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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
                           [VINSON&ELKINS LEADERHEAD]

                                  July 27, 1998


Capstar Broadcasting Corporation
600 Congress Avenue, Suite 1400
Austin, Texas 78701

Dear Sirs:

             We have acted as counsel to Capstar Broadcasting Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") of the offer and sale of an
aggregate of 2,696,406 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
("Class A Common Stock"), and 2,196,406 shares of Class C Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share (collectively with the Class A Common Stock, the "Common
Stock"), of the Company that may be issued pursuant to the warrants originally
issued to R. Steven Hicks, William S. Banowsky, Jr., Paul D. Stone and D.
Geoffrey Armstrong, respectively (collectively, the "Warrants"), as that number
may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the provisions of the Warrants.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms having their initial letters capitalized
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Warrants.

             In reaching the opinion set forth herein, we have reviewed such
agreements, certificates of public officials and officers of the Company,
records, documents and matters of law that we deemed relevant.

             Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject further to the
assumptions, exceptions, and qualifications hereinafter stated, we express the
opinion that each share of Common Stock, when issued in accordance with the
terms of the Warrants, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

             The opinion expressed above is subject to the following
assumptions, exceptions and qualifications:

             (a) We have assumed that (i) all information contained in all
documents reviewed by us is true and correct, (ii) all signatures on all
documents reviewed by us are genuine, (iii) all documents submitted to us as
originals are true and complete, (iv) all documents submitted


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Capstar Broadcasting Corporation
July 27, 1998
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to us as copies are true and complete copies of the originals thereof, and (v)
each natural person signing any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity
to do so.

             (b) We have also assumed that the Company will receive the full
amount and type of consideration (as specified in the Warrants) for each of the
shares of Common Stock upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the
Warrants, that such consideration will be in cash, personal property, or
services already performed, that such consideration will equal or exceed the par
value per share of Common Stock, and that appropriate certificates evidencing
the shares of Common Stock issued in accordance with the terms of the Warrants
will be properly executed upon such issuance.

             The opinion expressed above is limited to the laws of the State of
Texas, the Delaware General Corporation Law, and the federal laws of the United
States of America.

             This opinion may be filed as an exhibit to a registration statement
filed under the Securities Act. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit
that we come into the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          /s/ VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.