Clay & Barbie Campbell moved to Kentucky Lake in 1988 from Evansville, Indiana.
Prior to that they lived in Missouri where Clay was born and raised. Barbie was from a Minneapolis Minnesota suburb, Eden Prairie.

The Opry began in a little Quonset hut building just a few blocks from its current location. Clay and Barbie had spent their honeymoon in Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. They and their children had attended many shows there in Branson. Clay actually got started at Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry in Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri at at 15.

Before marrying Barbie, Clay played in several bands, had his own band, and traveled all over the United States from 1969 through 1980. When the group disbanded, Barbie became a Christian, and Clay rededicated his life to Christ, and at that time they decided to get married and have a family.

Clay and Barbie raised up three boys while the  Kentucky Opry was just in its infancy.  Clayton, Cody, and Casey. Each plays an instrument. Clayton on the violin, Cody on the piano & upright bass, and Casey on the cello, banjo & guitar.  The boys also learned various other instruments as well as they were going up at the Kentucky Opry.

In 1994 the Opry was expanded and a new front was added, and later a new lobby, and various other additions and improvements were made
as the years went along.  A new light system,  new PA system, new bathrooms, and recently new seats, and a paved parking lot. The Opry now seats 537 folks, but many nights sell out.  The Kentucky Opry is starting its 36th season in 2024.

The Kentucky Opry provides clean family entertainment almost every weekend year-round. There are all kinds of shows: Free Bluegrass and Gospel shows. The Kentucky Opry also brings in big-name entertainers – including Gene Watson, Jimmy Fortune, Moe Bandy, Shenandoah, Bellamy Brothers, Sammy Kershaw, Lorrie Morgan, Tribute Shows, and many others.

Clay works with and trains young performers, many of whom perform at the Kentucky Opry during the Rising Stars Shows. The Kentucky Opry has an amazing wonderful Christmas show that begins in November and runs up till Christmas.