Roy Acuff Biography

Fast Facts

• Was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 1991
• Won a Kennedy Center award in 1991, making him the first country music act to receive the honor
• Taught himself to play the fiddle and learned to sing in his preacher father's churches
• Won 13 athletic letters at his high school and was offered a contract by the New York Yankees upon graduation, but a severe sunstroke ended his dreams of playing professional baseball
• Quote: "[on his Kennedy Center award] "There are a lot more people who deserve it more than me․""
• The first country music superstar, he recorded such hits as "The Great Speckled Bird," "Wabash Cannonball," "Fireball Mail" and "Night Train to Memphis․"
• Was a fixture of the Grand Ole Opry for over 50 years
• Owned the cave that became Dunbar Cave State Natural Area from 1948 to 1963
• Showed President Richard Nixon how to yo-yo on the same night that the Opry officially relocated to the Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland
• Would often arrive early at the Opryland grounds and perform odd jobs like stocking soda in backstage refrigerators