Country Music Stars Shine at ‘Opry 100’ With Powerful Performances
Country music stars gathered to honor the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday, March 19.
The biggest names in country music united on Wednesday for Opry 100: A Live Celebration to celebrate their love and passion for the genre over the last century. The television special aired on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
The Grand Ole Opry, a country music institution, is incredibly prestigious. Artists must be invited to the group by members.
The event, hosted by country superstar Blake Shelton, included performances from country stars of various generations to celebrate a century of the Opry. Each performance honored different artists, fans, and events in country music.
Eric Church’s Emotional Tribute
Eric Church gave arguably one of the most powerful performances of the night. Before his performance, he told the crowd that he was at Las Vegas’ Route 91 Harvest Festival in 2017, which was the location of America’s deadliest mass shooting.
After that event, he had to perform at the Opry. He informed a silent audience that he didn’t want to perform after what happened, but he gave the audience that night thanks for “repairing a peace of my heart.” The “Springsteen” singer performed an acoustic version of his song, “Why Not Me,” which he created in honor of the victims.
Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis
Carrie Underwood took the stage and told a story about when she took her sister’s cassette tape to listen to Randy Travis. In 2008, Travis officially invited Underwood to join the Opry. He eventually suffered a stroke, leaving him almost entirely unable to sing.
Underwood performed two of Travis’ biggest songs: “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Forever and Ever Amen.” At the end of the tribute, the “Before He Cheats” singer found Travis in the front row of the crowd, held out her microphone, and had him sing the final word of the song: “amen.” The crowd was in tears following the heartfelt moment.
Luke Combs’ Show-Stopping Performance
Luke Combs took to the Opry stage with a performance of his famous song, “Hurricane.” He also sang George Jones’ hit song, “The Grand Tour.” Combs was inducted into the Opry in 2019.
The Opry Sends Love to Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton was not in attendance at the ceremony. Before members of the Opry performed one of her hit songs, viewers enjoyed a video message from Parton which aired for the audience.
“I wanted to be on the Grand Ole Opry my whole life when I was a little kid, cause that’s just what you do when you sing country music, that’s where you want to go,” Parton stated. “And I am proud to say that my family, all the folks at the Grand Ole Opry, are very near and dear to me. And I have been a member of the Opry for 56 years.”
To honor her and her legacy, Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Lady A members Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood took to the stage with 50 other members of the Opry to sing “I Will Always Love You.” The performance comes after the passing of Carl Dean, Parton’s husband.
