Country Music Facts

Beyonce submitted Cowboy Carter to the 2024 CMAs. The country establishment gave her zero nominations. She took the album on tour anyway, grossing over $400 million - the highest-grossing country tour in history - and Forbes declared her the fifth musician ever to become a billionaire.

The Grand Ole Opry played Nashville's Ryman Auditorium for over 30 years, until 1974, when the show moved to a new building. Workers cut a six-foot circle of oak from the old stage and inlaid it dead center in the new one. Every performer since has stood on that circle to sing. In 2010, a flood swamped the entire stage. The circle was dried out and put back in place. It's still there today.

Marty Stuart started collecting country music memorabilia as a boy, hiding guitars and costumes in his bedroom. He kept touring and rescuing pieces people threw away for 50 years. It became the largest private collection of country music artifacts in the world: more than 22,000 pieces, including items from Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, and Elvis. He gave it all to the public for free.

Dolly Parton wrote a secret song in 2015. She sealed it inside a time capsule at Dollywood. A CD player was built in so it could still play. It won't open until 2045. Her team joked she might not be around by then. She laughed and said she might make it to 99. On August 25, 2026, at 80, Dolly died. The song is still locked away, waiting.