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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                             Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
                           3700 Trammell Crow Center
                                2001 Ross Avenue
                           Dallas, Texas  75201-2975
                            Telephone (214) 220-7700



                                  May 21, 1998



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

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Capstar Broadcasting Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of a
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (as may hereafter be amended, the
"Registration Statement"), which has been filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of registering under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") and the rules and regulations
thereunder the sale of up to 35,650,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value per share ("Common Stock").  The Shares
will be offered and sold (the "Offering") pursuant to an underwriting agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement") to be entered into between the Company, Credit
Suisse First Boston Corporation, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and Morgan Stanley
& Co. Incorporated (the "U.S. Underwriters") and a subscription agreement (the
"Subscription Agreement") to be entered into between the Company, Credit Suisse
First Boston (Europe) Limited, BT Alex. Brown International and Morgan Stanley
& Co. International Limited (the "Managers" and collectively with the U.S.
Underwriters, the "Underwriters").

         We are rendering this opinion as of the time the Registration
Statement becomes effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the 1933 Act.

         Before rendering the opinions hereinafter set forth, we examined,
among other things, the proposed form of Underwriting Agreement, the
Subscription Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Amended and Restated
Bylaws, resolutions of the Company's Board of Directors, and originals or
photostatic or certified copies of all those corporate records of the Company
and of all those agreements, communications and other instruments, certificates
of public officials, certificates of corporate officials and such other
documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions
hereinafter set forth.  As to factual matters, information with respect to
which is in the possession of the Company relevant to the opinions herein
stated, we have relied without
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investigation, to the extent we deem such reliance proper, upon certificates or
representations made by its duly authorized representative.

         Based upon the foregoing assumptions, and subject to the
qualifications set forth hereinafter, we are of the opinion that, when the
Shares have been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the
Underwriting Agreement and the Subscription Agreement (including the receipt by
the Company of the consideration for the Shares described therein), the Shares
will be validly 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 to us as copies
are true and complete copies of the originals thereof, (v) each natural person
signing any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so, (vi) each
natural person signing in a representative capacity any document reviewed by us
had authority to sign in such capacity, and (vii) the laws of any jurisdiction
other than Texas that govern any of the documents reviewed by us (other than
the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and
Restated Bylaws) do not modify the terms that appear in any such document.

         (b)     The opinion expressed in this letter is limited to the laws of
the State of Texas, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and
the federal laws of the United States of America.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and the references to us under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement.  We
also consent to the incorporation by reference of this consent into any
subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the 1933
Act in connection with the Offering.  In giving this consent, we do not hereby
admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

         We express no opinion as to any matter other than as expressly set
forth above, and no opinion, other than the opinion given herein, is to or may
be inferred or implied herefrom. We undertake no, and hereby disclaim any,
obligation to advise the Company or anyone else of any change in any matter set
forth herein.

                                        Very truly yours,

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