Stu Phillips, Who Was The Oldest Living Opry Member, Has Died At The Age Of 92
Stu Phillips, who had been the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry, died in December 2025 at the age of 92. (Photo Credit: Terry Wyatt / Getty Images)
Grand Ole Opry Legend Stu Phillips Passed Away On Christmas Day
The country music community is mourning the loss of the legendary Stu Phillips, who died on December 25, 2025. At age 92, Phillips had been the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Phillips became the oldest living member of the Opry after Buck White of The Whites passed away on January 13, 2025. Now, the oldest living member of the Opry is Bill Anderson, who’s 88 years old. Anderson is also the longest-serving member of the Opry, as he celebrated his 64th Opry anniversary this year (2025).
Tracy Pitcox, the owner of Heart of Texas Records, was one of the first to share the news of Phillips’ passing on December 25. Pitcox said, “The eldest member of the Grand Ole Opry, Stu Phillips passed away today at the age of 92.”
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The Grand Ole Opry itself confirmed the news of Phillips’ death in a tribute they shared on December 26. They said:
“Thank you, Stu Phillips—who was our oldest living Opry member—for your music, friendship, and 58 years as part of the Opry family.”
Who Was Stu Phillips?
Born on January 19, 1933, in Montreal, Canada, Stu Phillips kicked off his career by hosting a series of radio shows. Those shows included Stu for Breakfast, Town and Country, and Cowtown Jamboree. Later, he hosted TV programs such as The Outrider and Red River Jamboree.
Phillips moved to Nashville in 1965 and released his first album, Feels Like Lovin’, that same year. Eight more albums followed, including the hit records Singin’ and Grassroots Country.
As for singles, he experienced success in Canada and the U.S. with hits such as “Kathy Keep Playing,” “Juanita Jones,” “Vin Rosé,” and “The Great El Tigre.”
Phillips was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on June 1, 1967. He was a member for 58 years at the time of his death.
When Phillips became an American citizen, he celebrated the monumental moment on the Opry stage during the Fourth of July weekend in 1998.
“Whenever I traveled overseas, I used to think of Canada as my home. After moving to Nashville, our lives became integrated into this land with all its comforts. Now, whenever I travel overseas, home is Tennessee, where I live,” Phillips once said, according to the Opry.
Phillips was able to help celebrate the Opry’s 100th birthday this year. He made an appearance to watch the Opry 100 program in March, which was filmed for a TV special on NBC.
Stu Phillips will forever be remembered as a treasured member of the Grand Ole Opry family. He’s so dearly missed…
