'Etched in history': Terri Clark celebrates 100 years of Grand Ole Opry as proud, proud Canadian

David Bell · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 19, 2025 2:08 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

"When we got to the border, the customs serviceman said, 'Where are you ladies going?' and we said, 'the Grand Ole Opry.'"

That's state euphony superstar Terri Clark describing her determination to Nashville successful the mid 1990s.

Fast guardant to 2004 and Clark is inducted into the Opry arsenic the archetypal Canadian pistillate to go a member. She inactive stands unsocial successful that regard.

Now, Clark says, it's clip to admit 100 years of state euphony that honours the pioneers. A three-day solemnisation of the Opry's centennial starts Wednesday nighttime successful Nashville.

"Standing connected the Opry signifier is humbling. Even to this time I get nervous, stepping retired connected that stage," Clark told the Calgary Eyeopener successful a Wednesday interview.

"I don't cognize that anyone gets up connected the Opry signifier and stands successful that ellipse without a lawsuit of the nerves due to the fact that you cognize the tremendous value that it holds and the past and the radical that stood determination earlier you."

Clark was calved successful Montreal, but raised successful Medicine Hat, Alta., and she's arrogant of those roots.

"I americium going to beryllium wearing my Canadian maple leafage lapel pin contiguous to correspond our state connected that stage. I americium a proud, arrogant Canadian."

The performer — calved Terri Lynn Sauson — said she echoes seasoned state euphony singer/songwriter George Jones successful his opus Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?

"They were conscionable state folks trying to sing state euphony and they paved the mode for america and they did it the hard way," Clark said.

"They weren't successful Learjets and buses. They were sleeping successful the backmost of cars connected their mode to gigs. Those are the radical that we request to honour particularly tonight. It is important to ever retrieve that erstwhile you measurement connected that stage."