By Jeff Settle
Everyone is aware of the Grand Ole Opry: big-name stars along with up-and-comers are invited to perform on a historic stage in Nashville. Starting in 1925, its fame and place in American music history spread far beyond the seats of its theater.
Fifty-two years after the birth of the Grand Ole Opry, the Oldfield Opry in Oldfield was born. Although the music is similar to the Nashville Opry, almost everything else is a bit different. Forget the high-dollar stage with radio broadcasting. Forget the big-name stars or even the up-and-comers. Don’t worry about distant parking. Replace the star power with a hometown feel; replace the ticket prices and reservations with free admission and great seating.
Creating the opry
In 1977, the Hull Feed and Grocery Store building in Oldfield sat unused. The building was owned by John Walker, who also owned the grocery store in town and was the town’s postmaster. It was a two-room building, and its primary room had pine walls with a wood-burning stove in the center. Bare bulbs hung from the ceiling.
Johnny Walker, John’s son, along with his three friends, Hank Thompson, Bill Gardner, and Steve Beyers, began meeting in the building to practice their music. They called themselves Kountry Konfusion.
Word got out.
Soon, people began showing up with their lawn chairs to listen. And so began the Oldfield Opry.
Each performance would start with a song written by Johnny:
“Come on out to Oldfield on a Saturday night. You won’t see no drinkin’, and you won’t see no fights. Just good friends and neighbors, they’ll sure treat you right, at the Oldfield Opry on a Saturday night.”
That first season, music played every Saturday night until the weather became too hot—the building didn’t have air conditioning. What began as a practice night for four friends had now become a concert night for the area.
The musical performances continued, starting each year in October. People began arriving as the sun went low in the sky. In pleasant weather, some of the audience spilled onto the lawn. By early 1990, people were arriving three hours early to secure a seat. The need for a new building was obvious.
Donations were taken and fundraisers were held. Most materials for the new building were donated, and people volunteered their time to build the structure. In December 1990, the new building opened with seating for 200, heat, running water, bathrooms, dressing areas, a concession stand, a stage with lighting, and most importantly, air conditioning.
Johnny had been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at seventeen and was told he had a life expectancy of about thirty years old. But he was thirty-one at the time Kountry Konfusion first started. One theory of his prolonged time is that Johnny’s daily singing—at home and at the Opry—had exercised all the right muscles. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 60.
Surviving through hardship
Dealing with COVID-19 in 2020 presented a new challenge for the Opry. The building was shut for two years, and the lack of air circulation allowed mold to grow. A second fundraiser was required to save the space. The theater’s seating was disposed of and the interior was remediated. The cost of the renovation was $28,000. The White River Valley Electric Cooperative generously covered ten thousand of it.
As work progressed, shows restarted every other week, but only outside. Once again, everyone brought their own lawn chairs. A flatbed trailer was brought in to act as the stage. At the end of April 2022, concerts resumed inside the Oldfield Opry building.
Making music and memories
It’s a Thursday night in Oldfield, and a group of friends gather to practice at the Oldfield Opry in preparation for Saturday evening’s performance. Primary band members of the Oldfield Opry band and alternates come together. Any night may be a chance for alternates to hone their skills. The unofficial dress code is denim, either jeans or overalls. At the Oldfield Opry, the performers might just be your neighbors who were cutting hay in the afternoon, and if you feel inspired to perform, you will be welcomed on stage too. Musicians range from teenagers to retirees. Gen Zers and Baby Boomers, office workers and farmers all come together. The common denominator: the love of making music.
Performances continue every Saturday night, year-round. Admission is as much as you want to throw in the donation box. Most weekends, doors open at 6 pm with hot dogs, snacks, and sodas available. On second Saturdays, doors open at 5 pm, and at 5:30 pm local bands open for the Oldfield Opry band.
Steve Beyers can still be found on stage with his guitar every week. Hank Thompson remains as a fill-in.
Eddie Goins, a 24-year member of the band, is on bass. He has also been the fill-in emcee since February 2000. Eddie is not sure they have ever actually looked for a permanent replacement. He says that the bond between the musicians and the attendees form one big family.
Welcoming anyone and everyone
At 7 pm each Saturday, Eddie says:
“Hello everyone, and welcome to the Oldfield Opry.” And that sets the feel of the event: welcoming and unpretentious. There is the occasional cowboy hat, and baseball caps are plentiful. This is not a rhinestone crowd.
Newcomers are enthusiastically greeted. At one point during the night, out-of-state visitors are asked to raise their hands. Attendees may include guests from England, France, or Austria. Out-of-state guests are invited to sign the guest book. If you look through it, you’ll find people from all 50 states and around the world. They are applauded and given pictures of the Opry. There are no strangers at the Oldfield Opry.
Don and Carol Nevels have driven an hour each way from Everton every week for the last two years to attend the Opry. “We just enjoy the show. It is a different show every week,” Carol says.
Mona Deckard attends weekly, continuing a tradition that started years ago with her late husband Max, whom she was married to for 65 years. Mona is now driven by Glen Dale Robertson from Ava, who is the banjo player.
Everyone working the Opry is a volunteer. Musicians are paid in hot dogs. The music ranges from 1940s to early 1990s country and folk, with covers from Woody Guthrie to Dolly Parton and Dan Fogelberg to Suzy Bogguss. Gospel, bluegrass, and country rock may also be heard.
Frequently, applause greets favorite songs. Don’t be surprised when members of the audience sing along. Different songs showcase different musicians in the band, and everyone has a chance to shine.
Each Saturday evening is closed out with a song written by member Steve Beyers, who explains:
“It’s my kinda music, and you don’t have to go to Nashville or Branson for a good country show.”
Other oprys around the state
- DITTMER Grubville Opry House: An intimate music venue featuring a wide variety of live musical talent in a house concert environment. GrubvilleOpry.com
- PERRY The Cannon Dam Opry: A quaint venue in the small town of Perry featuring live country music. Facebook: The Cannon Dam Opry
- BETWEEN CLINTON & WARSAW Truman Lake Opry: A dinner venue with live bands and karaoke. TrumanLakeOpry.com
- GENTRY Gentry Opry: A venue full of country music and dancing. Facebook: Gentry Opry (Gentry Mo.)
- BRANSON Branson Opry Shows: Branson is home to multiple venues with Opry-style shows with professionals and theater-style performances, including:
- Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers: A long-standing Opry-style variety show in Branson. Baldknobbers.com
- Grand Country Music Hall: Offers the Grand Country Jubilee show, a mix of comedy and country music. GrandCountry.com/shows
- Presleys’ Country Jubilee: Another historic Branson music show with country, gospel, and bluegrass music. Presleys.com
- The Little Opry Theater: A highly rated venue featuring relatively well-known performers. BransonIMax.com/opry
For more information about the Oldfield Opry, click here.
All photos courtesy of Jeff Settle.
This article was originally published in the March/April 2025 issue of Missouri Life.
