A country music legend with a long history in north Texas is getting a new honor. The Ryman Auditorium has added a bronze statue of Charley Pride to its Icon Walk. The outdoor display honors the pioneers of country music. Pride's statue joins other country music trailblazers including Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe and Little Jimmy Dickens.
Pride was born in Mississippi but lived in Dallas from the late 1960's until his death in 2020 at the age of 86. His widow and son were at the dedication ceremony for the statue in Nashville.
"He has often been called the Jackie Robinson of country music," Rozene Pride said. "The only difference was Jackie Robinson was picked for the role. Pride picked country music because he loved it and that was his life."
Pride had a string of country music hits, including dozens of "Number One" singles, starting in the 1960's. He became the first African-American solo singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 1967 and was the Country Music Association's male vocalist of the year in 1971 and 1972.
"Charley Pride broke barriers and defied stereotypes, becoming one of the most successful and beloved country music artists of all time," said Ryman Hospitality Properties Executive Chairman Colin Reed. "The Ryman Icon Walk honors not only his contributions and the groundwork he laid for countless other artists in country music, but also to the Ryman, where he performed many times throughout his career."
Pride also had a career as a minor league baseball player before focusing full time on country music, and had a long association with the Texas Rangers. He became a part owner of the team in 2010 and one of the field's at the team's spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona is named after him.
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