From the Grand Ole Opry:
Be a part of country music history in the making. NBC’s Opry 100 Special is airing LIVE from the Opry House—and you could be in the crowd! ✨
Blake Shelton hosts a star-studded celebration of 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry, featuring Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, and MORE. Airing LIVE from the Opry House on NBC and Peacock TV. Be there for this once-in-a-lifetime event on country music’s biggest stage or tune in on March 19th at 8/7c!
Tickets on sale Friday, January 31st at 10am CT 🎟️ https://opryent.co/40zLBib
More details via Billboard:
A who's who of country music artists will help the Grand Ole Opry celebrate its 100th anniversary when the live event concert, Opry 100: A Live Celebration, airs live on NBC (and simulcast on Peacock) on Wednesday, March 19.
Grand Ole Opry member Blake Shelton will host the three-hour live celebration event, which will air from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. Opry members Ashley McBryde, Shelton, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Clint Black, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Marty Stuart, Reba McEntire, Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood and Vince Gill will all take part. Opry member Randy Travis will make a special appearance, while other Opry favorites set to take part include Amy Grant, Eric Church, Jelly Roll and The War and Treaty. The broadcast will feature performances from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, as well as from the historic Ryman Auditorium, the Opry's most famous former home.
"Becoming a member of the Opry is a highlight of my life and career, and 15 years later I still get that same feeling of reverence and excitement every time I walk out on that stage. The Grand Ole Opry has been connecting the country music family for 100 years, and I'm so proud to be part of this historic celebration," Shelton said in a statement.
"We're pleased to partner with our Grand Ole Opry members to create a truly unforgettable evening as we kick off the Opry's 100th year," Opry Entertainment Group CEO Patrick Moore in a statement. "This special night of programming will connect millions of country music fans to the magic of the Opry, and we hope it inspires them to join us in Nashville as we celebrate this milestone all year long."
The telecast will be executive produced by Silent House Productions' Emmy Award winners Baz Halpin, Mark Bracco and Linda Gierahn, along with R.A. Clark and Steve Buchanan. A limited amount of tickets will go on sale starting Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. CT on the Opry's website, while a pre-sale for Opry subscribers will launch Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. CT.
The Grand Ole Opry launched in 1925 and has had a series of homes over the years, among them the Nashville offices of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company (WSM-AM's call letters are an acronym for National Life's slogan, "We Shield Millions") and Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium. The Ryman Auditorium was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, before the Opry moved into its current location in March 1974. The Opry still returns to the Ryman Auditorium each winter for a special run of Opry at the Ryman shows.
The Grand Ole Opry has become the longest running live broadcast show in the world, featuring weekly performances from established country music artists and regularly featuring and supporting rising artists. Each week, fans gather at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville to experience live shows, or take in the music through WSM Radio and online, or watch the Opry Live broadcasts on Saturdays, as well as other Opry content, on Circle Country.
On Jan. 3, the Grand Ole Opry launched its first show of 2025 with the Opry at the Ryman series, with the show featuring current CMA musician of the year Charlie Worsham, "The Gambler" and "Forever and Ever, Amen" songwriter Don Schlitz, singer Connie Smith, harmonica maestro Charlie McCoy, singer Mandy Barnett, singer-songwriter Craig Morgan ("That's What I Love About Sundays," "Redneck Yacht Club") and nine-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) entertainer of the year winners The Travelin' McCourys.
Who is the guy they picked to host the show? Don't recognize him but I mostly only listen to the Opry.
ReplyDeleteSeems like in that last paragraph about January the 3rd they left someone out. It's been a couple weeks so maybe I've forgot who appeared. I'm getting old and forgetful.
Nice national exposure for the Opry.
Jim
If anyone wants to know anything about the Opry, I have a feeling they’re not going to find out by watching this show. Very few of those listed have even made an appearance in the last year, or longer in many cases. These opportunists never show their face at the Opry unless network cameras are rolling. Then they will talk the old spill about how much the Opry means to them and that it is the highlight of their careers. Not sure how they even look themselves in the mirror. To add insult to injury, the true stars of the Opry, who are loyal to the show and keep the doors open week after week, year after year, will not even be invited to participate. I am so tired of the fakery.
ReplyDeleteWhile this is going to be a wonderful three hour show, I can't help but think, that the three oldest standing Opry members, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith and Jeannie Seely, should be included on this and I am not seeing their names listed, hopefully they will be.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't see Lorrie Morgan or Ricky Skaggs' names on this list either.
And @Anonymous? You are right, anyone who wants to really learn about the Grand Ole Opry, should not look to this TV program to point them in that direction ... they need to go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and watch the Ken Burns documentary and read some books on the subject.
I am very much looking forward to what they are planning ... hopefully it will be more than a three hour concert. Anything that R.A. Clark is involved in, is usually always terrific, since he is the son of Dick Clark; American Bandstand.
(Jeanene)
Jeanene. Like you, I am really looking forward to this show. With Dan at the helm, I am sure it will be a first class presentation. And while I would love to see Jeannie, Bill, Connie and those who are at the Opry House every weekend, the reality is that those names wouldn't drive ratings numbers. And that matters. This is a TV production and it wouldn't be on the air at all if advertisers aren't enticed to buy space. And while I would love to see a show with the Opry legends we all love, it wouldn't move the numbers enough to sell ads. This program will.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that Dan and his team have done a phenomenal job honoring the legends of the Opry, and that will continue and be amplified as OPRY100 continues. I think the planned November 28 show, particularly, will be a real tribute to those who have been the backbone of this institution that we all love.
We plan to be in the Opry House on March 19 and November 28. Both events will give us opportunities to celebrate different aspects of what we love about the Opry!
Yes, this is a made for TV event, much like previous Opry anniversary network shows going back to the 50th in 1975, a show that featured non-Opry member Johnny Cash. These anniversary shows always featured some of the Opry's biggest names, along with guest stars. There was always a place for some of the lesser-known Opry members, usually as part of a group open, or featured in some backstage scenes. That might very well be the case this year.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the Opry's bigger names, some significant events have also taken place at a few of these shows, including adding new Opry members: Reba McEntire in 1985 during the filming of the Opry's 60th anniversary; Martina McBride in 1995 during the Opry's 70th, and most recently, Lady A during the filming of the Opry's 95th. Looking at the names of non-members on the schedule, The War and Treaty, Amy Grant, Eric Church and Jelly Roll are listed. Could one, or even two of those artists be asked to join? I would think it is certainly possible as each as a connection to the Opry.
Finally, unlike previous network anniversary specials, this one is a live 3-hour event, which in itself is interesting. Even with the number and quality of artists scheduled, that is a long time to hold an audience in front of a TV. Plus, this is a special where Silent House Productions will be handling the producing duties, which I would think would mean their producers, named in the Billboard article, will ultimately be directing the special.
It will be a historical night for sure, but as others have mentioned, I am not so sure it will present itself as a true picture of the Opry. I will be interested to see, and hopefully they do, how much historical footage they add to the telecast, and to see what other Opry members are included.
I'm sure the String Bands of the Opry like Dr Humphrey Bates and his daughter, and the Fruit Jar Drinkers and the Crook brothers, won't be mentioned in this. Of course Uncle Jimmy Thompson and DeFord Bailey will.
ReplyDeleteJen Burns documentary was good,but there was no mention of Kitty Wells. And hardly any mention of Roy Acuff. He mentioned Louis Armstrong more than he mentioned Roy Acuff.😭 There wasn't any video footage of Mr Acuff. Just a couple pictures. And Stringb ean who was murdered playing the Opry while his killers were listening to him while they were in his house waiting for him should be mentioned in the 100 Opry special.
This old world is a funny place these days. Maybe it always has been and each generation suffers it's own trauma over change during their lifetime. Many say there's too much big business and concentration of money yet we talk about ratings and getting advertisement and a network making money. It seems we relegate history to a way to make a profit and not as something to truly honor and cherish. The words integrity and respect come to mind, or maybe the lack of either.
ReplyDeleteNBC owns a piece of this history now and you would think they might be a better caretaker. There's no way that the majority who view this show will have any idea who Bill, Connie or Jeannie are. That should be irrelevant. They've got enough name power on the show to draw the audience, even reaching to non members just to be sure. And it is going to be three hours long so they should be able to justify a few minutes to honor these three with a combined 180 years of dedication to the Opry. I can't believe they won't and maybe they are saving them for a surprise tribute. We can hope. The exposure of this show will be great but to what end.
It is very nice that Randy Travis will be a part of it.
I'm not taking anything away from anyone who is looking forward to the show and will enjoy it. It will help spread the Opry name and expose young people to the Opry. But I wonder if they will come away with an understanding of what the Opry is or was. I guess that is for documentaries.
Jim
The first Opry anniversary show I remember seeing, the 60th, had Porter Wagoner just narrate a section on Opryland and didn't include Hank Snow, who had been told they wanted him to do just a verse and a chorus of "I'm Movin' On," and he moved on.
DeleteAfter it aired, the Statlers did the TV portion, hosted by Porter. They acknowledged the applause but then Don Reid said they were just guests. He said the real backbone of the Opry is its members, and the Statlers thought when network TV came to the Opry to do a special, it should include Hank Snow and Porter Wagoner. The audience response was tremendous. I wonder if that was their last Opry appearance.
To everybody understandably upset the fact that Bill and Connie and such, we’re not mentioned, the fact is, this is made for TV. If you want young people to care, they’re not going to watch or care about people that they don’t know. As sad as that is. They want ratings and they want people to pay attention. Bill is the only one of the three who at least in the last 20 years was still pretty well known because of the mega hits that he was still riding well into the 2000s like whiskey lullaby. They don’t move the needle. A large network audience doesn’t know who they are and is not going to be interested. It would actually be a bad idea probably to put any of them except bill on Because the audience would not watch. Connie will probably make it on because of Marty. We will see. It’s sad, but it’s the truth. You want the people on this special that will get the most people watching and those three are the heart and soul of the show, but they won’t get people paying attention. Mark Wills is one of the two best singers on the whole cast today, but he won’t be there either because his hit making ended 25 years ago and again younger people don’t know who he is.
DeleteThis may be slightly off topic, but I heard something last night on WSM that disturbed me greatly.
ReplyDeleteWSM is of course the home of the 'Opry, but lately their regular programming has taken on the same tone as the 'Opry itself. They seem to be trying to reach a larger audience, and in my view, have been slowly but surely losing their character. They're also saving money and in that process have turned off their archives, which were a gold-mine of past 'Opry shows and an amazing group of interviews, etc.
Back to last night. Jeff Hoag's show last night was way off his usual standard of excellence, and he made some remark that gave me concern regarding the future. I will leave it at that for now.
Anybody else know anything I've missed regarding WSM and what they're up to (or NOT up to) ?
Well, a personal apology to WSM, Eric Marcum, and Jeff Hogue is absolutely in order. Jeff Hog is on SOLID footing with WSM. Lots of valid reasons for Jeff's show last night not being what I'm used to.
ReplyDeleteAfter I wrote them a snotty email making some totally unwarranted assumptions, Eric Marcum took the time to write me a LONG explanation regarding all of my concerns. It read like a high quality master's thesis! :)
Let's just say I was WAY off the mark. WSM is doing what they can under difficult circumstances with the archives. Eric walked me through an encouraging outline of some of the newer programming, closing with "a history lesson with Jeff Hoag."
I stand corrected, and more than a little ashamed.
I "let the old man in." :(
Nat, thanks for the clarification. I know it's a different world now in regard to copyrights and licensing of music. I think for us, as Opry and WSM fans, the closing down of the archives of past Opry shows is where we really feel it. And I can assume it has hurt WSM as to what they can play on air.
DeleteNittanee here. It disgusting that they even put that thing called Jelly Roll on the Opry. Yeah I get it's about ratings and the people they are choosing. I am 52 years old but I fing it disrespectful to the longer standing members who are not receiving protagonism.
ReplyDeleteI do not like Blake Shelton and he became persona non grata with his disrespect towards older artists with the old farts and jackasses comment a few years back.
Gonna have to do some serious soul searching to decide if I watch or not. If I don't, The 60th, 75th are all on YouTube....
I get the fact that you don’t like jelly roll but the fact is, he is one of the biggest names in all of Music today with no exceptions not just country music. In all of music there is almost nobody as popular as he is and he will draw huge numbers. If we want this show to make it to 200, Young people have to care and the only way they’re going to do that is if they bring in the biggest names possible and jelly roll is like him or not one of the biggest names literally in any style of music right now by far.
DeleteA network in 2025 is not interested in anyone but the very most popular artists who might make someone tune in and provide ratings. I believe the only choices are huge stars or no network show.
ReplyDeleteI'm not all that cracked up with the current path country music is following. But things change over time. We all have a choice. We either accept the changes and enjoy what's left of what we like or abandon the whole gendre.
ReplyDeleteI choose to grit my teeth and move forward.
Listening to WSM right now as I type this. They are trying to continue broadcasting traditional country music while understanding that new stars are being made.
I find traditional country music radio stations very boring. Same old multi-million selling hits over and over and over and over.
Jeff Hoag to the rescue.