The Tuesday Night Opry will be very special this week as the Grand Ole Opry welcomes a new member.
Fiercely rooted in the classics, Carly Pearce left her Kentucky home and high school at 16 to take a job at Dollywood. In a full circle surprise, iconic superstar and Grand Ole Opry member Dolly Parton extended the coveted invitation to Carly after 85+ appearances to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Dolly has also partnered with the Country Music Hall of Fame on Unbroken Circle: Exploring Country Music History with Carly Pearce to connect the genre’s legacy and future.
Lighting a fire with her debut album EVERY LITTLE THING and the PLATINUM-certified history making title track, Carly has since become “Country’s ‘it’ girl” (ABC Radio). With the most CMA Awards nods for any new artist in 2020, she won Musical Event of the Year with “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” the PLATINUM-certified, No. 1 duet with Lee Brice that also took 2021 ACM Awards Single and Music Event of the Year, plus she scored a Female Artist nomination.
During a pivotal time, Carly turned to the comfort of records she’s drawn inspiration from since her childhood dream started to take hold – Dolly, The Chicks, Trisha, Reba, Patty Loveless. Carly marked a new chapter coming of age and finding creative simpatico with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne following the unexpected death of her mentor and former producer busbee, she put out a seven-song collection called 29 (Big Machine Records). Leaning into her faith, Carly also joined five-time GRAMMY® nominated singer/songwriter Matthew West on a new version of his No. 1 “Truth Be Told.”
I am looking forward to Tuesday night and I am very happy for Carly that she will be fulfilling her life-long dream of becoming an Opry member.
Jeannie Seely, who has been pushing for Carly to becoming a member, and Trisha Yearwood will be joining Carly on the second hour of the show to formally induct her.
7:00: John Conlee; Riders In The Sky; Clay Walker; Henry Cho
8:00: Jeannie Seely; Trisha Yearwood, Carly Pearce
Congratulations to Carly Pearce on becoming the Opry's newest member.
I also wanted to mention Clay Walker. It is nice to see Clay listed on the Opry's line-up for Tuesday night. Clay had a nice string of hits back in the day and I know he has struggled with health issues over the years. Nice to see him back.
I was looking at Opry tickets for Labor Day and prices are even higher then when it was limited audience. I paid 75 for tickets in April and the prices were 75 or 125. Now most tickets are 150-165 and some limited view 60. Are are still selling out every show with these prices. I love the opry so much but it’s honestly getting to be to much money.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your last question, from my own personal experience and those of others, the Opry is not selling out every show. The weekend I was there, the Friday Night Opry was about 90% sold while Saturday night it was sold-out with standing room only tickets being sold for $100. As has been the case in the past, it all depends on the weekly line-up and if the Gaylord Convention Center has a big convention in town that helps to push ticket sales.
DeleteAs to the ticket prices, they fluctuate depending on the demand. The pricing model that Ryman is currently using at the Opry will have the shows starting out with a base price, depending on ticket location, then if the show has a high demand, the remaining tickets will increase in price. For example, I bought a ticket for an upcoming show, Section 4 for $115, plus numerous service charges. Currently, a ticket in the same Section 4 but further back, is now selling for $160 plus service charges. And that is from the Opry, not from a secondary ticket source. So basically, the Opry adjusts ticket prices based on the demand for a particular show.
I was in Nashville a few weeks ago and I was able to get a last second ticket to the July 20th show for only $80 my guess is that with more people traveling on labor day weekend they raised the prices to take advantage
DeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteI love the 'Opry, but these ticket prices are ridiculous. I'm with you. $100 for a last row seat in the balcony for a Tuesday Night 'Opry?
Good for Carly! I would pay to see Tuesday's show, but can no longer afford to take the whole family! :)
ReplyDeleteI hate how they scalp their own tickets now. It’s great when you get a big act like Garth or Luke Combs. But from the multiple times I’ve been there weren’t many super stats. The exception for me was Carrie Underwood. But I like the opry for the variety and seeing the old singers. Even if you get a superstar most likely they won’t do more then three songs during normal shows.
ReplyDeleteAn Opry ticket has been too expensive for quite some time now especially when you factor in transportation, lodging and food costs. I have found it much more affordable to attend artists' individual shows and in fact will be attending Ricky Skaggs' show in Ohio on the 14th of this month if the CoronaManiacs don't shut down the country again. Front row seat for $45 and with the money I would save on an Opry trip I could probably purchase one of ever CD he has ever produced and still have bucks left over!
ReplyDeleteBill - agree, have posted here many times that after the 90th anniversary fiasco we decided that going to Nashville/Grand Ole Opry was just not the same - and it was always top on our list of favorite places to go. As you said, we can select the artists we like, attend their "full" show and still save a lot of $$$ even if we do travel to their location and maybe an overnight stay. There are so many good festivals out there now, especially bluegrass. Besides it is not the "Opry" that we loved and experienced and we would be so disappointed in the format, at least now we catch the replays on WSM and can skip over parts that are not of interest. (from Anonymous in PA)
ReplyDeleteWho do you guys think will be the 2021 Hall of Fame inductees?.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Carly's first appearance as a member well done?
ReplyDeleteLoved it, especially Tricia's speech and Carly's response to her membership. I hope she's sincere and lives up to her promises to appear.
Nat, I agree. It was a wonderful night at the Opry and Carly seemed to be very appreciative of her Opry membership.
DeleteI always enjoy reading your blog and especially love the historical Opry lineups from years past. A question came to mind as I've been reading these...did Minnie Pearl leave the Opry for awhile? I see her name on a lot of the 1980s lineups, and I see her name on a lot of the 1940s and 1950s lineups. But I rarely see her name on any of the 1970s lineups? Juts wondering. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteDarrell Ellis
Creston, Iowa