Last month, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry as our Artist of the Month. We dove into the history of the world’s longest running radio show, we celebrated the music made on its hallowed stages, and we spoke to author Craig Shelburne about undertaking the gargantuan task of squeezing all of that rich history into a book, 100 Years of Grand Ole Opry. That coffee-table-ready tome is 350+ pages of photos, stories, interviews, and Opry lore.
Now, imagine the same task for Opry employee, archivist and content manager Emily Frans – but squeezed into a children’s book. The new title, Howdy! Welcome to the Grand Ole Opry! does just that. One hundred years of history, illustrated gorgeously and fantastically by Susanna Chapman alongside words and story by Frans, it distills the magic of the Grand Ole Opry for its tiniest audience members and fans. With a foreword by Lainey Wilson and stories from Dolly Parton, Lauren Alaina, and more, it’s an Opry 100 celebration that can be appreciated by country music fans of any/all ages.
Whether a gift for the holidays, an everyday present for the youngsters in your life, or pro-country-music propaganda (which we can always get behind), the new kids’ book is certain to inspire oncoming generations of would-be stars, pickers, and songwriters, seeding dreams of someday stepping into that hallowed circle on the Opry House stage. We spoke to author Emily Frans about the project and the special balance of telling a complete Opry history that engages, inspires, and stokes the imagination of children all around the world.
It must have been a difficult enough task for your colleagues to write the 350+ page 100 Years of Grand Ole Opry book that distills the immense history of the Opry into a single volume — it’s hard to imagine condensing all of that history, all of those stories, and all of that music into an even smaller space, a kids’ book! How did you go about it?
Emily Frans: You’re right! After pouring so much time into artist interviews, research, and trying to cover 100 years of history in as much detail and photography that a 350+ page book will allow, shifting gears into a children’s book was a completely different challenge. The biggest task was figuring out what not to include.
With kids, it’s all about clarity, pacing, and imagination, so I asked myself: What moments spark imagination? Which people feel larger than life? What stories can light a fire in a young mind? I tried to frame the story as kind of an adventure that kids could really imagine themselves experiencing while still including historical facts and details that they could learn from.
What do you see as the essential “nuts and bolts” of the Opry story that could – or should – be translated to country fans of all ages? What is the central idea or mission here, as far as putting this incredible, respected show in front of its youngest audience?
As a parent to young daughters, I realize how important it is for the youngest generation to understand not just what the Opry is, but why it matters. This book was written to bridge that gap and to spark wonder, inspiration, and to continue cultivating the tradition that we all cherish. In an age where attention spans are short and kids can choose their entertainment with a swipe of a screen, creating a book to share the Opry with children felt more important than ever.
The Opry is different than any other stage because of the way it connects people – artists to fans, parents to kids, and one generation of country music to the next. That emotional connection is the heartbeat of the Opry, and why, at 100 years old, it continues to thrive. I wrote this book with the goal of sparking that connection with our youngest generation.
The book has a foreword by Lainey Wilson and includes Opry stories from folks like Lauren Alaina, Dolly Parton, Kelsea Ballerini, and more. Country artists often have very special, down-to-earth relationships with their younger fans — these artists especially. Can you talk about curating the artist stories for the book and what Lainey Wilson brought to it with her foreword?
The artists featured in the book all share a genuine connection to the Opry and a real heart for their younger fans. I wanted to include messages that would almost feel like a little spark of mentorship coming straight from the stage, conveying the gravity of being asked to perform on the Opry while also making it sound achievable.
Lainey Wilson embodies that spirit so naturally. Her message is all about believing in yourself and honoring the roots that helped shape you. When she talks about stepping into the circle, she makes it sound magical, but also achievable. That tone set the stage for the rest of the book beautifully.
The book was illustrated by Susanna Chapman — the Grand Ole Opry and its history, especially its visuals, branding, costumes, and pageantry, are simply perfect for a children’s book like this, aren’t they?
Absolutely. The Opry has always been visually rich – from stage lights to rhinestone suits to the red barn set, it was practically begging to be illustrated! Susanna Chapman did an incredible job and brought a wonderful balance of authenticity and imagination. She captured the physical space of the Opry and infused her illustrations with movement, color, and emotion.
In fact, she spent time with one of my daughters during an Opry show trying to understand which elements of the sights, sounds, and even smells stood out to her so that she could create illustrations that really make the reader feel like they were there. The words are important, but it is the visuals that really draw kids to a book and Susanna knocked it out of the park.
So many kids have made appearances on the Grand Ole Opry — Sierra Hull, Wyatt Ellis, Charlie Worsham, Vassar McCoury, and many others — do you think this book will birth a new generation of youngsters itching to step into the circle?
I really hope so. One of my goals with this book was to show kids that the circle isn’t just for legends, it’s for dreamers, too. The Opry encompasses the past and present of country music, but also its future. If even one child reads this book and thinks, “Maybe that could be me someday,” whether they imagine themselves on stage or in a seat, then it’s done its job.
Why do you think the Grand Ole Opry has such broad appeal — across identities, geography, genres, communities, and age groups?
I think the Opry continues to thrive because it offers authenticity, tradition, and genuine connection all while continuing to evolve. On any given night, you can see legends, today’s hitmakers, and up-and-coming artists sharing the same stage. That blend of past, present, and future gives the Opry a real uniqueness and, unlike a typical concert, provides a platform for guests to discover music they may have otherwise missed out on. And the emotional connection is what brings both artists and fans back night after night. When an artist steps into the circle for the first time, guests can feel it. They can sense the history, the honor, and the gratitude and that the artists are there because it matters to them. That kind of sincerity creates a powerful bond between the stage and the seats.
All images courtesy of Ryman Hospitality Properties, illustrations by Susanna Chapman.
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