Les Leverett, Photographer
April 23, 1927 - June 2, 2023
From 1952 to 1956, Les Leverett worked for Associated Photographers in Nashville, before joining the National Life and Accident Insurance Company in 1960 to establish the company’s photography department.
Mr. Leverett served as a photographer for WSM television and radio, the Grand Ole Opry and the Johnny Cash TV show during what many consider the “golden age of country.”
Mr. Leverett dedicated thirty-two years of his career as staff photographer for the Grand Ole Opry and WSM radio before retiring in 1992.
The long list of renowned musicians who trusted him to capture their moments onstage, backstage and in their homes include Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff, George Jones, Eddy Arnold and Chet Atkins along with performers, Presidents and special guests such as Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, President Jimmy Carter, President Richard Nixon, Ray Charles and hundreds more.
Les was one of the featured photographers in the Annenberg Space for Photography's exhibition,
Country: Portraits Of An American Sound.
In 2017, Les's life work found a permanent home at the Grand Ole Opry in a sale negotiated by Janie Hoffman with Sally Williams,
then the Opry Entertainment Group's SVP.
Les's remarkable collection will continue to offer fans of country music and photography overall a permanent history of how and when
Johnny, June, Roy, Minnie, Patsy, Willie, Waylon, Dolly, Loretta, Tammy and hundreds more celebrated their music onstage, backstage, in the studio, on their front porches and inside their homes.
As the Grand Ole Opry is now the wonderful caretaker of Les Leverett's life's work, please
contact Jen Larson at JLarson@opry.com with your queries.
Unauthorized use or reproduction of any of Mr. Leverett's images in any format not licensed or purchased through our office through 2017 constitutes for-profit theft, copyright infringement and is a violation of Federal Copyright Law. Violators will be subject to criminal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. And, don't even think of using any image that Michael Ochs stole and sold to Getty,
along with the hundreds of other photographers and their copyrights he illegally claimed as his own.
Mr. Leverett served as a photographer for WSM television and radio, the Grand Ole Opry and the Johnny Cash TV show during what many consider the “golden age of country.”
Mr. Leverett dedicated thirty-two years of his career as staff photographer for the Grand Ole Opry and WSM radio before retiring in 1992.
The long list of renowned musicians who trusted him to capture their moments onstage, backstage and in their homes include Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff, George Jones, Eddy Arnold and Chet Atkins along with performers, Presidents and special guests such as Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, President Jimmy Carter, President Richard Nixon, Ray Charles and hundreds more.
Les was one of the featured photographers in the Annenberg Space for Photography's exhibition,
Country: Portraits Of An American Sound.
In 2017, Les's life work found a permanent home at the Grand Ole Opry in a sale negotiated by Janie Hoffman with Sally Williams,
then the Opry Entertainment Group's SVP.
Les's remarkable collection will continue to offer fans of country music and photography overall a permanent history of how and when
Johnny, June, Roy, Minnie, Patsy, Willie, Waylon, Dolly, Loretta, Tammy and hundreds more celebrated their music onstage, backstage, in the studio, on their front porches and inside their homes.
As the Grand Ole Opry is now the wonderful caretaker of Les Leverett's life's work, please
contact Jen Larson at JLarson@opry.com with your queries.
Unauthorized use or reproduction of any of Mr. Leverett's images in any format not licensed or purchased through our office through 2017 constitutes for-profit theft, copyright infringement and is a violation of Federal Copyright Law. Violators will be subject to criminal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. And, don't even think of using any image that Michael Ochs stole and sold to Getty,
along with the hundreds of other photographers and their copyrights he illegally claimed as his own.
Paul and Linda McCartney, Dolly Parton, Porter Waggoner, Mary and Stella McCartney. ©Les Leverett
Loretta Lynn in her kitchen. ©Les Leverett
(Seated) Chet Atkins, Shel Silverstein, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson. ©Les Leverett
Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner at home during their Christmas Eve party. ©Les Leverett
George Burns in his dressing room at the Grand Ole Opry. ©Les Leverett
Academy of Country Music interview.
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Tammy Wynette onstage at the Opry. ©Les Leverett
 President Richard Nixon learning yo-yo techniques from Roy Acuff.
©Les Leverett
The Byrds first and only appearance at the Grand Old Opry. ©Les Leverett
Andy Warhol, Dorothy Ritter, Libby Leverett.
©Les Leverett
Senate of the 109th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the House of Representatives concurring, Joint Resolution 3 to honor and recognize Les Leverett for his illustrious career in the field of photography.
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Grand Ole Opry performers get the Key to New York City on the steps of City Hall during their historic Carnegie Hall performance. November 1961.
©Les Leverett
A young Waylon Jennings on the Johnny Cash TV Show.
©Les Leverett
Johnny Cash apologizing to June for being late for a Columbia Records studio session. ©Les Leverett
Porter and Dolly performing at the Grand Ole Opry. ©Les Leverett
James Brown performing at the Grand Ole Opry with Porter Waggoner's band. ©Les Leverett
Patsy Cline during one of WSM's "Visiting DJ's" series backstage at the Opry. ©Les Leverett
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