In 1957, Will, Steve, Claude, and Monroe Hopper launched the Hopper Brothers. Connie Shelton, who later married Claude Hopper, joined the group as pianist in 1958, and the group was known for many years as the Hopper Brothers and Connie. The group started touring full-time in 1970.

Pianist Roger Talley joined the group in 1974 and stayed with the group nearly ten years, before leaving to form The Talleys in 1983. Roger's wife Debra and brother Kirk both sang with the Hoppers at points in the '70s and '80s.

Claude and Connie's sons Dean and Michael both began performing with the Hoppers in the 1980s; after spending some time at the drums, Dean moved to the group's lead slot, while Michael came aboard as drummer and has stayed as the group's drummer since.

Dean Hopper married Kim Green of the Greenes in 1988; she left the Greenes and came aboard the Hopper bus in 1989. In 1990, her voice was heard on the Hoppers' first #1 hit, "Here I Am." Numerous radio hits, awards, and other accolades would follow, including four Dove® nominations. The Hoppers would ultimately become regulars on the Gaither Homecoming videos and concert tour.

Connie Hopper received the Singing News magazine's highest honor, the Marvin Norcross Award, in 1998. She is also a 2010 inductee into the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.