Country stars of all ages took part in the three-hour Opry 100: A Live Celebration special that was broadcast on NBC on Wednesday night. They all paid tribute to the history and impact that the Grand Ole Opry has had over the course of its 100 years. The show promised “iconic performances and star-studded collaborations that made country music famous,” and the program featured memorable and rousing live tunes performed at both the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and at the Opry’s beloved home from 1943-1974, the historic Ryman Auditorium. The night’s host, Blake Shelton, referred to the rousing festivities as “the party we’ve been waiting 100 years to celebrate,” and the event delivered both spirited performances of honky-tonk classics and moving tributes to country legends.
The show started off with Reba McEntire paying tribute to Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, who paved the way for her to stand on that Opry stage. Lainey Wilson was gifted one of Hank Williams guitars by Marty Stewart before they dueted on Hank’s classic, “Lost Highway.” Carrie Underwood honored Randy Travis, the man who invited her to join the Opry in 2008, while Kelsea Ballerini paid tribute to Barbara Mandrell by singing “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” as the music legend sat on stage taking in her performance. The War and Treaty were joined by a host of special guests while they paid a soulful tribute to the gospel roots of the Opry, while Aloe Blacc and the McCrary Sisters honored Charley Pride by playing his classic, “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin.”
Ronnie Milsap received a standing ovation following an on stage shout-out from Shelton, while Crystal Gayle was moved by Keith Urban’s rendition of her hit single, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” Eric Church delivered a moving tribute to the 59 country music fans massacred at the Las Vegas music festival in 2017 with a stirring version of “Why Not Me.” Carly Pearce honored Dolly Parton with a tender take on her classic hit, “Jolene,” while Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood paid tribute to George Jones and Tammy Wynette with a series of their hits. Post Malone and Ashley McBryde celebrated the legacy of Johnny and June Carter Cash, who first met backstage at the Opry following Johnny’s debut there in 1956, while Posty also joined with Travis Tritt to perform his 1992 hit, “T.R.O.U.B.L.E..”
Luke Combs took to the Ryman stage to deliver a knockout rendition of George Jones’ classic, “The Grand Tour,” and his own hit, “Hurricane,” which he played during his Opry debut in 2016. Vince Gill dedicated an emotional version of his 1994 hit, “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” to his mother, who will turn 100 this October, “the same age as the Grand Ole Opry” he said proudly. Dolly Parton – an Opry member for 56 years – didn’t take part in the celebration due to the recent death of her husband, Carl Dean, but she recorded a video honoring the history of the beloved Opry, which was followed by a star-studded group singalong of her classic hit, “I Will Always Love You,” which brought the show to an emotional close.
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