Fashion at The Grand Ole Opry
For 100 years, the Grand Ole Opry has been one of country music’s most iconic stages. There are few stages in the world that carry the history, tradition and respect of the Opry and that’s part of what makes performing there so special. There’s no official dress code for the Opry, but there seems to be an unwritten one. The sequins come out, the gowns get longer, and even the artists known for a more casual style tend to elevate their look when they step onto that famous circle of wood.
In the Opry’s early decades, performers were expected to present a polished, traditional image. Men appeared in western suits, slacks and sport coats, while women wore formal dresses. Then came the rhinestones, Nudie suits and stage costumes that became synonymous with country music. Artists like Porter Wagoner turned dressing for the stage into an art form, while performers like Jeannie Seely challenged the era’s more conservative expectations by embracing modern fashion. Jeannie actually holds the record for the most Grand Ole Opry performances at 5,397.
Today, the rules are much looser and you’ll see everything from jeans and T-shirts to elaborate gowns and rhinestone-covered suits. However, the instinct to dress up for the Opry has stuck. I love seeing how each artist interprets Opry fashion in their own way. Artists don’t abandon their personal style, they simply elevate it. Post Malone is a great example. He’s not your traditional country artist, but he clearly respects the history and significance of the Opry. For his debut, he wore a sportcoat and jeans, adding Western accessories like a bolo tie, ostrich cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat. Niall Horan is another non-traditional country artist who recently made his Opry debut. He kept things classic in a tailored black suit.
There are also artists like Lainey Wilson, whose signature style already feels right at home on the Opry stage. Her Western glamour with fringe, rhinestones, boots, and big hats is such a big part of her identity that she doesn’t have to adapt or change her signature style when she performs at the Opry.
Opry Member Carrie Underwood's last tour ended in March of 2023. Each year she comes back to play a couple shows at the Opry. Her style has evolved over the years, but her typical Opry attire is a mid-length dress with some sort of floral detail or embellishment. She recently wore a Mac Duggal strapless floral embellished midi gown with sequin embroidery.
I wanted to highlight a few Opry looks from some of the biggest women in country music right now.
For Ella’s Opry debut in 2023, she wore a custom suit with “Langley” embroidered across the back in her grandmother’s handwriting. You can actually see the suit today at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. I love details like this that make an outfit feel personal and meaningful to the artist, while also adding a little creativity to the look.
In February 2026, Ella wore a long black NBD gown, trading her usual western-rock style for something a little more classic and dressed up. I love seeing how her style continues to evolve as she grows as an artist and seems to become more confident in who she is.
Megan Moroney's stage outfits almost always include sequins or embellishments, but her Opry looks feel more intentionally polished and modest. One of my favorites was her holiday look. She wore a velvet Rebecca Vallance minidress that felt festive without being over the top and perfectly suited to the occasion.
Beyond some of country music’s biggest names, I’ve also noticed some really great Opry looks from some of the newer and rising artists. For her Opry debut, Ashley Anne wore a beautiful hand-beaded House of CB gown that felt so glamorous and special for the occasion. Stella Lefty also dressed up for her debut in a gold dress from AMIRI’s FW25 RTW collection. Ashley Cooke recently wore a baby-blue Baobab dress with fringe hem, giving it a little western flare. I also loved RaeLynn’s Helsi minidress with appliqué poppy flowers and a Western belt.
There are so many artists and looks I could have included. These were just a few that stood out to me and caught my eye!
Shop the looks HERE: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/carotay
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