborne Brothers were inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on August 8, 1964.

The Osborne Brothers at the Opry

• Although Sonny Osborne was forced to retire in 2005 as a result of a shoulder injury, his brother continues to make appearances several times a month at the Opry as Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-press. See when Bobby & the band will be performing next when you visit the VME Grand Ole Opry Blog.

Notable Hits

• "Rocky Top"
• "Making Plans"
• "Up This Hill and Down"
• "Midnight Flyer"
• "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
• "Muddy Bottom"
• "Tennessee Houndog"
• "Georgia Pineywoods"
• "Roll Muddy River"
• "The Kind of Woman I Got"
• "Ruby (Are You Made At Your Man)"

More Information

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