Three decades on, Kentucky Headhunters make Opry debut

The band, which had a hit album with "Pickin' on Nashville" in 1989, play the stage on Dec. 4.

"I must say The Kentucky Headhunters had to take a deep breath, twice, when our publicist Don Murry Grubbs called to say we had been asked to be on the Grand Ole Opry stage for the first time," said Headhunters guitarist and vocalist Richard Young.

In the early '90s when The Headhunters released "Pickin' on Nashville," Bill Monroe approached Roy Acuff about having the group perform on the Opry stage.

"Mr. Acuff said, 'I think they are probably good boys and would do a fine job, but let's get 'em a haircut first," said Young. "Needless to say, it never happened. We are so looking forward to our first appearance on the Opry stage in 30 years. We still got our hair, too. Well, most of it."

The Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM Satellite Radio (Willie's Roadhouse), and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM.

Last month, The Headhunters released their first album of all-new material in half a decade. The 12-track compilation, "That's A Fact Jack!," is available now via Practice House Records. The group consists of Greg Martin on lead guitar; Doug Phelps on bass; Fred Young on drums and Richard Young on lead vocals. Hits include "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine," "Dumas Walker" and "Oh, Lonesome Me."