The news that many of us were waiting for finally took place today as the Grand Ole Opry announced that live audiences would once again be welcomed at the Grand Ole Opry House beginning on Saturday October 3rd.
Grand Ole Opry members Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Lorrie Morgan and Terri Clark are scheduled to appear before an audience that will be limited to 500 fans. Those who had previously bought tickets for the October 3 birthday weekend show received an email this morning, giving those ticket holders the opportunity to purchase tickets before any remaining tickets were made available to the general public.
As the Opry gradually welcomes back ticket holders, the shows will continue to be limited to one hour and will be broadcast on Circle TV, You Tube, Twitter and Facebook, as well as on WSM. Tickets for the remaining shows in October will be available at a later date.
Here is the official announcement from the Opry this morning:
Celebrate something good with the Opry as we kick off our 95th anniversary celebration with our official birthday show on the Saturday Night Grand Ole Opry with performances by Opry members Dierks Bentley, Terri Clark, Vince Gill, and Lorrie Morgan with host Bobby Bones. You’ll see faces in the crowd for our celebrations as we welcome back a limited audience for the taping of the show for the first time since March 2020.
The Opry will welcome back up to 500 guests each Saturday in October to experience the Opry Live television and livestream filming. Fans who previously purchased tickets to the Grand Ole Opry shows prior to the COVID-19 shutdown will be given a presale opportunity to buy tickets. Should tickets be available for purchase following the presale, this information will be updated. More details for other Opry 95th Anniversary Celebration shows and digital events happening throughout the month of October will be announced soon.
The Grand Ole Opry will strictly comply with operating plans developed in partnership with the Nashville Public Health Department and Vanderbilt Health that include socially distanced seating, mandatory masks for all guests and staff, as well as enhanced cleaning practices.
Operating plans include:
• Exclusive to 500 ticketed guests
• Physically distanced seating, allowing those in the same group to sit together but distanced from others
• Mandatory masks for all guests, Opry House operations and production staff
• Designated restrooms, entry and exit points
• No food or beverage service
• Temperature checks for all staff
• Enhanced cleaning practices
As I wrote, this is great news and while the shows will be smaller in scope and with limited attendance, I am excited to see the Opry starting to get back to normal (as much as it can).
And for those wondering, yes, I have my ticket and will be attending next Saturday night.
Great news, good lineup, hope it all goes well. We will be looking forward to your feedback. (from Anonymous in PA)
ReplyDeleteNice to see some real good country music on the show tonight. Marty Stuart is amazing; Connie Smith never seems to age and Sierra Hull is a bright young talent.
ReplyDeleteVery happy you will be in attendance, Byron, for such a special show. I am sure it will be memorable and maybe even a bit emotional. We will be anticipating your remarks!
ReplyDeletePlease don't mistake this for sarcasm or negativity or anything against anyone that has appeared since March. It's a sincere opinion! THE OPRY LIVES!
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
Is anybody familiar with Little David Wilkins? Bob
ReplyDeleteLittle David Wilkins wrote some good songs for others, but was "too country" to find much airplay for himself.
ReplyDeleteI have an old album of his, and if you love TRADITIONAL country music, he's the real deal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_David_Wilkins
As Bill Anderson would say "Too Country" What is that? Bob
DeleteLittle David Wilkins was also good friends with Johnny Russell. (oldtimeopry)
ReplyDeleteWouldn't be hard to see that pair walking down the street! :)
ReplyDelete"Can everybody see me all right?"
DeleteI had a friend who knew Johnny Russell and toured a little with him (he was a drummer in a bluegrass band--go figure out THAT one). He said Russell was one of the funniest people he'd ever met.
By the way, my drummer friend had it happen to him. At the Opry, whenever a new drummer showed up, someone in the band would go over and ask for his plug-in fee for his drums. The drummer would pay, go about his business, and then think, wait a minute ....
Russell's last album "Actin' Naturally" on the OMS label is an absolute treasure. It's on Amazon and I listen to it on Spotify. When it came out he billed it as a "bluegrass" album but it's stone cold country. He is devastating on his "Ain't You Even Gonna Cry" which I think was a song he wrote toward the end of his life, which if I remember, Brad Paisley said he pitched him when he went to see him in the hospital. Connie Smith still does a version of it on the Opry every now and then as did Jim Ed Brown and Hank Locklin who recordeded it I think on his last album. Johnny is one of the most underrated songwriters and nobody could touch him as an entertainer. I've often thought he's worthy for the Country Music Hall of Fame in the songwriting category but that category will never catch up. Wonder why they don't just make the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame a wing of the CMHOF? (oldtimeopry)
ReplyDeleteWe watch Country Family Reunion (currently airing on RFD as select segments of other shows) - so glad Larry Black began those back in the 90's; just recently they had a segment that showed Johnny Russell doing "Ain't You Even Gonna Cry". So much history and incredible talent in those shows. Bill Anderson always the host.
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